1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Book project: where the land is greener - Case Studies and Analysis of Soil and Water Conservation Initiatives Worldwide (where the land is greener) {'additional_translations': {}, 'value': 1255, 'label': 'Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)', 'text': 'Lok Biradari Trust - India', 'template': 'raw'} {'additional_translations': {}, 'value': 1255, 'label': 'Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)', 'text': 'Lok Biradari Trust - India', 'template': 'raw'}

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Reference(s) to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Technologies

2.1 Short description of the Approach

Participatory approach that includes a package of measures leading to empowerment of communities to implement and sustain watershed development.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Aims / objectives: The approach adopted under the Comprehensive Watershed Development Project (CWDP) is intended to ensure sustainability of development interventions. This can only be achieved through creating a sense of 'ownership' amongst users, which means involving the community in planning, implementation and management of the interventions. A further, specific objective is to benefit vulnerable sections of the community.

Methods: Various methods are employed to achieve these goals. There is, first of all, awareness generation within the community through exposure visits outside the area, street theatre and video shows. After this comes the formation and capacity building of village level institutions, in particular the Village Watershed Development Committees (VWDCs). Users' groups are also formed. Micro-planning (under a 'village development plan') using participatory rural appraisal (PRA) follows. There are arrangements to ensure participatory execution of the plan, specifying cost and benefit sharing (on average 75%-90% of the work is paid for in cash under this approach). Another important element is to ensure user rights to resources. This entails negotiation with government for rights to produce from common land. Eventually, after initial implementation, management becomes the task of the users' groups: this includes maintenance, distribution of benefits and conflict resolution. The whole process involves NGOs along with government staff in order to achieve better communication all round. The participants have different roles. Government staff (at various levels) provides technical and financial support, as well as assistance towards gaining user rights over resources. NGOs are particularly important in awareness generation and mobilisation, capacity building of village level institutions, and in the process of negotiation with the Government.

Role of stakeholders: The village committee is central in planning and implementation of the village development plan, and in overseeing users's groups. Users's groups are involved in planning, implementation and then resource management. The village assembly helps to identify beneficiaries and users, and to give overall support to the VWDC. An external international donor, DANIDA of Denmark, supports the Comprehensive Watershed Development Project.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The Approach focused mainly on SLM with other activities (1- Capacity building of communities, 2- Production system)

- create a sense of ownership amongst users. - ensure sustainability of technical and social interventions. - benefit more vulnerable sections of the community, including the poor and women. - involve the community in planning, implementation and management interventions

The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: previous lack of consultation/involvement with the community in planning, implementation and management of watershed development interventions

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	interactive	Mainly:public meetings; partly: awareness generation; Community meeting for discussion. Street plays, exposure visits for awareness generation.
planning	interactive	Mainly: rapid/participatory rural appraisal; partly: group meeting; Preparation of village plan. Discussion on village plan. Negotiation, Decision making.
implementation	interactive	responsibility for minor steps; Landusers provide labour, partly subsidized by project. VWDC members involved in supervision & payments.
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive	measurements/observations; Water levels, migration rates monitored by community with project staff. Gram sabha (Village assembly) meets every 3-6 months to discuss project activity. VWDC meets monthly to take stock.
Research	passive	on-farm; studies carried out by project staff.

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• mainly SLM specialists, following consultation with land users

Explain:

exposure visits' to outside demonstration sites are used as a tool for sensitisation, motivation and awareness raising.

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by mainly by land users supported by SLM specialists. Discussion with VWDC,UG.

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users

• SWC specialists, extensionists/trainers

Form of training:

• on-the-job
• courses

Form of training:

• exposure visits

Subjects covered:

1- Training for VWDC, UG, SHG's to conduct meetings, accounts and book-keeping. 2- Technical trainings. These are provided by government and NGO staff. Training concentrates on participatory approaches and low cost technologies. Capacity building for community groups and land users enables them to participate better in projects and to take ownership of assets.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

Describe/ comments:

Name of method used for advisory service: Multi Disciplinary Teams; Key elements: Field staff drawn from different Govt. line deptt. and NGO's., Village level workers selected locally, paid by the Project through NGOs., Formation, capacity building of village level institutions and farmers.; 1) Advisory service carried out through: non-governmental agency, projects own extension structure and agents; Extension staff: Govt.+ NGO employees 2) Target groups for extension: land users; Activities: Capacity building of village institutions, demonstration of SWC measures, production

Advisory service is quite adequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities; The state policies now emphasise the participatory approach. However, aspects like GO-NGO cooperation need to be instutionalised.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, greatly

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local

Specify type of support:

• financial
• capacity building/ training

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

bio-physical aspects were regular monitored through observations; indicators: general parameters

technical aspects were regular monitored through measurements; indicators: water levels in some wells

socio-cultural aspects were ad hoc monitored through measurements; indicators: migration

economic / production aspects were regular monitored through measurements; indicators: yield

area treated aspects were ad hoc monitored through observations; indicators: hectares treated

no. of land users involved aspects were regular monitored through measurements; indicators: attendance at meetings

There were several changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation: Several technological changes have taken place as a result of a review: for example feedback on yield data led to crop variety recommendations. Levels of water in wells confirmed impact of the 'sunken structures' (dohs).

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 100,000-1,000,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

Approach costs were met by the following donors: government (national): 5.0%; international (-): 85.0%; local community / land user(s) (labour): 10.0%

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Yes

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• equipment

• agricultural

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• paid in cash

Comments:

As is common in Indian watershed development initiatives, there is a substantial subsidy towards labour involved. under this approach 75-90% of labour input is paid for in terms of cash: the remainder is voluntary contribution

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• uncertain

If no or uncertain, specify and comment:

1- NGO's will contrinue to visit villages where project has completed bio-physical activities for a period of 2-3 years with a view to provide support and further training to VLI's & communities. Hence it is pre-mature to comment at this stage.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Awareness about SWC increased through street plays, exposure visits. Use of drama preferred to verbal communication. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Continue, and include visits to successful income generating projects.)
Participatory planning has led to better understanding of resources and possibilities (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: The entire village plan should be implemented in defined stages to allow impact to be noted/felt.)
Cost-sharing increases feeling of ownership. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Community contribution should be deposited in the village fund to enable further activities after project moves out.)
Due to village institutions, there is greater decentralisation of ressponsibility and more people are actively involved.
As a result of village fund, interest component remains within the village.
Increased transparency as a result of GO-NGO cooperation. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Less rigidity in roles of GO/NGO staff.)

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Marginalised groups have been identified and given a 'say' (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: NGOs should continue to advise/guide/monitor activities)
Systematic approach to strengthen community participation (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Detailed 'process documentation' to be continued.)
Leadership developed at village level. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: NGO's continue to advise/guide/monitor activities in the village.)
Land users develop a strong sense of ownership of the assets created. (in terms of cost-sharing, a local contribution of up to 25% is high in Indian contexts) (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: There needs to be continued support for 2-3 years after phasing out of bio-physical watershed development activities; also important to build up village funds through a 'community contribution' charge deducted from wages.)
Government system can be strengthened by co-operation with NGOs in watershed management projects (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Continue dialogue between partners at various levels..)

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Formation of User group creates conflict with surrounding villages.
Segregation of responsibilities of GO-NGO staff viz. NGO role restricted to community organisation while GO staff deal with technical asspects.	Better integrated teamwork should be the goal.
A 'community contribution' charge is currently deducted equally from all villagers by the project from wages paid	Contribution to be deposited in village fund., Should be a greater voluntary contribution from the richer farmers.
Participation in various meetings at village level is cumbersome for women, resulting in increased pressure from male family members and loss of wages.
Project duration for planning and implementation too short	Increase the timespan to 3 years or more.
Women not adequately involved in exposure visits.	Correct this imbalance/arrange separate visits for women.
Exploitation by middlemen when small farmers market produce not addressed by the project.	Group marketing of produce.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Because of low literacy levels NGO support to village level institutions is required for more than just short-term	Adult literacy classes of sufficient duration are needed.
PRA brings out many social factors that are beyond the scope of the project to influence eg the feudal system	NGOs need to have broadbased activity platforms that can address these issues as they arise.
Shortage of female staff restricts contact with women land users.	Gender sensitization, training for project staff intensified.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

'Participatory approaches in watershed management- successful experinces' David Gandhi 2002

Available from where? Costs?

Indian Association of Soil Conservation, Central Soil & Water Conservation Research & Training Insti