1.2 Coordonnées des personnes-ressources et des institutions impliquées dans l'évaluation et la documentation de l'Approche

Nom du ou des institutions qui ont facilité la documentation/ l'évaluation de l'Approche (si pertinent)

Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) - Inde

1.3 Conditions relatives à l'utilisation par WOCAT des données documentées

Quand les données ont-elles été compilées (sur le terrain)?

24/09/2025

Le compilateur et la(les) personne(s) ressource(s) acceptent les conditions relatives à l'utilisation par WOCAT des données documentées:

Oui

2.1 Courte description de l'Approche

The Capacity Building Process for Participatory Watershed Development is a structured approach to strengthen the technical, managerial, and social skills of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Partner Implementation Agencies (PIAs), and Village-level Institutions (VIs). It includes orientation, training, participatory tools, mentoring, exposure visits, monitoring, and institutionalization. The process enhances competencies, fosters creativity and confidence, promotes community ownership, and ensures effective, sustainable planning, implementation, and management of watershed-based natural resource management and climate-resilient interventions.

2.2 Description détaillée de l'Approche

Description détaillée de l'Approche:

Capacity Building Process for Participatory Watershed Development:
Many Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Partner Implementation Agencies (PIAs), and Village-level Institutions (VIs) aspire to implement participatory natural resource management (NRM) using a watershed approach. However, they often lack the technical expertise, practical skills, and experience needed for effective implementation. To address this gap, a structured capacity-building and induction strategy is essential. Such a strategy strengthen the technical and managerial competencies, nurtures creativity, and enhances their confidence to plan, implement, and sustain watershed interventions. In turn, it transforms their approach to resource mobilization, management, and sustainability. A common environmental challenge—such as water scarcity, land degradation, and climate change—creates opportunities to unite communities around shared needs. The Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) has effectively used watershed development as a unifying framework to bring people together, encouraging collective action for improving livelihoods and building resilience—especially among the poor and vulnerable.

Purpose of Capacity Building:
The overarching goal of the capacity-building process is to develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and confidence of NGOs, PIAs, and VIs in designing, implementing, and sustaining participatory, watershed-based NRM and climate-resilient development interventions.
Expected Outcomes:
•Improved competence in managing watershed-based NRM and climate change adaptation.
•Strengthened community ownership and participation.
•Effective and sustainable implementation of interventions.
•Positive transformation in approaches to resource mobilization and local governance.
Methodology and Key Steps:
The capacity-building approach comprises a series of interlinked steps, each reinforcing the others. Together, they form a comprehensive and adaptive learning process.

Step 1: Orientation and Sensitization
Objective: Build a common understanding and motivation among all project stakeholders.
Approach:
•Conduct orientation sessions explaining linkages between natural resources, livelihoods, and resilience.
•Share success stories and best practices to inspire commitment.
•Define roles and responsibilities of community-based organizations and NGOs.

Step 2: Capacity-Building Training Modules
Objective: Strengthen technical and managerial skills, especially among field-level stakeholders.
Core Modules:
•Technical Skills: Soil and water conservation, water budgeting, sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and ecosystem-based adaptation.
•Social & Institutional Development: Social mobilization, gender inclusion, facilitation, group dynamics, and strengthening local institutions.
•Project Management: Planning, budgeting, reporting, and monitoring for effective implementation.

Step 3: Participatory Tools and Methodologies
Objective: Equip local groups with practical tools for participatory planning and action.
Tools and Methods:
•Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools such as resource mapping, seasonal calendars, and wealth ranking.
•Participatory Net Planning (PNP) for micro-level watershed planning.
•Use of digital tools and simple MIS platforms for data management and progress tracking.

Step 4: Mentoring and Handholding Support
Objective: Ensure continued learning, quality implementation, and motivation.
Approach:
•On-site technical and managerial guidance by experienced facilitators or resource NGOs.
•Regular review and feedback meetings to troubleshoot challenges.
•Peer learning and cross-visits among different project sites for shared learning.

Step 5: Exposure Visits and Learning Exchanges
Objective: Promote experiential and peer-to-peer learning.
Approach:
•Organize visits to successful watershed and NRM sites.
•Facilitate interactions with experienced community institutions and farmer groups.
•Encourage farmer-to-farmer extension to build local confidence and innovation.

Step 6: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
Objective: Foster accountability, reflection, and adaptive learning.
Approach:
•Train partners in participatory monitoring, data collection, documentation, and reporting.
•Develop and use simple, participatory monitoring tools to track outcomes and learning.
•WOTR’s existing participatory MEL tools are adapted for partners to ensure consistent data and insights.

Step 7: Institutionalizing Knowledge and Ensuring Sustainability
Objective: Build long-term local ownership and reduce dependence on external support.
Approach:
•Develop local resource persons, for example para-professionals.
•Establish local training and resource centers for continuous on-the-ground support.
•Document best practices, lessons learned, and local innovations for knowledge sharing.
•Gradually transfer leadership and responsibility to community institutions.

2.3 Photos de l'approche

2.5 Pays/ région/ lieux où l'Approche a été appliquée

2.6 Dates de début et de fin de l'Approche

2.7 Type d'Approche

• The capacity-building process (approach) combines traditional and indigenous knowledge, recent local innovations, and project or program-based approaches for effective and sustainable watershed management.

2.8 Principaux objectifs de l'Approche

The main aims/objectives of the Capacity Building Process for Participatory Watershed Development are
• Strengthen technical, social, and managerial skills of NGOs, PIAs, and Village-level Institutions for effective watershed management.
• Promote participatory planning, community ownership, and active engagement in watershed interventions.
• Build project management capacity, including planning, budgeting, monitoring, and reporting.
• Support continuous learning through mentoring, exposure visits, and peer exchanges.
• Ensure sustainability by institutionalizing knowledge, developing local resource persons, and transferring leadership to communities.

2.9 Conditions favorisant ou entravant la mise en œuvre de la(des) Technologie(s) appliquée(s) sous l'Approche

3.1 Parties prenantes impliquées dans l'Approche et rôles

3.2 Participation des exploitants locaux des terres/ communautés locales aux différentes phases de l'Approche

	Participation des exploitants locaux des terres/ communautés locales	Spécifiez qui était impliqué et décrivez les activités
initiation/ motivation	auto-mobilisation	Community members need to demonstrate their willingness to actively participate in project planning and implementation.
planification	interactive	Farmers, CBO (Community-Based Organisation) members, women, and village-level animators actively participate in planning and review meetings, and contribute by passing resolutions in CBO meetings.
mise en œuvre	interactive	Farmers, CBO members, women, and the project team actively participate in executing activities and in collecting relevant contributions.
suivi/ évaluation	interactive	CBO members participate in joint monitoring visits and share information for impact documentation and research studies.
	interactive

3.3 Diagramme/ organigramme (si disponible)

3.4 Prises de décision pour la sélection de la Technologie/ des Technologies

Indiquez qui a décidé de la sélection de la Technologie/ des Technologies à mettre en œuvre:

• tous les acteurs concernés dans le cadre d'une approche participative

Expliquez:

The NGO plays a leading role in initiating the process, while community members become actively involved as the process progresses.

Spécifiez sur quelle base ont été prises les décisions:

• l'évaluation de connaissances bien documentées en matière de GDT (prises de décision fondées sur des preuves tangibles)?

4.1 Renforcement des capacités/ formation

Une formation a-t-elle été dispensée aux exploitants des terres/ autres parties prenantes?

Oui

Spécifiez qui a été formé:

• exploitants des terres
• personnels/ conseillers de terrain

Si pertinent, spécifiez le genre, l'âge, le statut, l'ethnie, etc.

Community members of all age groups.

Formats de la formation:

• sur le tas
• entre agriculteurs (d'exploitants à exploitants)
• zones de démonstration
• réunions publiques

Thèmes abordés:

Key concepts and topics include: Environmental degradation, Natural Resource Management, Watershed Development, Participatory planning and monitoring tools, Community participation and contributions, Role of stakeholders, Portfolio management, Women empowerment, Gender inclusion, Sustainable agriculture, and Post-project management.

Commentaires:

Training modules are designed to meet the specific needs of the project and location.

4.2 Service de conseils

Les exploitants des terres ont-ils accès à un service de conseils?

Oui

Spécifiez si le service de conseils est fourni:

• dans les champs des exploitants?

Décrivez/ commentez:

In today’s era of climate change and volatile markets, Indian farmers face growing challenges that affect productivity and food security. Unlike urban areas that benefit from the digital revolution, rural farmers need timely, localized, and actionable information on sustainable farming practices. WOTR’s FarmPrecise app addresses this need, providing a comprehensive, data-driven tool to support informed agricultural decisions. Previously, WOTR developed an Agromet Advisory System delivering crop- and location-specific advisories via SMS using data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). While valuable for weather forecasts, this system lacked personalization and direct farmer engagement.
WOTR launched the FarmPrecise app in 2019 to provide dynamic, farm-specific advisories. Since then, it has grown substantially, with over 1 lakh downloads, covering 30 crops across the Indian States of Maharashtra, Telangana, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh, and is available in five languages: English, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, and Odia.

4.3 Renforcement des institutions (développement organisationnel)

Des institutions ont elles été mises en place ou renforcées par le biais de l'Approche?

• oui, beaucoup

Spécifiez à quel(s) niveau(x), ces institutions ont été renforcées ou mises en place:

• local

Décrivez l'institution, ses rôles et responsabilités, ses membres, etc.

Village Development Committee (VDC): Responsible for planning and executing project activities, selecting beneficiaries and work sites, managing conflicts, overseeing community contributions, ensuring quality supervision and monitoring, maintaining records, and conducting social audits.

Self-Help Groups (SHGs): Organize women into savings and credit groups and manage SHG operations.

Village Water Management Team: Promote water budgeting, coordinate water governance, and support sustainable water management practices.

Précisez le type de soutien:

• renforcement des capacités/ formation

Donnez plus de détails:

Capacity-building inputs are delivered in a sequence of trainings aligned with the project cycle tenure.

4.4 Suivi et évaluation

Le suivi et l'évaluation font ils partie de l'Approche? :

Oui

Commentaires:

In regular Community-Based Organization (CBO) trainings, the monitoring component is a key focus area.

Si oui, ce document est-il destiné à être utilisé pour le suivi et l'évaluation?

Oui

Commentaires:

It is used for follow-up purposes as well as for knowledge dissemination.

4.5 Recherche

La recherche a-t-elle fait partie intégrante de l’Approche?

Oui

Spécifiez les thèmes:

• sociologie
• économie/ marketing
• écologie
• technologie

Donnez plus de détails et indiquez qui a mené ces recherches:

The baseline survey tool is used for impact documentation. It helps reach beneficiaries to record their quality of life and assess the effects of project activities.

5.1 Budget annuel de la composante GDT de l'Approche

Si le budget annuel précis n'est pas connu, indiquez une fourchette:

• < 2 000

Commentez (par ex. principales sources de financement/ principaux bailleurs de fonds):

Main sources of funding / major donors: National and international donors, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions.

5.2 Soutiens financiers/ matériels fournis aux exploitants des terres

Les exploitants des terres ont-ils reçu un soutien financier/ matériel pour la mise en œuvre de la Technologie/ des Technologies?

Oui

Si oui, spécifiez le(s) type(s) de soutien, les conditions et les fournisseurs:

Although not through direct financial or material support, land users (community) benefit from improved skills and knowledge, and gain advantages through active participation and involvement.

5.3 Subventions pour des intrants spécifiques (incluant la main d'œuvre)

• aucun

Si la main d'œuvre fournie par les exploitants des terres était un intrant substantiel, elle était:

• volontaire

Commentaires:

While labor is not required, participation of land users in the capacity-building process is essential. Landowners contribute their knowledge and time to share ideas and insights.

5.4 Crédits

Des crédits ont-ils été alloués à travers l'Approche pour les activités de GDT?

Non

5.5 Autres incitations ou instruments

D'autres incitations ou instruments ont-ils été utilisés pour promouvoir la mise en œuvre des Technologies de GDT?

Non

6.1 Impacts de l'Approche

6.2 Principale motivation des exploitants des terres pour mettre en œuvre la GDT

6.3 Durabilité des activités de l'Approche

Les exploitants des terres peuvent-ils poursuivre ce qui a été mis en œuvre par le biais de l'Approche (sans soutien extérieur)?

• oui

Si oui, décrivez de quelle manière:

The principle of ‘learning by doing’ is central to the capacity-building process. Communities gain hands-on experience in various project components, developing strong technical and managerial skills at the local level. This enhances sustainability, as trained village institutions such as VDC members and community workers possess the necessary knowledge and skills for continued implementation and impact documentation.

6.4 Points forts/ avantages de l'Approche

Points forts/ avantages/ possibilités du point de vue de l'exploitant des terres
Inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge: The approach allows local and traditional knowledge to be integrated into planning and implementation, making interventions more relevant and practical to the local context.
Enhanced Knowledge on NRM: Land users gain valuable knowledge and information about Natural Resource Management (NRM), helping them make informed decisions on soil, water, and land use practices.
Leadership Development: Community members get opportunities to take leadership roles in planning and decision-making processes, strengthening local governance and ownership.
Social Inclusion: The process ensures participation from all sections of society, including marginalized groups, women, and youth, promoting equity and collective action.

Points forts/ avantages/ possibilités du point de vue du compilateur ou d'une autre personne ressource clé
Systematic Approach: The capacity-building process follows a structured and step-by-step framework, ensuring consistency, clarity, and efficiency in planning, implementation, and monitoring.
Tested and Proven Strategy: The approach is based on field-tested methodologies and past experiences, which have demonstrated successful outcomes in participatory watershed and NRM projects.
Operational Guidelines: Well-defined operational guidelines provide a clear roadmap for facilitators and implementing agencies, helping to standardize procedures and maintain quality across different project sites.
Set of Tools: The process includes a comprehensive toolkit—such as participatory planning tools, training modules, and monitoring formats—which helps streamline learning, participation, and evaluation.

6.5 Faiblesses/ inconvénients de l'Approche et moyens de les surmonter

Faiblesses/ inconvénients/ risques du point de vue de l’exploitant des terres	Comment peuvent-ils être surmontés?
Time Constraints: The capacity-building process requires continuous engagement, which can be time-consuming and may interfere with regular livelihood activities of land users.	Flexible Organization of Capacity-Building (CB) Events: Conduct training and awareness sessions at times and locations convenient for community members to ensure higher participation, especially for women and farmers with field responsibilities. Use of Social Media and Digital Platforms: Share project updates, training materials, and success stories through WhatsApp groups, community radio, and other social media tools to reach a wider audience effectively.
Lack of Confidence to Participate: Some community members, especially those with limited education or exposure, may initially hesitate to engage actively in discussions or decision-making.	Rapport Building: Establishing trust and positive relationships with community members helps facilitators engage participants more effectively and encourages open communication. Interactive Methods – Games, Exercises, Personal Talks, and Corner Meetings: Use participatory and informal methods to make learning enjoyable, build confidence, and promote active involvement among community members. Use of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) Tools: PRA methods like mapping, ranking, and seasonal calendars help participants express local knowledge and experiences, increasing confidence and ownership in the planning process.
Social Constraints and Gender Barriers: Cultural taboos and social norms may restrict women’s participation in meetings or leadership roles, limiting their ability to contribute fully to capacity-building and project implementation.	Encouraging attendance and use of Information: Motivate community members to regularly attend meetings, apply shared knowledge in their practices, and contribute ideas for better project outcomes. Confidence Building Among Men and Women: Conduct targeted sessions to enhance the confidence of both men and women, ensuring balanced participation and reducing gender-based hesitation in community discussions.

Faiblesses/ inconvénients/ risques du point de vue du compilateur ou d'une autre personne ressource clé	Comment peuvent-ils être surmontés?
Language and Cultural Barriers: Differences in language and cultural practices can make it difficult to communicate technical concepts effectively, especially in diverse and multi-lingual communities.	Rapport Building and Understanding of the Community: Spend adequate time in the field to understand local culture, traditions, and social dynamics. Building mutual trust enhances participation and improves the quality of capacity-building interventions.
Limited Literature in Local Language: The scarcity of training materials and technical documents in local languages restricts understanding and limits wider participation at the grassroots level.	Translation of Reading and Training Materials: Translate manuals, handouts, and key reference materials into local languages to make technical content accessible to all community members and ensure uniform understanding.
Communication and Facilitation Skills: Successful capacity building depends on skilled facilitators. In some cases, inadequate communication or facilitation skills among trainers can reduce the effectiveness of training sessions and field interactions.	Upgrading Skills of Trainers and Facilitators: Provide regular refresher training and exposure opportunities for facilitators to enhance their communication, facilitation, and technical skills—ensuring more effective delivery of capacity-building programs.

7.1 Méthodes/ sources d'information

7.2 Références des publications disponibles

Titre, auteur, année, ISBN:

WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES (Revised 2001), Community and Rural Development Department,

Disponible à partir d'où? Coût?

https://megcnrd.gov.in/forms/WSD.pdf

Titre, auteur, année, ISBN:

The Wasundhara Approach. 2013. Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR).

Disponible à partir d'où? Coût?

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/19427351/the-wasundhara-approach-wotr

7.3 Liens vers les informations pertinentes disponibles en ligne

Titre/ description:

Wasundhara Approach, Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR)

URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3YHpkm9qFY&t=364s

Titre/ description:

Water Gives Life, Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR)

URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thdevpZ-vio&t=149s

Titre/ description:

How to do Wealth Ranking in Watershed

URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygiAy7f7Gpc

Titre/ description:

Wasundhara

URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3YHpkm9qFY&t=364s

Titre/ description:

A New Beginning

URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBzF7DXbedM&t=2s

Titre/ description:

Rising Together: Building Resilient Communities for a Sustainable Tomorrow

URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gCFkwkfwdg&t=2s