DMC Meeting

The second meeting of the Decentralisation Implementation and Monitoring Committee (DIMC) met on 28 March 2001 under the Chairpersonship of the then Prime Minister Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala. The meeting while approving the working procedures of the DIMC, also took major decisions for the effective implementation of the Local Self Governance Act 2055 (LSGA). PDDP had assisted MLD in the preparation of the presentation for the meeting.

The then Prime Minister, Girija Prasad Koirala and the then Minister of Local Development, Govinda Raj Joshi at the DIMC meeting

Participants of the second DIMC meeting listening to the issues being discussed.

The decisions taken up by DIMC were:

• Report to be submitted to Development Commmittee of the House of Representatives is approved

• Working procedures of DIMC is approved

• Prepare detailed decentralisation implementation plan to facilitate the work in line with the objectives policies and principles of LSGA in coordination with the sectoral ministries and other related stakeholders and implement it in a phased manner

• Review Local Bodies Fiscal Commission’s Report, 2057, and implement it in phased manner

• Develop criteria & procedures for the establishment of sectoral units within DDCs as provisioned in the LSGA and its Regulations for gradual implementation

• Conduct study to initiate the process of establishing local services as provisioned in the LSGA

• Submit amendment bill to the forthcoming parliamentary session to amend Acts that contradict with LSGA

• Line Ministries should classify the programmes as early as possible in the category of village, municipal and district levels & designate focal sections/divisions in the concerned ministry relating to decentralisation and should develop a regular review system for deceltralisation. The DIMC shall monitor this process.

• All the relevant authorities, stakeholders must direct their local offices to assist local bodies in the preparation of periodic and annual development plans through programme, information and necessary technical support

• The current structure of Local Bodies are complicated and costly and as suggested by studies, have been recommended for a review. Hence conduct study to review structure & number of local bodies and submit the report to the government

• The Decentralisation Implementation and Monitoring Working Committee (DIMWC) should submit report and recommendations on implementation issues of LSGA in the next DIMC Meeting

• Conduct training to enhance capacities of local officials and representatives (including sectoral agencies) for capacity enhancement. Arrange training & orientation programmes for newly elected officials immediately after local elections

• Include in LSGA itself, the subjects that are contradictory with the Act, and which have to be amended during preparation of amendment bills

JCFD

Ministry of Local Development (MLD) has been organising meetings of the Joint Coordination Forum of Decentralisation and Local Governance (JCFD) to keep all stakeholders informed about the progress made in the decentralisation process in the country and are also provided with the opportunity to contribute their knowledge, and experiences and views. The JCFD ensures the coordination of their efforts (and thus the reduction of duplication of efforts) as well as that of the thematic groups - Functional & Sectoral Devolution Group, Fiscal Decentralisation Group, Human Resource Development, Group, Institutional & Structural Reform Group and the Monitoring & Evaluation Group - with their recommendations for the DIMC. The forum also acts as an effective channel to carry government request for donor assistance to support the decentralisation process and making the donors capable of responding in a coordinated manner for maximisation of benefits.

The 23-member JCFD is headed by the DIMC Member-Secretary and Secretary of MLD and has representatives from NPC, Ministries of Finance, Local Development, Forestry, Agriculture, Health, Education, the DIMWC, Associations of Local Bodies like ADDCN, MuAN, NAVIN, Donors, I/NGOs, and private sector institutions like FNCCI, FNCSI, NEFSCUN. The Forum can also form specialised sub-committees as and when required for any envisaged specialised activities.

LTF Workshop

The Local Trust Fund (LTF) workshop was held in Biratnagar in December 2000. It was organised by PDDP/LGP for developing institutional mechanisms for LTF. A standard management and operating system for LTF as a Directive as well as By-laws have been drafted and comments from the consultative wrokshop had been incorporated in the draft LTF Directives.

A second workshop was organized by MLD and NPC on 16 March 2001 in Kathmandu, to solicit views and comments on LTF Directives and by-laws. The workshop was participated by 65 representatives from NPC, MLD, UNDP and related government agencies, donor agencies, I/NGOs, various DDCs, financial institutions and UNDP projects.

During the Workshop Mr. Ganga Dutta Awasthi, Joint Secretary, MLD, presented a paper on Local Trust Fund, with special focus on its Evolution & Concept, the Village Development through Social Mobilization, LTF Resource Inputs and Use, LTF Board, Secretariat, Field Staff, Legal Basis and Major Challenges. Mr. K. Raju from the IFAD study team then made presentation on their Assessment of LTF including its strengths, weaknesses, limitations and other issues.

The issues and challenges raised in these presentations were then prioritised and categoried into broad themes for group discussion. The thematic areas included: LTF Governance, Focused Strategy on Poorest of the Poor including Women and Under privileged, Capacity Building, Resource Mobilisation and Strategic Issues. After group work the findings were presented in the plenary. The opening and closing sessions of the workshop were chaired by Chairman of ADDCN Mr. Krishna Pd. Sapkota, and MLD Secretary Mr. Udaya Raj Soti respectively. Hon NPC Member Dr. Jagadish Chandra Pokharel and UNDP Resident Representative Dr. Henning Karcher were Chief Guests respectively of the opening and closing sessions.

Formulation of Next Phase of PDDP

The current phase of PDDP and LGP ends on December 31, 2001. Based on the recommendations of Executive Committee and TPR meetings the process has been initiated to extend the Programme activities. HMG, along with UNDP and DFID have been undertaking a joint project formulation exercise for designing the next phase of PDDP/LGP. The team have been assisted by PDDP and LGP during their research, field visits and drafting of certain sections for the new phase document. The Formulation Mission visited Kaski, Tanahun, Parbat, Rupandehi and Palpa to gain an insight on the Programme activities and to solicit views of the Programme stakeholders at the district, village and grassroots levels.

Dr. Pasha observing the GIS resource maps at Kaski
PDDP staff working hard during Consultative Session in April

Consultative Session Organized

The Programme Management organised a PDDP consultative session in April to jointly discuss the programme focus and strategies for effective implementation and monitoring of the programme activities in 2001. The Consultative Session approved the introduction of an objective oriented monitoring tool to be utilised by SROs for the district level activities. Besides this, other important strategies and action plans were developed and a PDDP code of conduct has been developed for the staffs.

Dr. Pasha Visits Kaski and Syangja

Assistant Secretary General of UNDP, Dr. Hafiz Pasha visited Kaski, Syangja, Baglung, and Chitwan and received first hand information about PDDP, REDP and Parks and People Programme (PPP). In Kaski, Dr. Pasha was briefed on PDDP supported activities. He also visited the Information and Documentation Centre and observed the GIS maps and resource maps of the district. In Syangja Dr. Pasha visited a CO, Janapriya Gramin Bikas Sansthan and interacted with the members. The CO manager briefed him on development activities conducted by them in the village. Dr. Pasha expressed an interest to learn something on how the programme had made an impact on the lives of the women CO members. One of the members, Janaki got up and spoke about how VDP had brought a change in their lives. Before VDP, the women suffered from various eye ailments due to the smoke coming out of their chulos, but now almost every house has a biogas plant, therefore a smokeless stove. Instances of eye ailments have reduced dramatically. Similarly, the women CO manage to save hours going to fetch water, as they now get water at home because of taps. Other changes she mentioned were education for the girl child, awareness on HIV/AIDS etc.

UNDP Resident Representative, Dr. Henning Karcher, Dr. Bimal Prasad Koirala, Secretary of MoF, Mr. Udaya Raj Soti, Secretary of MLD and NPC member, Dr. Jagdish Chandra Pokharel also accompanied Dr. Pasha in his visit to the districts.

Nepali Team in Philippines

A 25-member Nepali delegation, consisting of NPC, MLD, DDC Chairman, Vice Chairman, LDOs, and programme representatives of PDDP and LGP visited Philippines from February 18 - 28, to learn about decentralisation and convergence efforts. The team prepared a total of 14 points as lessons learnt in Philippines which will be useful to expedite decentralisation process in Nepal.

Congratulations, Welcomes and Goodbyes

Congratulations to Rupa Joshi, who has been hired to the post of Deputy Programme Manager. The position of Communications/Publications Officer, which had remained vacant since she went on to become the DPM, has now been filled by Seema Rajouria, who was with Nepal Press Institute before. The post of District Development Advisor in Pyuthan has also been filled by Sunder G. Mulepati.

Congratulations are also in order to Prakash Man GC, Srijana Kafle, Bikash Panthi, Daya Sagar Shresha, Dhana KC, Sanjaya Sharma, Arjun Ale, and Binod Gupta of Salyan, Banke, Rupandehi, Kavre, Dadeldhura, Kaski, Rukum, and Jajarkot respectively for being selected in the post of RAs and PAs. We wish you a warm welcome.

PDDP wishes all the best to those who had to leave the programme. Thank you Sunil Kumar Jaiswal, Hira Singh Gautam, and Prem Parajuli from Salyan, Banke and Rupandehi respectively. We wish you a bright future.

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