UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
India
PROJECT PROPOSAL
Water and Livelihoods Security for Vulnerability Reduction in the
Marwar Region of Rajasthan, India
Submitted to
ITALIAN DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION (IDC) IN INDIA
Located in the drought prone region of Marwar in Rajasthan, the proposed project “Water and Livelihoods
Security for Vulnerability Reduction in the Marwar Region of Rajasthan, India” builds on the recently
concluded project (2005- 2009) supported by IDC in 200 villages of the region that focussed on improving
access of local communities for water. The proposed project for Phase II is designed for direct
interventions in 200 villages and hamlets in the project districts of Jodhpur, Pali and Barmer and
simultaneously plans for wider impact across all districts of the Marwar region through the outreach
programme of the project. . In addition to water availability and access, the scope of the proposed project
has been expanded to include, issues of water quality and safe water access, sanitation, inclusion especially
of disadvantaged groups and the piloting of sustainable water and livelihood enterprises. The project will
also link-up with UNDP supported State Level Mission on Livelihoods launched by the Government of
Rajasthan to support livelihood and employment strategies targeted towards disadvantaged groups in the
Marwar region.
The key outcomes of the proposed project are as follows:
Outcome 1:
Outcome 2:
Outcome 3:
Outcome 4:
Outcome 5:
By 2012, an enabling environment for community action created which improves access
of communities, especially women and disadvantaged groups, to safe drinking water and
sanitation in 200 villages and hamlets of the project area
By 2012, participation and representation of women and disadvantaged groups increased
in water management and local institutions in 200 villages and hamlets
By 2012, the outreach of the project for wider extension and replication of community
based approaches in water management in the project districts, state wide and nationally
By 2012, sustainable water-based enterprises piloted in selected villages
By 2015 disadvantaged people in Rajasthan including the Marwar region benefit from
improved poverty reduction policies, programmes and livelihood strategies
Implementing Partners:
UNDP, Jal Bhagirathi Foundation*
Time Frame:
01 Jan 2010 – 31 December 2012
Budget:
Euro 3 million: Italian Development Cooperation (Outcome 1 to 4)
Euro 782,000 (USD 1 million): Co-financing by UNDP (Outcome 5 till 2015)
UNDP envisages a long term partnership with Jal Bhagirathi Foundation. A grant of USD 1 million has
already been provided by UNDP to JBF in support of the pre-launch and preparatory activities leading to
this proposed phase.
*Jal Bhagirathi Foundation is a registered Public Trust under the Government of Rajasthan Public Trust Act 1959. An English
translated version of the certificate is attached at Annexure-XI.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Marwar region of Rajasthan in western India is the most densely populated arid zone in the world. It
constitutes nearly 40 percent of the total geographical area of the state, 22 percent of its population and 34% of
its livestock. The economy of the Marwar region has traditionally revolved around animal husbandry and
subsistence agriculture and its primary ecological resources have been water bodies, pastures, grazing lands and
sacred groves. Severe ecological degradation and increasing desertification has led to scarcity in water for
drinking and productive uses, fodder, fuel wood and food availability, especially for the poor communities. At
the centre of Marwar’s vulnerability is the extreme difficulty faced by it’s the human population, especially the
poor and women, as well as its livestock in terms of availability, access and quality of drinking water and fodder.
The communities depend mainly on storing and using rainwater for drinking as well as productive uses.
Given this context, the Italian Development Cooperation supported Jal Bhagirathi Foundation on the project
titled “Vulnerability Reduction through Community Empowerment and Control of Water in the Drought Prone
Areas of Marwar Region” (2005-2009) . This project designed and implemented a community-driven strategy to
restore and manage traditional water harvesting structures in three districts of Marwar – Pali, Barmer and
Jodhpur. The funds, channelled through UNDP, helped to mobilise communities in 200 villages and organise
them into local institutions to develop and manage their water harvesting systems. Concluded in June 2009, in a
relatively short period, the project resulted in significant improvement in overall availability and access to water
for around 271,000 people or 4.1% percent of the total district population, reduction in distress months and
time spent by women and girls to fetch water and household expenditure on purchasing water.
Based on learning’s from the above project, the proposed project “Water and Livelihoods Security for
Vulnerability Reduction in the Marwar Region of Rajasthan, India” seeks funding for Euros 3 million from
Italian Development Cooperation. It proposes direct intervention in 200 villages and dhanis as well as plans for
impact across all districts of Marwar, at state, national and international levels.
Direct intervention in 200 villages will be carried out across the 3 districts, and will involve (a) deepening the
work on water in the project area by replicating the successful community driven approach to water management
and address issues related to water security, water quality and sanitation (b) strengthening the participation of
women and disadvantaged groups in water management systems and their representation in local decision
making bodies (c) exploring and testing options for strengthening the livelihood security of the local
communities, especially for women and disadvantaged groups.
The project’s impact beyond 200 villages is planned under the ongoing project. It is proposed to strengthen the
institutional and technical capacity of the water resource centre for an effective outreach to all 7 districts of the
Marwar region and to a range of stakeholders – communities, PRI members, block and district government
officials and NGO workers from within and outside Marwar, including other states of India and other countries.
The Centre will also be a repository of knowledge, best practices, useful data and information as well as a
conclave for networking and policy advocacy.
In Rajasthan, UNDP has also been supporting the state government to design and implement holistic livelihood
strategies targeted to disadvantaged groups in different agro-ecological zones and for diverse streams of
employment. As part of this project, UNDP will facilitate a linkage with its state wide initiative which also
includes livelihood promotion for disadvantaged groups in the Marwar region. This initiative will support pilot
demonstrations at the field level, showcase successful interventions and mainstream piloted strategies through
partnering with district governments, NGOs and private sector.
The proposed project is designed to contribute to the Government of India’s focus during the 11 th National Five
Year Plan on expanding development opportunities for disadvantaged groups and regions. It is also aligned with
the UNDP Country Programme (2008-12) and especially focuses on capacity building of poor communities to
reduce their vulnerabilities to environment related risks and to improve their access to better incomes, livelihoods
and poverty reduction programmes. The proposed project will contribute to Government of India’s efforts in
contributing to the MDG targets envisaged under MDG1 (Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger) and MDG 7
(Ensure Environmental Sustainability).
1.
Situation Analysis
2
The Marwar region of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan in western India is the most densely
populated arid zone in the world. It covers an area of 13.5 million hectares comprising seven
districts of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Barmer, Nagaur, Pali, and Sirohi. This constitutes 39.4
percent of the total geographical area of the State.
District Map of Rajasthan: The Marwar region in Western Rajasthan comprises
Seven districts of Jodhpur, Jalore, Pali, Barmer, Nagore, Jaisalmer and Bikaner
The data on human and livestock population in the Marwar region is presented in the tables
below:
Human and livestock population in the districts of Marwar Region.
Districts
Geographical Area
(million hectare)
Population
(in million)
Livestock Population
(in million)
Jodhpur
Jaisalmer
Jalore
Barmer
Nagaur
Pali
Sirohi
Marwar Region
2.25
2.88
3.92
3.83
0.50
2.47
1. 56
1.44
1.81
2.81
1.96
4.17
1.76
2.77
3.24
1.23
1.82
2.76
0.51
0.85
0.97
13.38
12.25
19.38
(39.35%)
(21.69%)
(35.4%)
Rajasthan State
34.26
56.50
54.67
Source: Census of India, 2001. Figures in parentheses reflect percentage of the state population
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District wise, sex wise population and sex ratio in Marwar region
District
Total Household Total Population
(in million)
(in million)
Jodhpur
0.45
2.88
Barmer
0.30
1.96
Pali
0.33
1.82
Jaisalmer
0.08
0.50
Jalore
0.23
1.44
Nagaur
0.42
2.77
Sirohi
0.15
0.85
Source: Census of India, 2001.
Male
(%)
52.4
52.8
50.5
54.9
50.9
51.3
51.5
Female
(%)
47.6
47.2
49.5
45.1
49.1
48.7
48.5
Sex Ratio
906.7
892.5
981.0
821.0
963.7
947.5
943.4
The region has suffered severe ecological degradation due to frequent droughts and absence of a
holistic drought-proofing strategy. The crisis manifests itself in drinking water scarcity for
animals and human beings. The National Habitation Survey 2003 found that about 50% of the
total rural habitations of Rajasthan were not covered by the government’s water supply system,
15.5% were partially covered whereas only 33.3% habitations were fully covered with optimum
water supply.
Over time, a predominantly pastoral economy has transformed into an area of intensive
agriculture with scant regard to the soil profile and ground water system. The existing land use is
entirely dependent on exploiting ground water leading to further desertification and scarcity in
fodder, fuel wood and food availability. The region is characterized by extreme economic
backwardness, environmental degradation and vulnerable livelihoods for local communities. The
land use classification reveals that there is very little forest cover, less than 1 per cent; barren and
uncultivated lands account for around 10 per cent; pastures 4 to 7 per cent; and cultivable
wastelands up to 5 per cent. The net sown area is more than 60 per cent and most of the
cultivation is carried out under rain fed conditions. With increasing demand for water and in the
absence of regulation, groundwater has been over exploited in most parts of the project area,
leaving communities dependent on rainfall for meeting their water needs for domestic as well as
productive uses.
Much of the state response to drought in Rajasthan has been in the form of relief activities that
aim to generate immediate employment. During the summer months, the government’s response
to drinking water scarcity is supplying water through tankers as a relief measure. Given this
situation, the response of the community and particularly of the poor in the Marwar region has
been migration in search of employment, pastures and water. In fact, the share of nonagricultural income (56.9%) is higher than income from agriculture (32.4%) and livestock
(10.6%) in most villages.
The poor households living in these marginal environments have adopted various coping
strategies in response to drought conditions as found in various parts of semi-arid rural India:
growing a mix of crops and/or rearing a variety of livestock, entering the labour and tenancy
markets as needed, drawing upon stored goods or fixed assets, adjusting consumption, borrowing
and drawing upon traditional social security arrangements, and seasonal and long-term migration.
Household responses to drought can be grouped in three stages: (i) risk minimization, involving
crop and herd dispersal, non-farm income diversification, and asset and other saving
accumulation; (ii) risk absorption, involving the sale of livestock and non-production assets, a
search for new sources of income, and collection of debts; and (iii) risk taking to survive,
involving reduced consumption, the sale of productive assets, and reduced socialization. Since
wealthier households have more assets, better access to credit and other social support, and more
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non-farm income than the poor, they are better able to maintain their level of consumption during
drought related food crises. They also have better access to credit and other social support, and
more non-farm income than owned by the poor.
A long-term strategy towards drought proofing, risk reduction and mitigation for the state as a
whole is virtually absent. However, drought-proofing activities, although limited to micro-level
initiatives of government, science and technology institutions and non-government organizations,
have demonstrated the potential of reducing the vulnerability of both the environmental resources
as well as of communities to shocks and stresses. Such initiatives, when designed in the context
of the poor and their asset-holding, have demonstrated the positive impact of drought proofing on
the poor, landless and on women and girls.
2.
Background/ Context
Jal Bhagirathi Foundation (JBF), an NGO has been working in the Marwar region since 2002 to
empower communities and reduce their vulnerability to environmental degradation. It has
focussed on improving the water security of poor communities through renovating/creating
traditional water harvesting and storage structures and building community institutions for their
management.
In the project area, most of the villages are not covered with the water supply and are designated
as ‘Not Covered’ in government records. ‘Not Covered’ habitation means that there is not even a
single safe source of drinking water within 1.6 k.m. of the habitation (the source may either be
public or private in nature); habitations having a source are affected with quality problems such
as excess salinity, iron, fluoride, arsenic or other toxic elements or biologically contaminated;
habitations where quantum of availability of safe water from any source is not enough to meet
drinking and cooking needs (i.e. below 10 lpcd).
JBF has been supported in its work on water security by the Italian Development Cooperation
with funds channelled through UNDP. In addition, UNDP provided a planning grant of $300,000
over 2003-04 which enabled JBF to set up its team and develop a detailed plan of action through
participatory exercises in the field. For operationalizing the full proposal and the project strategy,
the Italian Development Cooperation provided a grant of USD 4.13 million in 2005. The project
that concluded in 2009 reached more than 200 villages across three districts – Pali, Jodhpur and
Barmer.
The project (2005-2009) provided strategic support to operationalize a long-term strategy for
vulnerability reduction in the region. This involved mobilisation of local communities across the
region on a large scale; testing and successful implementation of water management systems
suited for the local environment and creating community based local institutions. The focus was
on water security in terms of improving availability, access and quality of drinking water. Under
the project, action research was also undertaken to understand the situation of water in the region
and the different elements of reviving the traditional water harvesting system to improve water
availability for local communities. The system involves bringing rainwater in the catchment area
(agor) to the village pond (talaab and nadi). In terms of interventions, this requires clearance of
the catchment i.e., removing natural obstructions such a loose boulder, constructing talabs and
land levelling in a manner that the water falling in the catchment area flows towards the village
pond and is finally diverted to it through digging of feeder channels. Revival of traditional
village ponds involves desilting. While livestock are brought to the village pond for water, for
household needs, water is carried through tankers to individual and community underground
tanks (tankas). Additionally, construction of community tanks in schools and habitation without
access to such infrastructure is facilitated. A community fund (Jal Kosh) has been set up in each
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project village for ensuring maintenance of structures. This Jal Kosh raises resources through a
nominal water tariff changed for water transported from village pond to community/ individual
tanks.
The recently concluded project (2005-2009) brought about a significant improvement in water
security in the project area. The impact of the project on water security has been reviewed in
detail through numerous evaluations and international missions of experts and dignitaries. Some
of the significant achievements are:

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The project recorded coverage of 220 villages and hamlets and benefitted nearly 271,000
people in the project area.
291 water harvesting structures were constructed/revived by Village water user
associations or Jal Sabhas.
Communities trained to keep the catchments of community tanks clean as well as
providing hand pumps on the periphery of the catchment to access water for household
needs.
Access to water for drinking and other household needs were brought within a radius of
100-250 meters for a household. The Government of India’s norm for providing drinking
water is within 1.6 km from the household.
Community contribution to projects in cash or kind (voluntary labour) reported from all
sites and on an average covered 30 percent of the total project cost at the village level.
294 Jal Sabhas, 4 Jal Samitis and 1 Jal Parishad were formed.
A total of 55 Jal Mandals (SHG’s) were been formed. By the end of June 2009, these
groups had saved a total of approx USD 33,500)
The Water Resource Centre became an operational source of training and awareness
generation.
Water distress months reduced considerably, ranging from 3 to 6 months, as well as
expenditure towards purchase of water during these months also reduced.
Women were saved from the drudgery of walking for 3-4 kms (5-6 hours) every day due
to the creation of community storage structures close to their homes.
The project supported strong inclusion and as a result, women and men from Scheduled
Caste and Scheduled Tribe groups own more than 46% of the community tanks.
Furthermore the project has helped create a network and functional linkages with civil society
protagonists at all levels. At the local level, the project has supported formation of a network of
125 civil society institutions operating in the Marwar region. At the national and international
levels, JBF has secured membership in various forums including IUCN, WWF, and various task
forces and steering committees at state level including the European Union supported state level
programme on water sector. The organizational and operational capacity of JBF was also
improved overtime. A team of professionals and volunteers has worked with communities to
carry out the field activities. It has set up comprehensive project management and monitoring
systems and has been awarded the ISO 9001:2000 certification for “Altruistic management of
programs that promote sustainable levels of human interaction with natural resources and
facilitate community empowerment to ensure their access to economic resources”. The project
has also enabled JBF to play a role as a key stakeholder in the arena of policy advocacy at the
regional and state level. The Water Resource Centre established under the project is beginning to
serve as a conclave for networking, a repository of manuals and guidelines to work with
communities and for training of NGOs and community leaders.
The project (2005-09) was located with the larger UNDP programme on Disaster Risk
Management, the achievements of which are attached in Annexure V. A snapshot of project
achievements is also provided in Annexure I. It is worthwhile to mention here that while tangible
6
impacts are found in the project villages, the situation in many villages/ areas not covered by the
project as yet remains unchanged. Further, while the outreach of the project was remarkable at
271,000 people, it covered 4.1 % of the total district population and 50.2% of the project area
population.
Though the project concluded successfully, some challenges still remain and new areas that are
closely linked to vulnerability reduction of communities have also emerged. The primary concern
is still to enhance outreach and ensure that practices emerging in project villages are aptly
understood and replicated elsewhere. Water quality is another area of concern and hence a need to
bring to the field a range of technologies for treating water where communities themselves can
play a role and offer potential for fostering partnerships with public and private agencies.
Awareness on improved hygiene practices and sanitation facilities is an important area given that
a substantial part of the income goes towards health expenditure of which about 60% is due to
water-borne diseases 1 . Other health hazards arise from people and particularly animals
consuming brackish water and people taking bath with it. According to another study2 more than
75% villages in the area have groundwater problems associated with high TDS, nitrate and
fluoride contents. Further, women’s empowerment and their participation in water management
continue to be an area that needs more attention. The project needs to pursue inclusion of more
women especially in multi-caste Jal Sabhas where their representation stands at 14 percent.
While it is recognized that remains a challenge given the semi-feudal context of the communities
in the project area; however is a potential to design strategies in this regard which include
increasing the number of women field workers, engendering micro-planning processes and
training programmes to specific actions in the field that bring women in decision making and
more strategic roles.
As mentioned earlier, livelihood is another serious challenge faced by the state and its people. In
response to this challenge, the government of Rajasthan launched a Mission on Livelihoods in
2004. With UNDP’s support under its new Country Programme (2008-12) to the state livelihood
mission in Rajasthan3, the project aims to expand its vistas by inter locking water security and
access with livelihood promotion through field pilots and innovations.
3.
Project Scope & Strategy
The proposed project “Water and Livelihoods Security for Vulnerability Reduction in the Marwar
Region of Rajasthan, India” will extend and enhance the work supported under the recently
concluded (June 2009) Italian Development Cooperation funded project “Vulnerability Reduction
through Community Empowerment and Control of Water in the Marwar Region”.
The scope of the proposed project (2010-2012) builds on the experience and achievements of the
recently concluded IDC supported project with Jal Bhagirathi Foundation as well as the UNDP
supported project with the Rajasthan Mission on Livelihoods (RMoL). The proposed project
contributes directly to MDG 7 goal on environmental sustainability and to MDG 1 on eradication
of extreme poverty and hunger. It is aligned with national and state government focus under the
11th Five Year Plan on expanding development opportunities for disadvantaged groups and
1
As per a study quoted in a report by MIT students for JBF (Feb 2007)1, the average per capita
expenditure on health in the project area is Rs.1500-2000/ yr.
2
Public Health Engineering Department, Government of Rajasthan, Jaipur (2003).
3
BASIX – a new generation livelihood promotion organisation, has been providing technical
assistance to the Mission since 2005 in designing and implementing holistic livelihood strategies
targeted to disadvantaged groups in different agro-ecological zones and for diverse streams of
employment. The achievements of the Mission till date are provided in Annexure VI
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regions. In response to national priorities and with a focus on 7 states that are among the poorest
in India, including Rajasthan, the new GOI-UNDP country programme (2008-12) (Annexure VII)
seeks to promote social, economic and political inclusion of the most disadvantaged, especially
women and girls. The proposed project is aligned to the UNDP Country Programme Outcome
4.1: “Communities are aware of their vulnerabilities, and adequately prepared to manage (and
reduce) disaster and environmental related risks” and Outcome 1.1: “Improved effectiveness of
poverty reduction and livelihood promotion programmes in disadvantaged regions and for
vulnerable groups, especially women”
To actualise the above, the proposed project (2010-2012) aims to create water security and access
of communities to safe drinking water in 200 villages by supporting traditional water
management systems and appropriate technological interventions. The project also forges
linkages between water security, business development and livelihood promotion by piloting
public-private-community partnerships by setting up community based water enterprises, rural
tourism hubs and livelihood resource centres. While doing so it will ensure access and
participation of disadvantaged groups and women.
Further the project will capitalise on its technical expertise and field level acumen for policy
dialogue, training, capacity development through strengthening of the Water Resource Centre,
which will serve as a sustainable knowledge repository at the local, regional, national and
international level.
In Marwar, addressing water issues will continue to remain at the centre of vulnerability
reduction and hence the need for wider replication of community managed water harvesting and
storage systems will be a major focus area of the project. At the same time, there is a need to
look at a broader range of critical risks that impact the life and livelihoods of local communities,
especially the poor. For this, the work on water needs to integrate the critical dimensions of
quality, better hygiene practices and improved access to sanitation. Furthermore, vulnerability
reduction will require simultaneous interventions for better management of other natural
resources, mainly land and pastures. In Marwar, livelihoods are derived mainly from animal
husbandry and subsistence agriculture, both depending heavily on water availability and hence
impacted by water scarcity. Therefore, there is a huge potential and need to strengthen capacity of
communities for adoption of a broader range of natural resource management strategies most
appropriate for local ecological context. As the natural resource base gets strengthened,
communities will also need support to diversify their livelihoods and reduce their risks to income
and assets.
The recently concluded IDC supported project with Jal Bhagirathi Foundation has already
demonstrated the setting up of community institutions at village, block and district levels to
manage water systems. The communities need to be further strengthened to identify and design
sustainable plans for improving their natural resource base and associated livelihoods. The
increased emphasis of the government on decentralised governance envisages a greater role for
communities in local institutions of self governance (panchayati raj institutions); in design,
implementation and monitoring of schemes; in accessing funds and technical resources from
ongoing government schemes and institutions and to voice their priorities and concerns to their
elected representatives and district administration.
Finally, as mentioned in the proceeding section, there is an urgent need to improve the
participation of women and socially marginalised groups – women and men from Scheduled
Caste and Scheduled Tribe groups - in local decision making bodies as well as in formal
institutions of local self governance (locally known as Panchayati Raj Institutions or PRIs).
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With Jal Bhagirathi as the Implementing Agency, the proposed project will adopt a three pronged
strategy:
3.1 Improving Water Security
Direct intervention in 200 villages across the 3 project districts will involve (a) deepening the
work on water in the project area by replicating the successful community driven approach to
water management in 200 hamlets (dhanis) and villages and expanding the work to cover the
related dimensions of water security, water quality and sanitation (b) strengthening the
participation of women and disadvantaged groups in water management systems and their
representation in local decision making bodies (c) exploring and testing options for strengthening
the livelihood security of the local communities, especially for women and disadvantaged groups
in the project area .
Under this, facilitating an enabling environment for community action is the most critical aspect
of the JBF’s philosophy and work in the project area. This will involve: (a) social mobilization
and (b) broad-based and inclusive institution building. The social mobilisation strategy seeks to
nurture and promote social capital for community action and decision-making which will be
translated in the field as a four-tier institutional arrangement for water management.
Under the proposed project, social mobilization activities will be carried out in 200 villages,
especially with disadvantaged groups to create an enabling environment for community action.
The previous project has been successful in designing its social mobilization strategy around
traditional water management practices. This will be build upon through organization of mass
awareness campaigns which will cut across caste barriers and reaches remote and inaccessible
parts of the project area. Special camps will be held for community leaders and women for raising
awareness on water issues and facilitating dialogue across villages in the region on the need for
community action. JBF will invite government representatives and political leaders for such
campaigns and hence brings the local water issues to their attention
Given the need to ensure sustainability, a four tier institutional structure will be extended to the
new villages (while pre-existing structures in the old village will be strengthened). This structure
comprises:
Jail Sabah or Water Users’ Association is a village level forum where people from all habitations
in a village congregate, discuss problems, seek solutions and assert priorities. This institution is
directly responsible for developing micro plans and specific proposals for water resource
development in the village, execution of work and mobilization of community resources. Every
Jail Sabah has at least one woman representative; some have all-women office bearers.
Jail Samiti or Water Development Group is a block level forum and comprises members of Jal
Sabha and key community leaders from the area. They meet on a periodic basis to review
proposals received from Jal Sabhas and forward the selected ones to the Jal Parishad for
consideration/approval. They interact with village representatives and help them to collectively
assess the prevailing situation, voice their concerns, and develop strategies to counter problems,
and advocate and build equitable systems for managing and disbursing financial resources within
the block.
Jal Parishad or Water Forum has been set up at Project level comprising of knowledgeable and
dedicated community leaders to deliberate on macro level issues, approve or reject sanction of
grant to projects submitted by Jal Sabha through the Jal Samiti and monitor progress of approved
projects.
9
Finally there is the Jal Sansad or Stakeholders Forum for the entire Marwar region comprises all
stakeholders i.e., key community leaders, government representatives, JBF staff, renowned
development practitioners from NGO sector and volunteers etc. The Sansad reviews the annual
progress made by JBF and on the basis of previous year’s progress, finalises the next year’s work
plan. It is a common platform where all the stakeholders of JBF projects meet and interact to
finalise its annual strategic planning document.
These institutional arrangements will promote a strong sense of ownership of water projects
among community members and seeks to ensure the sustainability of project interventions in the
long run. Training in areas such as leadership, conflict prevention and management, advocacy,
planning, implementation and monitoring will be provided to community members and
volunteers. Special emphasis will be laid on strengthening effective participation of socially
marginalized groups and women in these institutions.
Water quality has been taken as important area for intervention under the proposed project. An
action research approach will be adopted to test different technologies for improving access of
communities to quality water. National and international experience as well as expertise will be
brought on board to develop solutions.
3.2 Impacting beyond 200 villages- Expanding Outreach by creating a Knowledge
Reservoir:
The strengthening of the Water Resource Centre (WRC), , will build institutional and technical
capacity of a range of stakeholders – communities, PRI members, block and district government
officials and NGO workers. This centre will provide effective outreach of technical expertise,
trainings and generate good practices for the benefit of all 7 districts of the Marwar region and
beyond at state, national and international level. To this end, the WRC will be equipped with
technology applications and other scientific tools etc. which will enable it to store, retrieve and
analyse data that can be then used for planning, monitoring, impact analysis and for advocacy. It
will serve as a hub of knowledge with data from government and independent sources on water
(availability, quality, and access), sanitation, gender and exclusion related studies, government
schemes and programmes within the project area. It will undertake evidence based advocacy to
influence design and implementation of relevant water sector schemes in the project districts e.g.,
those related to drinking water, drought proofing and the National Rural Employment Guarantee
Scheme. As a part of the documentation of this project to strengthen the WRC, based on the
recommendations of the Italian Evaluation Mission, an Agreement between UNDP, Italian
Embassy and JBF as per Annexure XIII, will be signed regarding the future purposes of the WRC.
Further, The Government of Rajasthan in collaboration with the European Union has set up the
State Partnership Programme (SPP) which commits the Commission to support the state
government’s new water sector policy. JBF has been included as a member of the Steering
Committee as a Civil Society Organisation to advise the government on water sector reforms and
policies and will use the learning’s, policy recommendations emerging from work at the Water
Resource Centre to inform better practices in the sector.
3.3 Improving Livelihood Security
In Rajasthan, UNDP has also been supporting the state government’s initiative, the Rajasthan
Mission on Livelihoods (RMoL), to design and implement holistic livelihood strategies targeted
to disadvantaged groups in different agro-ecological zones and for diverse streams of
10
employment. Considering the fact that livelihood interventions require a long term perspective,
UNDP envisages support for the Marwar region till at least 2015.
UNDP will facilitate partnership building between the RMoL and development organisations
working in the Marwar region, including Jal Bhagirathi Foundation. The Marwar Lok Vikas Jal
Manch, a forum of 125 NGO’s and civil society organizations working in Marwar also offers
immense potential for Jal Bhagirathi Foundation and the Rajasthan Mission on Livelihoods to
initiate a structured collaboration on livelihood promotion in the Marwar Region. The Mission
will bring on board its expertise of working with grassroots organisations to identify livelihood
interventions that are best suited for their ecological context and seek to strengthen existing
livelihoods or introduce new opportunities. The Mission has established strong links with key
departments in the government and is mandated to work with them for better delivery of their
services and schemes in the area of livelihood promotion. It is also well positioned to facilitate
convergence between different stakeholders in livelihood promotion - local communities, NGOs,
local level government, institutions of local self governance (panchayats), private sector and
technical institutions. The Mission is also mandated to support district and state government to
upscale successful interventions tested in the field at local, regional and state level.
Proposed Outcomes, Outputs and Details of Activities (2010-2012)
Outcome 1: By 2012, an enabling environment for community action created which improves access of
communities, especially women and disadvantaged groups, to safe drinking water in 200 hamlets (dhanis) and
villages and sanitation
Expected output 1.1: Improved
Activities
availability of drinking water for 1.1.1Social mobilisation of local communities for conservation and management
poor households and their of water resources through awareness campaigns, village meetings and exposure
livestock through creation of visits.
decentralised water harvesting
- Including Supporting the community to identify households that face
and storage infrastructure.
most difficulties in terms of availability and access to water both for
drinking and for their livestock.
- Creating awareness and support training for women self-help groups and
community based institutions on the importance of hygiene practices in
improving the health status, especially of women and children.
1.1.2 Services of faculty for social mobilisation, technical and audit support,
operating at villages and project level
1.1.3 Support capacity building of local community to prepare micro-plans,
technical and project management training for construction of water harvesting
structures.
1.1.4 Create/strengthen the four-tier institutional arrangement in the project
area by formation of village, block and project level institutions (Jal Sabhas, Jal
Samitis and Jal Parishad).
1.1.5 Feasibility studies for treating water quality at decentralised locations and
those that can be managed by communities.
1.1.6 Undertake action research and explore collaboration with technical
agencies to identify the potential technologies for sanitation and water
purification that can be tested in the project area.
11
1.1.7 Construction, maintenance and restoration of traditional water harvesting
structures, catchment development and in 200 hamlets and villages4.
Expected Output 1.2: Community 1.2.1 Monitor and track indicators and implement tools for monitoring access
management systems established and inclusion, setting up sustainable water management systems operating at
under
the
project
ensure villages and project level.
equitable access to water at the
village level, especially for women 1.2.2 Training of selected disadvantaged community members
and disadvantaged groups.
- Build capacities of disadvantaged communities and their institutions to
work with block and district administration and play a greater role in
implementation and monitoring of national and state flagship programmes
in relation to public health and water and sanitation.
Expected Output 1.3: Increased 1.3.1 Participatory planning and development of village sanitation plans
adoption of household sanitation
- Appraise the range of household sanitation models tried successfully in
systems and hygiene practices by
Rajasthan and other parts of India including an assessment of
communities.
technology, cost and socio-cultural factors for their successful adoption
by communities.
1.3.2 Training, awareness generation and mobilization of sanitation committees.
- Create awareness about diseases related to hygine, sanitation and water
and support training for women self-help groups and community based
institutions on the importance of hygiene practices in improving the
health status, especially of women and children.
1.3.3 Provide financial support for construction of sanitation infrastructure in 10
villages
- Test and demonstrate household level sanitation models in at least 10
villages that suit the socio-cultural context of the region.
1.3.4 Technical and project management support including monitoring of
construction of sanitation facility
1.3.5 raining and capacity building on use and maintenance of the sanitation
infrastructure, and on hygiene practices in 10 villages to community groups
including SHGs with a focus on behaviour change
1.3.6 Establishing and tracking indicators for impact of sanitation activity on
health, hygiene etc,
4
All the work will be mostly sub-contracted to the Jal Sabhas (water user associations) and they will
contribute land and 25%-30% of the cost of the structure in labour and material. The community
contribution will be deposited in a 'jalkosh' or development fund for the future maintenance of the
structure and sustenance of the project activities beyond the life of the project.
12
Key Indicators









Total Budget
At least 5% of project area population covered by 200 awareness campaigns
Evident mobilization of communities around water and sanitation in 200 villages.
Priorities of local communities with respect to water availability and quality
documented and analysed for 200 villages.
Formation of Jal Sabhas in 200 villages and Jal Samiti at the block level.
Capacity of local institutional (Jal Sabha, Jal Samiti and Jal Parishad) developed
across 200 villages to successfully manage water harvesting systems and for ensuring
equitable access
At least 800 people of Jal Sabha and community leaders across 200 villages trained in
planning, managing and monitoring micro projects at the village level.
Development and restoration of traditional water harvesting structures, catchment
development in 200 hamlets and villages
Participatory monitoring tools developed for use at the community level and
community leaders/members trained on application of the monitoring tools, analysis
of data and reporting.
At least 2 action oriented researches conducted and tested in the field for safe
drinking water and sanitation
Euro 1,140,452
Outcome 2: By 2012, participation and representation of women and disadvantaged groups increased in water
management and local institutions in 200 villages.
Activity
Expected Output 2.1:
2.1.1 Developing training resources for increasing women's and disadvantaged
Gender and inclusion concerns group's participation followed by development, implementation and monitoring of
integrated in training resources action plans at village level.
developed under the project.
- Identify cases of women’s empowerment from within the Marwar region,
Increased
participation
of
Rajasthan and share these through trainings, meetings, local newspapers
women
in
planning
and
and community video.
management of water and
sanitation projects at the village
level.
Expected Output 2.2: Increased 2.2.1 Track indicators and monitoring plan in consultation with communities to
representation of women and track women’s empowerment and inclusion of marginalised groups in local level
disadvantaged groups in local bodies and preparation and implementation of an action plan for increasing active
institutions set up for water participation and representation of women and socially marginalised groups in the
management under the project. local bodies at village (Jal Sabhas), block (jal samiti) and district levels (jal parishad)
as well as in planning, implementation of water related interventions.
13
2.2.2 Develop training modules for integrating gender and inclusion concerns in
design of water management systems and for increasing women’s participation
and role in water management.
2.2.3 Support formation of women's self-help groups and inclusion in water
management in 30 villages.
2.2.4 Conduct baseline, mid line and end line review to understand the extent and
process of exclusion of women and socially marginalised groups from
development processes and village level
Expected Output 2.3: Enhanced 2.3.1 Gender faculty building capacity of women to address issues of water access
visibility of women in public and quality and sanitation and establishment of block and district level networks
meetings and local decision of women so that they can come together to discuss issues of concern, understand
making bodies.
their rights and entitlements and to take collective action.
2.3.2 Facilitate Exposure visit of network members staff and communities
Key Indicators



Total Budget
Gender and inclusion concerns integrated in training resources developed under
the project
Increased representation and participation of women and disadvantaged groups
in local institutions set up for water management under the project
Enhanced visibility of women in public meetings and local decision making bodies
Euro 166,969
Outcome 3: By 2012, the outreach of the project strengthened for wider extension and replication of community
based approaches in water management in the project districts, state wide and nationally and internationally.
Expected output 3.1: Public
Activities
recognition of the Water 3.1.1 Develop a vision, institutional structure and operational plan for the Water
Resource Centre as a centre of Resource Centre5 so that it emerges as a centre of excellence in imparting training
excellence for training and and knowledge on community based water management in the Marwar region as
knowledge on water sector, with well as state wide and nationally.
a focus on the poor.
- Establish partnerships with national and international resource centres,
technical agencies, experts, knowledge networks (e.g., UN Solution
Capacity building of at least
Exchange) and politicians (e.g. through UN engagement with Legislator’s
3000 number of people from
Forums at the state level and in the Parliament).
villages,
community
based
organisations, NGOs, PRIs and 3.1.2 Establishing the Water Resource Centre as a knowledge repository including
government officials through conducting intensive primary and secondary data collection, compilation,
participation
in
training, tabulation, analysis etc.
workshops, orientation and
- Establish institutional capacities and systems at the Water Resource Centre
exposure at the Water Resource
for developing and regularly updating its repository of local, national and
Centre.
international good practices as well as manuals and guidelines on
community based approaches.
5
The purpose of the water resource centre is detailed in Annexure XIII
14
3.1.3 Equip the Water Resource Centre with technology applications and other
scientific tools etc. which will enable it to store, retrieve and analyse data that can
be then used for planning, monitoring, impact analysis and for advocacy.
- Establish an information centre at the Water Resource Centre with data
from government and independent sources on water (availability, quality,
access), sanitation, gender and exclusion related studies, government
schemes and programmes within the project area.
- Undertake evidence based advocacy to influence design and
implementation of relevant water sector schemes in the project districts
e.g., those related to drinking water, drought proofing and the National
Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
3.1.4 Updating the repository of manuals and guidelines and reference books
- Undertake policy research and advocacy activities driven by interests of the
poor communities and their rights to influence local and state policies and
programmes on water.
3.1.5 Engaging and exchange of faculty, partnerships with national and
international resource centers, national and international networks etc
3.1.6 Capacity building and trainings for 3000 people over 3 years
3.1.7 Provide scholarships, fellowships and opportunities for internship to
encourage action research and policy work on water.
Expected Output 3.2: Enhanced 3.2.1 Organise workshops, conferences and knowledge sharing forums at the
outreach of project results and Water Resource Centre to bring in national and international experience on water
best practices at state, national policy and practice, engage on policy issues and discuss common areas of concern.
and international levels.
3.2.2 Undertake collaborative work with Government departments and
Strengthened
institutional Institutions to map scarcity issues in villages of the project area, hamlets and social
capacity at JBF for influencing groups that are vulnerable due to drinking water stress.
community centred and rights
based approaches in policies and 3.2.3 Enhance operation and infrastructure of resource centre by creating
programmes.
additional space for water testing, library, training and logistic facility.
3.2.4 Build capacities of communities and members of PRIs in tools such as report
cards and social audits to highlight issues in water situation and track performance
of government and non-government funds/schemes on water.
3.2.5 Presentation of good practices and building coherence around community
lead water management issues at national conferences
3.2.6 Participation in major water related events such as the World Water Week,
IUCN, World Water Forum that provide exposure and serve as a channel for flow
of knowledge and experience.
3.2.7 Develop a robust communication strategy for better outreach to
communities, elected representatives and government as well visibility of the
work at local, national and international levels, including communication materials
and equipment other tools like community media, radio in partnership with
international NGOs like Video Volunteers
15
3.2.8 Continue providing institution strengthening training to local bodies set up
during Phase I villages (Jal Sabhas), block (jal samiti) and district levels (jal
parishad) including participation and representation of women and socially
marginalised groups.
3.2.9 Continue with awareness campaigns throughout the project districts for
awareness creation and mobilization of communities around water.
Key Indicators










Total Budget
Vision document and sustainability plan for Water Resource Centre developed
and available.
Spatial database on water for the project area developed. Water Centre
equipped water testing laboratory and other infrastructure related to water
sector
Manuals, guidelines and resource material complied and collected for use by
practitioners and training institutions.
At least 3000 people trained in planning, implementing and monitoring water
projects.
Formal collaborations initiated with national and international resource centres
and networks.
Knowledge pool of resource persons on water initiated through
fellowship/internships offered under the project.
At least 18 workshops/conferences on water organised at the Water Resource
Centre.
Research/policy papers prepared, disseminated and used for advocacy
Project lessons documented & shared widely at national and international
conferences
A communication strategy developed and rolled out at different levels through a
range of products
Euro 738,666
Outcome 4: By 2012, access of local communities to sustainable livelihood strategies and options improved in 30
villages
Expected output 4.1: At least 10
Activities
pilot business models of safe 4.1.1 Drawing up feasibility plans, business plans and models, Identify community
water enterprises for improving based and public-private-community-partnership models for water treatment and
quality and supply of drinking distribution that can be managed by communities from the villages, women SHGs
water successfully demonstrated or panchayats and training community till the model reaches a break even point.
for up scaling
4.1.2 Introduction of safe water technologies like RO for social entrepreneurship
development
Expected Output 4.2: At least 3
community
managed
rural
tourism sites are operational
and linked to established tourist
networks.
4.2.1 Creation of rural tourism sites as alternative income generating options for
communities in the project area This would include (including tourism related
infrastructure as well as services such as home stay, crafts, hospitality, art and
culture related income generating options).
16
Expected Output 4.3: Livelihood
and
micro-enterprise
development services available
for at least 20 villages through 3
livelihood resource centres
established under the project
which will also community
managed rural tourism sites that
are operational and linked to
established tourist networks
4.3.1 Carrying out feasibility studies and developing business plans for microenterprise development in partnership with livelihood promotion NGOs and
Rajasthan Mission on Livelihoods. Equip the livelihood resource centres with
technical staff and an operational plan for providing livelihood/microenterprise
development services.
4.3.2 Setting up decentralised livelihood resource centers in the project area and
livelihood planning in the catchment area.

Key Indicators






Total Budget
At least 10 villages adopt the models for improved quality and supply of safe
drinking water on a business model approach
Evidence of increased income for local communities from these enterprises
captured .
Positive impact on health status.
Business plans for rural tourism formulated for 3 sites. Rural tourisms sites are
operational linked to established tourist circuits.
25 % increase in number of tourists visiting the sites and % of livelihood
generation.
3 Livelihoods resource centres designed and implemented with communities.
Increase in services accessed by communities
Euro 713,913
Outcome 56: By 2015, disadvantaged people in Rajasthan including the Marwar region benefit from improved
poverty reduction policies, programmes and livelihood strategies.
Output :
Activities
-Key livelihoods challenges for 5.1.1 Commission assessments and organise stakeholder consultations to
the poor and disadvantaged understand the livelihood promotion related challenges, opportunities and
groups in the Marwar region constraints for the poor and especially for the disadvantaged groups in the
identified through consultative Marwar region.
processes with key stakeholders,
including local communities.
5.1.2Develop a strategy and action plan for livelihood promotion and vulnerability
reduction for the Marwar region in partnership with stakeholders.
-An action plan for livelihood
promotion and vulnerability 5.1.3Strengthen government’s capacities and coordination mechanisms for
reduction for the Marwar designing and implementation strategies for disadvantaged groups.
regional developed and rolled
out in partnership with Govt, 5.1.4 Capacity building of NGOs and organisations of the poor to strengthen and
NGOs,
local
communities,
diversify the livelihood portfolio at the household and group level.
private sector, research and
5.1.5 Support pilot demonstration in the field, showcase successful
technical institutions etc.
interventions and mainstream piloted strategies through partnering
district governments, NGOs and private sector.
-Advocacy for mainstreaming
5.1.6 Identify and address areas for policy and institutional reform.
pilot
intervention
in
6
Activities Under Outcome 5 will be supported through UNDP co-financing component
17
programmes of Government and 5.1.7 Support networking with state and national level livelihood organisations.
NGOs.
5.1.8 Set up a comprehensive monitoring system to track impact on livelihoods of
-A robust learning system the poor.
established through lesson
learning
among
network
partners and project monitoring
systems.
Total Budget
Euro 662,000 (UNDP contribution)
UNDP will continue to play an important role at the national level wherein it brings together the
lessons learnt from its different projects in the field, facilitates knowledge sharing, supports
documentation and analysis of nation and state policies and programmes and brings on board
international experience. This project will substantively contribute to and benefit from these
national level activities. The strategy is elaborated in the table below where for each of the
project objectives, the envisaged outputs and key activities are presented:
3.4 Project Sustainability
This project builds on an earlier phase spread over 5 years (2005-2009). During this period, a
community based model to revive traditional water harvesting structures and establishment of
community driven management systems was successfully tested and demonstrated across nearly
220 villages. This phase clearly shows that building community based institutions and setting up
of revolving fund for maintenance lends to future sustainability of the systems created under this
phase. The idea of the water resource centre also contributed to wider dissemination of best
practices and provided a centre for training, knowledge sharing and advocacy. The forthcoming
phase will continue to focus on institutional strengthening of community institutions and the
water resource centre. However, these activities will be intensified to reach a large number of
community leaders, Pancahyati Raj members, NGO’s and government functionaries. This would
enable wider and faster replication of successful strategies supported under the project.
Additionally, the thrust in this phase will be on linking up communities with ongoing government
schemes such as NREGS, Total Sanitation Campaign and other drought proofing projects.
Through the water resource centre, action research and advocacy efforts will focus on information
government schemes so that they are designed in response to the ecological and social context of
the Marwar region.
With UNDP’s grant provided to JBF upto December 2009 for preparatory activities towards the
main phase, the focus is on generating baselines, setting up project database, compiling M&E
tools and systems, setting up of project management team, developing a detailed results based
management plan and preparing detailed work plans for subsequent years.
4.
Project Implementation, Monitoring and Review Arrangements
The Project will be managed by UNDP as part of its larger GOI-UNDP programme on
vulnerability reduction and livelihood promotion. The project stream funded by the Italian
Development Cooperation will be implemented in the field in partnership with Jal Bhagirathi
Foundation. Within the overall framework of UNDP’s NGO execution guidelines and UNDP
rules and regulations, UNDP will sign a budgeted annual work plan with Jal Bhagirathi
Foundation and also provide technical guidance and services for effective implementation of the
project. A results based monitoring system will be created for the project and will involve regular
monitoring visits and periodic external financial audits and technical reviews will be
18
commissioned. JBF will submit quarterly financial and physical progress reports in formats
provided by UNDP. UNDP in turn will submit six monthly reports to Italian Development
Cooperation and will be accountable for the overall results and effective use of funds. Joint
monitoring visits will also be undertaken by Italian Development cooperation and UNDP. A
communication strategy for the project will be formulated to ensure visibility and communicate
project results and leanings widely.
A project steering committee comprising Italian Development Cooperation, UNDP and JBF will
be constituted. Representatives from the Government of Rajasthan may also be invited if
government rules and regulations permit. The steering committee will be set up to review
progress of the project and provide overall guidance. The project steering committee will meet at
least twice in a year to:
 Ensure that project goals and objectives are achieved in the defined timeframe;
 Review project progress and suggest implementation strategies periodically;
 Review project expenditures against activities and outcomes; and
 Approve Annual and Quarterly Work Plans.
JBF will be responsible for the implementation of the project in the field, including achievement
of specific project results, and for the use of funds through effective process management and
well established internal project review and oversight mechanisms. JBF will establish a project
management team, headed by a Project Manager. The Project Manager will be responsible for the
day-to-day management and monitoring of project activities and coordinating with UNDP and
different stakeholders. The Project Manager will prepare the Annual Work plans to deliver on
project objectives and submit it to UNDP for approval. The Project Manager will ensure that the
project produces the results specified in the project document, to the required standards of quality
and within the specified constraints of time and cost. An annual review meeting will be
organized by JBF involving UNDP and key stakeholders in the field to review project’s progress
and discuss the annual work plan. The mid-term and terminal evaluation will be commissioned in
collaboration with Italian Development Cooperation. In addition, services of a Gender and Social
Inclusion Specialist will be hired for specialized inputs to the project as and when required. The
recruitment and staffing process will give due attention to considerations of gender equality,
promoting diversity at workplace and will not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.
The UNDP supported stream linked with its support to the Rajasthan Mission on Livelihoods,
Government of Rajasthan, will be part of the bilateral agreement between UNDP and the Mission
with a special focus and dedicated resources for livelihood promotion in the Marwar region and
state level work on policy, improving effectiveness of government programmes and schemes,
monitoring, networking and knowledge sharing. IDC will be invited to participate in meetings
organised on livelihoods promotion activities in the Marwar region. JBF and other partners in
the Marwar are already part of the network created by the Mission in Rajasthan and this
relationship will be strengthened further through an operational linkage facilitated with the co
financing contribution from UNDP.
The Project Budget (2010-2012)
A total of Euro 3 million will be received by UNDP. UNDP will release funds to Jal Bhagirathi
Foundation as per its corporate guidelines that require signing of Annual Work Plans. The
project will make resources available for annual reviews, audits, mid-term and terminal
evaluations and as well as for technical support on important issues such as gender, inclusion and
communication.
currency: Euros
19
Budget Lines
Total Budget
IDC
UNDP
Total
Improving access of communities to safe drinking
water and sanitation in 200 villages
1,140,452
Increasing participation and representation of
women and disadvantaged groups in local
institutions in 200 villages
166,969
-
166,969
Strengthening the outreach of the Water Resource
Centre
Piloting sustainable water based enterprises in the
project area
Improving
poverty
reduction
policies,
programmes and livelihood strategies for
disadvantaged people in Rajasthan, including the
Marwar region
Project technical support and capacity
development
General Management Support (7%)7
738,666
-
738,666
713,913
-
713,913
-
662,000
662,000
30,000
120,000
150,000
210,000
-
210,000
3,000,000
782,000
3,782,000
Total
1,140,452
UN Rate of Exchange (March 2009): 1 USD = Euro 0.782
The detailed budget for the IDC supported budget lines is provided in Annexure VIII.
Jal Bhagirathi will also contribute towards the project as per details provided in Annexure IX.
Under this project, UNDP will contribute USD 1 million (Euro 782,000) to the project through its
partnership with the Rajasthan Mission on Livelihoods. This will include focussed interventions
in the Marwar region that would involve Jal Bhagirathi Foundation among its partners as well as
state level work on improving effectiveness of poverty reduction and livelihood promotion
programmes and policies. UNDP funds under this component will flow to the Rajasthan Mission
on Livelihoods, Government of Rajasthan, as per the Annual Work Plans signed with it.
7
GMS is a mandatory element of project funding as approved by UNDP’s Executive Board. It encompasses general
oversight and management functions of UNDP in handling the donor contribution and providing general oversight and
monitoring.
20
UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME