alpha Partners' View - Huf · Hindustan Unilever Foundation have been working on the Jal Samriddhi...

iHINDUSTAN UNILEVER FOUNDATIONHINDUSTAN UNILEVER FOUNDATION

Partners’View

alpha Partners' View.indd 1 12/10/2014 11:17:49 AM

Preface Hindustan Unilever Foundation (HUF), since its inception in 2010, has been involved in various projects that are directly linked with conserving and replenishing water resources and by extension, improving the economic and social life of many in India. It has been working as a facilitating body bringing in various large and small organizations and stakeholders to be a part of its larger aim.It has been rallying various energies around the issue of water conservation in the country and has been working towards ensuring that by the year 2020, we will have achieved the ambitious goal of creating a cumulative and collective water potential of 500 billion liters.

However, at the heart of all its endeavors is the principle of collaboration and collective action. The Foundation recognizes that a task as immense as this requires cooperation from various quarters. Collective action is the only means by which such high goals can be met. It also requires different kinds of working bodies – NGOs, corporate entities, co-funders, governmental departments, federations of water user groups, small and marginal farmers and local communities, to be involved in bringing to the table their unique expertise and skills in order to collectively make a difference.

Over the years, HUF has been funding and working with a number of organizations whose valuable work at the grass roots level has made realizing the Foundation’s goals a possibility.It has been the responsibility of the Foundation to assist our partners in all the ways possible so as to bring all our efforts to fruition. We acknowledge the importance of their work and the successes they have had. It has been crucial to our larger effort and HUF is honored to have had the privilege of working with these outstanding organizations.

The working relationship has been a two way one and this present volume talks about the work and successes of HUF’s partners and what they have to share about their HUF experience in 2013-2014.

Pramod JohnNavin KapoorSambhaji PalveManisha Patil


1

Water forPublic good –

Infl uencingPractice and

Policy

AKRSP (India)

Apoorva OzaChief Executive Offi cer

AKRSP (I)


2

The Dangs district bordering Maharashtra state covered with high hills and rich forest. Dangs is southern most districts in Gujarat, which starts from the rugged mountain chains of the Sahyadri range of Western Ghats in the southwest and descends on the western side of extending undulating tract. Dangs district is situated between the parallels of latitude 20 33’40” and 21 5’10” and the meridians of longitude 73 27’ 58” and 73 56’ 36”. The district is bounded in the North by Vyara and Songadh Taluka of Surat district of Gujarat and Navapur Taluka of Dhulia district of Maharashtra, on the east by Sakri taluka of Navsari District of Maharashtra and on the West by Vansda taluka of Navsari district and Vyara of Surat district of Gujarat Stat. Almost 60 per cent of the area is forest land, largely managed by the Forest Department, reducing the area available for cultivation by the communities, whose main livelihoods are agriculture and migrant labour. The district receives favourable annual average rainfall of 3000 mm over an annual number of about 100 days, but there is high soil erosion and rainwater runoff due to the hilly topography, with fertile black soils in the low lying areas and rocky red soils on the slopes. Maize, rice, groundnuts and millet (nagli) are the major crops while wheat, black gram and pulses are grown. Some outsiders who have cultivated in the area have grown exotic crops like strawberries. Small landholdings (less than two acres)

and lack of irrigation translates into low agricultural yields of around 60 per cent of the state average. The geographic remoteness of the area exacerbates poor market linkages for agricultural inputs and sale of produce, leading to low incomes from agriculture and food insecurity for a signifi cant part of the year. The seasonal migration by men increases the workload on women, who look after the family, fetch water and fuel, and manage agriculture. Government programmes are poorly implemented despite available budgets. These factors lead to adverse impacts on health and high rates of migration.

Major objective of the programme is to improve the quality of life of rural and tribal families and conserve the environment. Activities of the programme are designed to improve the water availability through runoff harvesting measures, conservation of fertile soil through soil and moisture conservation, which improves the agriculture production which ultimately would result in the livelihood enhancement of targeted tribal community. The programme aims to build the water harvesting potential of 15.61 billion litres in its 5 years duration in 65 villages of Dang district. Project also aims to facilitate partnership between the community and other external stakeholders, such as government agencies, panchayat institutions and the market


3

The sequencing of the interventions is in such that initially focus will be on village planning, community organizing and forming village groups. Once sound community organizations have been established, and then the programme activities will be implemented through these institutions. Trainings are also be high in the initial years and then scaled down as responsibilities get handed over to the village organizations and federations.

During the reporting period, Gram Vikas Mandals are formed in 26 villages. Soil water conservation and water resources development activities were initiated in 8 villages. Regular meetings of Gram Vikas Mandals were conducted regularly in all villages and planning is done for the implementation. A range of community meetings/trainings/exposures were conducted to motivate the community 5 Trainings and 1 exposure were conducted during the period to understand the programme and various activities on watershed

development .Community contribution in terms of kind / cash has been ensured for every activity to increase the ownership to the project at local level.489 ha of soil water conservation an activity have been completed. Structures like Boribandhs, check wall, farm pond, check dams etc were also built/rehabilitated to harvest the runoff water during the reporting period. An estimated water harvesting potential of 0.52 billion litres (single fi lling) have been built through these soil water conservation initiatives (farm bunding, Boribandhs) during the period. Approximately 32485 labour days have been generated through these activities to local community. The support availed from community, funders and government during the reporting period ultimately resulted the successful completion of the proposed activities.

Axis Bank Foundation is partnering the programme along with Hindustan Unilever foundation and supports the programme along with HUF since beginning.


4

Securing Livelihoods through

Community-Led Agriculture

Management, in Kasganj District of

Uttar Pradesh

BAIF Development Research Foundation (BIRD)

Ramesh RawalExecutive Vice President

BAIF Development Research Foundation


5

BAIF Development Research Foundation and Hindustan Unilever Foundation have been working on the Jal Samriddhi project in Kasganj district with a focused approach. BIRD-UP, an associate organization of BAIF in Uttar Pradesh is implementing this project. Kasganj has an ample water supply but productivity is low as people there follow unscientifi c traditional agricultural practices. This project aims to promote

judicial use of water by following better animal husbandry and agronomic practices like use of SRI, line sowing, use of bio-pesticides, etc. Farmers are introduced to modern and effi cient agricultural practices that result in increase in productivity of the region. We have had a very nice experience working with HUF and we would like to take this relationship further by replicating this project in different parts of the country.


6

Tank cascade development for development of

livelihood security :The revival of

traditional tank cascade systems in

Gundar basin in South India

Development of Humane Action (DHAN) Foundation

M.P.VasimalaiExecutive Director

DHAN Foundation


7

United Nations declared “2013 an Year of International Water Cooperation” and observing “2014 as an International year of Family Farming”. We, at DHAN Foundation have the fi rm view that the partnership with Hindustan Unilever Foundation, Mumbai since 2010 till the end of fi nancial year 2014 could be the perfect match to commemorate the UN declarations.

Tanks, in our experience, are excellent structures with high effi ciency in terms of water demand management and are viewed as exemplary agricultural, social, technical economical, ecological and environmental systems. Being present over 2000 in numbers in one of the highly climate vulnerable and drought prone Gundar basin, the systematic process oriented rehabilitation of tanks in cascade on a scale is seen as a model by itself, since no one has ever made attempted with purely community owned development processes.

The constant support and continued encouragement from Hindustan Unilever Foundation and funding to the tune of Rs.5 Crores and matching resources supported by the banks, NABARD, Rabo bank foundation and the like has made the partnership and the project a resounding success. Despite the nature was getting more warm,

the failure of monsoons in the past two years had a temporary effect in getting the full-fl edged outcomes, the coverage of the project in over 207 villages span out in fi ve districts highlights the massiveness of the project reach and benefi ts to over 17000 families directly and approximately 30000 families indirectly. The project has created potential to harvest and store over 42.6 Million Cubic meters of surface fresh water resources. There were efforts from us to show case the project through print and visual media and by presenting in various national and regional workshops and seminars.

We strongly feel that Hindustan Unilever Foundation and DHAN Foundation should aim for convening a national level seminar to major stakeholders including the central government’s planning commission to bring out much needed policy amendments in minor irrigation sector. Last but not the least, DHAN Foundation is very keen and willing to forge much higher level partnership with Hindustan Unilever Foundation in the coming years. We convey all our gratitude and best wishes to the team of Hindustan Unilever Foundation andUnilever Family.


8

Integrated Water Conservation Project

in Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar

Haveli - Dhruva

Jayanti R. MoriChief programme Coordinator

DHRUVADharampur Utthan Vahini (DHRUVA)


9

I feel humbled and privilege to present DHRUVA annual report 2013-14 of Integrated Water Conservation Project. This year has been exciting for us as we have started work on different innovative ideas and one of them is Integrated Water Conservation in Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli in the collaboration with Hindustan Unilever Foundation (HUF) promoted by Hindustan Unliver Limited. The project has been launched in Dec. 2013 and being implemented in four villages’ viz. Dudhani, Vansda, Karchond and Mandoni in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Since it has been initiated recently the major focus was on social mobilization, formation of primary groups and initiation of activities on pilot basis.

The project focuses on three aspects as water conservation through catchment area treatment at reach, water harvesting and minimization through different interventions at middle and demonstration of water saving techniques besides water harvesting structures at valley portion. It also conserves the water concentrating on utilization of groundwater being

available through shallow aquifer. During the year through project support training, exposure, construction of check dam in Vansda village and formation of water user groups were taken up as a result 182 participants are trained on water and agriculture, 1490 mandays has been created through check dam construction, and5 water user group are formed which bridged 70 members. Besides it project has shown some indirect impact as the construction of chackdam has been fully planned, executed and implemented by water user group. Equally women were participated in the implementation of checkdam and equity was maintained in wage rates. The group has been thinking to go for diversifi ed farming as they believe that the qualitative work of the check dam will make water available for irrigation too. Some of the water user group has purchased cross breed cows on loan. This indicates that the positive vibration is started in the community.

Last but not least I wish HUL and DHRUVA project team for their sincere efforts to bring the positive results and wish them for future success.


10

Integrated Water Resource Management and Conjunctive Use of Water in the Command

Area of Water Scarce Irrigation Systems of

North Gujarat

Development Support Centre(DSC)

Sachin OzaExecutive Director

DSC, Ahmedabad


11

This was the second year of the project and the organisation has focussed on awareness creation, community mobilisation and execution of work. Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) is essentially a concept that looks at the supply and demand side of water in a holistic and sustainable manner. During the year 2013-14, we also accomplished 1training each for record keeping & quality control were organised in which 28 & 43 no. of stakeholders were participated respectively also 1 exposure visit was organised at model ground water management programme implemented by ACT in Mandavi, Bhuj (Gujarat) in which 87 no. of

participants ( in 2 batches) were participated. Also campaigns, school programme, slogan painting on walls like awareness programmes were conducted. With the efforts of Development Support Centre (DSC), various Govt. Agencies and the local community the programme has achieved 54 ha. land levelling , 172 ha. farm bunding & grass seeding, 2 no. of well recharge, 2 no. of small & 7 no of medium check dams, 14 no. of check walls, 2 no. of stone & 3 no. of masonry outlets, 4 farm ponds, through the convergence with Gram Panchayat & WRD’s scheme 5 no. of medium check dams, desilting of 2 village ponds have been completed in the year 2013-14.


12

Water Commons-Infl uencing Practice

and Policy

Foundation forEcological Security (FES)

Jagdeesh RaoExecutive Director

Foundation for Ecological Security


13

The project on ‘Water Commons – Infl uencing Practice and Policy, supported by the Hindustan Unilever Foundation (HUF), National Rural Employment Generation Act (NREGA), and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) aims to improve the management and governance of land and water resources and impact rural livelihoods in more than 700 habitations across fi ve states. Major components of the project include participatory planning, conservation of natural resources through watershed approach, livelihood enhancement, crop-water budgeting, promoting community cooperation to protect and improve common lands and shared water resources, and establishing wider networking andpolicy dialogue.

FES is known for its work on Commons- both as resource systems and property regimes and works to secure the rights of local communities over shared resources such as pastures, forests and water bodies that are particularly vulnerable to neglect as a result of poor centralized governance but are effectively managed by local communities as joint assets. FES aims to centre stage Water Commons as a viable and promising property regime and alongside State led governance and its tenure as legitimate as individual ownership. A high order challenge in the management and governance of natural resources has been the dominant mindset that

- local people cannot manage their own resources and that large governments are therefore needed to manage resources for local people. In the years to come, we shall strive to work in building strong evidence (together with partners) on effective management of water resources by local communities and community institutions and the legitimacy of community tenure as anotherviable option.

In unfolding the project over the last year, we refl ected on our own experiences and analysed initiatives taken by others on water resources, which together helped us in building clarity, evolving strategies and tools, understanding ongoing approaches in water conservation and fi nally in integrating it into the FES body of work. It has been a constant process of learning and building our internal capacities and on the other hand we could also extend our learning of managing common lands and institutional models to managing water resources.

During the year, despite the teething diffi culties, we had been able to initiate discussions in 323 habitations across seven districts of fi ve states to evolve rules and formulate plans for judicious use and management of commons both land & water. Though the pace on the ground was slow due to delays in seeking approvals, elections and agitations, we used the opportunity to build our conceptual understanding on water commons


14

Sanjeevani Institute for Empowerment and Development

(SIED)

and evolve frameworks and tools for improving collective action around water and integrating with the work on common land. To make up for the loss in time, we plan to restructure our approach thereby reaching more villages and upscaling the number of trained rural cadre, which have a direct bearing on water conservation and leveraging funds. We shall also explore ways to minimize efforts in data collection by securing information on ecological dimensions through BIG DATA and deploying phones/tablets for ease of recording fi eld data.

In 199 villages, the habitation level institutions have begun protecting 2671 ha of common lands (forests, pastures and revenue lands) and have brought 89 water bodies under community governance around which the communities have evolved operation rules for managing the resources. During the year, apart from soil and water conservation activities, a large number of training programmes have been provided for the functionaries of Panchayat, NREGA mates and village institutions though the Prakriti Karyashalas of FES to build skills and capacities at the local level for better management and governance of the natural resources. FES assists the habitation level institutions in building capacities of the NREGA mates and para-workers, who have been successful in leveraging an amount of Rs 243.00 lakhs and creating 213,034 person days under MGNREGA till March 2014.

Effective participation is the backbone of local governance institutions. In order to improve the participation of local communities by helping visualize various interconnections across issues as well as on ecological, social and economic dimensions, we aimed at leveraging the potential of ‘Community Based Systems Dynamics’. To design exercises that could help elicit collective action in tandem with other community mobilization efforts, we have steered our ongoing partnership with Social System Design Lab (SSDLab), George Warren Brown School of Social Work (Washington University at St. Louis) and Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS, Mumbai) in engaging village communities in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan in ‘group model building’ processes around the issue of water. Researchers, students and FES team members mapped the causal diagrams as perceived by local communities, and helped draw out process steps for using ‘System Dynamics’ as an effective tool. Sessions with communities were conducted to understand, the dynamics of groundwater and dry land agriculture in over-exploited groundwater regions of Andhra Pradesh.

Improvement in the governance of common pool water resources warrants behavioral changes in the groups of users. Experimental games have been successfully used as a tool to create a real life situation wherein individuals in a community can understand


15

the impact of their behaviour on a given resource or on other community members and can discuss likely institutional options to overcome them. We have piloted Experimental Games as an exercise in groundwater management to simulate the effects of crop choice on groundwater levels in partnership with Arizona State University (ASU) and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). The exercises are helping understand the behavioural and institutional foundations of why would people, despite the clear incentives to free-ride, engage in cooperative behavior and refrain from over-exploiting a common-pool or contribute voluntarily to the provision of a public good. The experience gained under partnership with ASU and IFPRI was extended to the villages supported by HUF in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka locations and we intend to take them to other locations in the coming seasons with necessary improvisations.

Building on the longstanding association, during the year, FES was successful in collaborating with three State Governments (Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka) in designing programmes and infl uencing public investments. Orders advising Panchayats to conduct special gram sabhas and restore Common land and water resources have been issued by the Government of Rajasthan. In Andhra Pradesh a collaborative arrangement was established between the Government

and NGO networks for implementing a programme titled Commons-NREGA in the areas selected for Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP). Following direction from the Lok Adalat of Karnataka (People’s Court set up by the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority) to seek assistance of FES, two districts have executed MoUs with FES to help facilitate the development of comprehensive plans for restoration of Common land and water resources. Together the three initiatives have infl uenced the governments to channel NREGS estimated at about INR 1500 crore over the next fi ve years (2014-19) for restoring Common land and water resources in about 31,750 villages.

In our efforts towards infl uencing judicious land and water use planning at Block level in fi ve locations, building on the strong mobilization of village communities and federating forums, we shall assess the needs as perceived by Government offi cials and other local decision makers. We aim to make available an integrated online platform bringing three systems together (FES houses an India Database, Indian Biodiversity Information System (www.indianbiodiversity.org) and Big spatial data) to all 640 districts and 2.5 lakh Panchayats, to help democratize planning process through improving access to information and impact programs aimed at poverty alleviation decentralized governance and management of forests, land and water resources.


16

Improving water effi ciency

in Sugarcane Cultivation

International Finance Corporation, Solidaridad Regional Expertise

Centre (IFC)

Bastiaan MohrmannHead, Water Advisory, South Asia

International Finance Corporation


17

The India Sugar program led by International Finance Corporation (IFC) has been in the implementation phase since last sixteen months with Hindustan Unilever Foundation (HUF) joining the same (for funding the “water” effi cient interventions in sugarcane cultivation) w.e.f. May 27th 2013. The program covers more than 1200 villages in the three Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh with a farmer outreach of 100,000 and has an overall water savings of 52 Billion Litres. The program becomes extremely relevant in the mentioned states which are predominantly sugarcane growing belts of India and are getting increasingly marred by water challenges in agriculture, for instance depleting ground water resources, uncertain rainfall, decreasing soil moisture holding capacity and increasing irrigation costs. The HUF-IFC partnership complements the ongoing India Sugar Program in a manner which strengthens the goal of “More Crop per Drop” by effi cient demand side water management techniques, and would subsequently lead to “More Income per Drop” for the farming community.

The program is leveraging the supply-chain networks of two leading Indian sugar companies – DCM Shriram and Olam, and targets to bring about sustainable changes in the water use intensity for farmers in sugarcane cultivation. The noteworthy part is that the programmatic interventions in WUE is fundamentally transforming

the outlook of the sugar companies regarding water as a critical input and risk to their business and at the same time acknowledge the potential social impact it can create among the local farming community.

The backbone of the program is the well-structured training and capacity building activities for farmers and the extension staff of the sugar mills by IFC technical experts, professionals from national research institutes of sugarcane and reputed agricultural universities. Classroom trainings are held on a monthly basis coupled with demonstration at farmer’s fi eld and awareness/building sessions at village meetings. Effi cient water use techniques like trash mulching, use of organic manure, furrow irrigation and drip irrigation have been adopted willingly by farmers in all the three states. IFC is also working to bring in more strategic technology options in effi cient water use by introducing techniques like “Gated Pipe” and “Laser Land Levelling” to name a few. Demonstration for gated pipe has already been successfully carried out at farm level in Uttar Pradesh and the next steps to take it forward are being planned.

With a view to accelerate the program (as resource constraint limits the outreach of the program) and to adopt a more inclusive/comprehensive approach, IFC is exploring the option of working with Non-Government Organization (NGOs) in the respective states who could


18

also work effectively to involve/sensitize the women of the community into the whole program. Forming functional/active “Lead Communities” by lead farmers is another critical component defi ning the institutional “KPI” of the program. IFC has been able to establish a robust project management structure for the program through a project working group of all stakeholders involved (separate for each of the sugar company) and through its team, ensure regular monitoring and tracking of the program. With the program being implemented on a very large scale (covering over 55,000 Ha of agricultural land under sugarcane cultivation and reaching out to 100,000 farmers) regular monitoring/data collection and aggregation becomes a challenge in effective project management. Overall, the uniqueness (and the challenge of the program) lies in the fact that

it attempts to bring about a behavioural change among the mindset of the farmers who have been practicing sugarcane cultivation (including irrigation) for decades with a certain set of practices.

As for the partnership, HUF is being seen as a key strategic partner by IFC. As Agri-water effi ciency is one of the most important pillars of IFC’s overall Water Strategy, the program (and the partnership) is greatly valued from an organizational perspective and also from a region specifi c need perspective. As a next step, IFC is moving ahead to scale up all levers – Financial, Social and Governance to accelerate the program and catalyze the “fi rst and fast” movers in the industry in revolutionizing sustainable sugarcane cultivation on a very large scale in India.


19

BarsingaveIntegratedWatershed

Development Programme

Maharashtra Institute of Technology Transfer for Rural

Area’s (MITTRA)

Shri. V. B DyasaChief Programme Coordinator

MITTRA, Nasik


20

The water harvesting and utilization project started in year 2010. Initially project budget was of Rs. 241.14 lacs with funds of Rs 172.89 lacs through HUF. In year 2012, MITTRA and HUF jointly approached NABARD for watershed project and on its approval; the project is entered into PPP mode with partners Hindustan Unilever Foundation, National Bank for Agriculture and Development (NABARD). Total budget is Rs. 227.36 lacs as grant and Rs. 23.87 as community contribution in which NABARD share is Rs.80.937 lacs and HUF share is Rs. 146.42 lacs. The activities planned under watershed continued through HUF funds till June 2013. Hence under PPP mode the budgets for HUF are Rs. 99.45 lacs. The project is up to September, 2016.

The three years results are encouraging and in the direction of achieving the project objectives. This will provide an opportunity to all the partners HUF, NABARD and MITTRA to work together for common goal with more emphasis on conservation of valuable natural resources.

The project consist of three micro watersheds namely Barsingve, Sonushi and Mydara-Dhanoshi with

total area 2784.42 Ha. So far total area covered under treatment is 519.10 ha. The details of key performance indicators developed under triple bottom-line approach introduced in year 2013. Total 3 Village Watershed Committees and one apex body called cluster level committee are formed. Out of total planned 1095 persons who have undergone exposure/ training on improved agriculture & water management, 523 persons are covered during the year. The expected potential for harvest of water through multiple fi llings of water conservation measures achieved is 2.10billion litres. The labour days generated during year are 6001 person days as against planned 20208 person days. Area treated and stabilized due to improved availability of water is 103.85 ha while agriculture production is improved by 831.40 tonnes mainly due to adoption of four step paddy cultivation by the farmers.

Social Return on Investment (SROI) an approach to measure change from stakeholders’ point of view of change in terms of both qualitative as well as quantitative gauged through perceptions indicates that the ratio of investment versus return is 1.83 for year 2013-14.


21

Water conservation for community

development project around HUL,

Khamgaon Unit

V.B. DyasaChief programme Coordinator

MITTRA, Nasik

Maharashtra Institute of Technology Transfer for Rural

Area’s (MITTRA)


22

Hindustan Unilever Foundation believes that water scarcity is one of the biggest crises India is facing. Water management has been has considered the key performance indicators. In order to address this issue proactively BAIF- MITTRA and HUL has been jointly engaged in water conservation projects since last few years. Hindustan Unilever’s Factory unit is located at Khamgaon in Buldhana district. The villages close to MIDC, Khamgaon area are Jalka Bhadang, Ghatpuri, Sutala, Wadi, and Makta- Kokta has been given priority. Total cost of water conservation project being implemented in six villages around Khamgaon is Rs. 185.05 lacs of which Hindustan Unilever Foundation is providing funds of about Rs.161.17 Lacs over the period of four years.

To commence the execution of water conservation efforts, an inauguration event was organised in

December 13 and actual work initiated in January 14. Four villages were decided for the initial works with a plan of two small check dams in Jalka Bhadang and one big check dam in Makta and Kokta. Repair of check dam at Sutala was planned by installing gates. It was planned to remove the silt of two check dams. Overall it was planned to target of creating a potential of water storage with multiple fi lling to the tune of 0.16 billion litres. The works that will create 0.21 billion litres multiple storage were in progress till march 2014. Three water users groups were also formed which participated in planning and execution of work. Total 131 Persons undergone exposure and training on improved agriculture & water management. For the fi rst year period of three to four month was available to cover the planned target. It is expected that the challenges of community contribution will be reduced to achieve desired level of progress.


23

Community-led sustainable

management of water resource

for promotion of livelihoods and

secured natural base

Mysore Resettlement and Development Agency (MYRADA)

Arvind RisbudExecutive Director

MYRADA


24

Myrada has been engaged in the area of development for over 4 decades and has been extensively involved in building institutions of the poor, management of natural resources , livelihood promotions, health and education. MYRADA’s strength lies in its ability to ensure the participation of the stakeholder community in the effective implementation of the programmes. Over the years, MYRADA has received funding from Indian as well as International donors for the implementation of several developmental projects/ programmes in the 3 south Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu.

In the past, MYRADA’s partnership for developmental projects has been mostly with other likeminded NGO’s or the government. There has been a paradigm shift in the last few years where in Myrada has started partnering also with Private or corporate donors involved in manufacturing, construction, garments, Information Technology etc. Myrada believes that this partnership will lead to better livelihood options for the poor in several non-farm based activities also. The project or programme gets more impetus if the private or corporate donor expresses interest in funding a farm based project along with the support to farm or off-farm livelihood activities for the poor. This Myrada believes will be a win-win situation for all in the long run.

The current project i.e., “Community-led sustainable management of water resource for promotion of livelihoods and secured natural base” is unique as it falls into the category of tripartite agreement between an NGO, a private company and an established government bank. The project which is being implemented in 5 identifi ed districts of Karnataka by MYRADA is being funded by Hindustan Uniliver Foundation (HUF) a section 25 company and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). The duration of the project is for 4 years and the project’s aim is to develop the selected watershed encompassing natural resources, livestock and the livelihood of the people through a community-led participatory method.

The 5 selected districts i.e. Bidar, Bellary, Chitradurga, Gulbarga and Kolar are rainfed and drought prone. Natural resources in these districts are deteriorating to a great extent due to the felling of trees, soil erosion and over exploitation of water for both domestic and agricultural purposes and in turn affecting the livelihoods of the people.

The overall aim of the project is to improve the natural resources and increase the water resource and retention through conservation and proper management practices. The project’s aim includes improving and increasing the income of the poor especially the small, marginal farmers and also the landless through farm and non-


25

farm based interventions. The approach adopted to achieve this is through the involvement of the affected community in planning and implementation of the project which in turn will ensure its sustainability in the long run.

In the selected districts, over 7269 ha of land in 21 villages have been identifi ed for the intervention. This intervention will impact directly or indirectly over 4200 families with 3600 land holding families being impacted through watershed development activities and 600 landless families through non-farm based livelihood activities.

The project has encountered several challenges during the last 2 years beginning with the Department of Watershed Development (DWD) in some cases not issuing No Objection Certifi cate (NOC) to implement watershed activities and in Gulbarga some farmers had already given permission to set up a cement factory on their land. These led to a reduction of the treatable land from 8500ha to 7142 ha. Environmental issues such as poor monsoons, topography of the land not suitable for

planned activities, not fi nding labour to work on the land, non-availability of funds at the appropriate time to take up land development activity etc., have also been some of the other challenges faced. Several steps have been taken to address these challenges and fi nd necessary solutions to mitigate them.

For the fi rst time in the history of Myrada, two important approaches towards performance assessment have been adopted. To assess water availability and ground water re-charge over a period of time an approach known as Water budget has been adopted. Similarly to assess the performance of the project a reporting framework known as the “Triple bottom line” score card has been adopted.

The project has completed 2 evaluations undertaken by two independent agencies. One evaluation was undertaken by NABARD and other by Deloitte engaged by HUF on their behalf. The evaluation reports have been examined and appropriate actions are being taken to implement the same in the project.


26

Jal Samriddhiproject in Orai

Sanjay SinghSecretary

PSSSParmarth Samaj Sevi Sansthan(PSSS)


27

Parmarth Samaj Sevi Sansthan has been implementing Jal Samradhhi project with the support of HUF in 5 villages of district Jalaun of bundelkhand region since Feb 2014. This is the fi rst Annual report of project refl ecting the project achievement & progress till March 2014. In this duration, the major attention is focused on community repo building and sensitizing them towards project goal, objectives & strategies. The community has been mobilized for collectivization process and their involvement into the project. To strengthen the community collective power, the project has formed Community Institutions i.e. Pani Panchayat in each 5 villages of project area through which 78 community members have been associated. The main objective of

Pani panchayat is promoting community participation in project planning, implementation & monitoring and ensuring community roles & responsibility in achieving the project goal & objectives.

In all the four gram panchahats of project area, regular interaction has been made with village Pradhan & other panchayat offi cials and here the pardhans are providing their active support & guidance to the project. Seeing the involvement & participation of community and other stakeholders into the project, Parmarth team is assure towards the successful implementation of project in line to achieve its set goal & objectives in favor of poor & marginalized community.


28

Regeneration of the Natural Resourcebase through Participatory

Watershed Development in Dhule & Nandurbar Districts,

Maharashtra, India

Sanjeevani Institute for Empowerment and Development

(SIED)

J R PawarExecutive Director

SIED


29

The Project ‘Regeneration of the Natural Resource base through Participatory Watershed Development in Dhule & Nandurbar districts, Maharashtra, India’ is being implemented in tribal dominated backward 26 villages in Dhule and Nandurbar district. Main them of project is “WATER FOR PUBLIC GOOD”

SIED believes that access to water is critical for rural India, for domestic needs and livelihoods. Watershed management and water resource development for irrigation are the key thematic area of SIED. For us HUF is a strategic partner. HUF funding is suffi ciently fl exible and is very much helpful for mobilizing /leveraging the funds from other developmental agencies. Besides

funding HUF works as knowledge partner, helps in capacity building of us as well as community. HUF assisted capacity building of our organization in different sector’s like technical support, documentation support and reporting.

Since the project is in initial stage, unable to comment on outcomes and achievements of the project. However successfully began the project activities in the selected area. Community participation is encouraging and we are receiving support from Government very positively. We are sure that project will deliver its objectives as planned.


30

Implementation of watershed

project in Tikamgarh,

Madhya Pradesh

Society for Promotion of Eco-friendly Sustainable

Development (SPESD)

S. K. PandeyChief Programme Coordinator

SPESD, Bhopal


31

Water is the lifeline of every civilization. Water is essential for survival and progress. Inspite of such a signifi cant role, there has been gross neglect of about the use of water in India. It has been reported that hardly 30% of rain water is used effectively while the remaining 70% creates misery through fl ood, soil erosion and siltation of water bodies. Thus, this valuable asset, critical for survival, has turned out to be a liability. We cannot prosper without effi cient use of water. Hence, we should consider water resource management to be the most important development programme in the country.

In this context, the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India has started a programme in the name of Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) across the country. Two such projects i.e. IWMP - 5 & IWMP – 6 are being executed by Society for Promotion of Eco – friendly Sustainable Development (SPESD) – an associate organization of BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune – on behalf of Hindustan Unilever Foundation (HUF) since Feb’2012 at Tikamgah District in Madhya Pradesh.

The project is spread over 24 villages of Baldevgarh development block of Tikamgarh district in Madhya Pradesh covering an area of 10317 ha. The district forms part of Bundelkhand Plateau which spans over 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Agriculture is the main source of income in rural areas and its production mainly depends on availability of water for irrigation in addition to soil depth and its fertility. Hence, the main objective of the project is to conserve and harvest rain water with the followingin view:

1. To provide protective irrigation for Kharif as well as Rabi crops

2. To reduce soil erosion and prevent degradationof land

3. To increase agriculture production in the area

4. To rise ground water table and secure availability of drinking water to all families in project area

During the year, interventions were focused in three main areas namely watershed works comprising area treatment and drainage line treatment, productivity enhancement and livelihood. Total 21843 meters of Staggered Contour Trenches were constructed during the year covering an area of about 33 ha. and fi eld bunding of more than 7500 meters covering an area of 108 ha. More than 580 meters of boulder bunds were also constructed during the year in addition to 126 gully plugs. Horticulture plantations were carried out on 30 ha of land. To augment water harvesting and storage capacities in the villages, 11 farm ponds and 13 check


32

Improving Water effi ciency and

Sustainability in Supply Chain

Solidaridad Regional Expertise Centre (SREC)

Dr. Shatadru ChattopadhayayManaging Trustee

SREC-Delhi


33

The partnership between Solidaridad and Hindustan Unilever Foundation (HUF) is very critical and important. The funding support from HUF is of its kind where it is supporting demand side reduction of water in agri supply chain. The project is one of the largest water linked sustainable supply chain interventions in India aiming to save between 0.415 to 1 trillion litres of water through sustainable agriculture. The success of project will pave newer dimension on resource management as a supply chain approach in India, as newer direction for the agri-business.

For Solidaridad HUF is both funding and strategic partner. On one hand, it is supporting water saving activities under Solidaridad’s existing supply chain initiatives where they are not focussed on water conservation, which is crucial for sustainable agricultural practices. On the other hand, strategically its support has enabled Solidaridad to explore decentralised water effi cient end use in various crops associated with supply chains and further the use of saved water for diversifi ed cropping. The programme has strategic uniqueness and has potential to go beyond the value chain approach where it enthuse business to invest on issues like water management for the larger benefi t for communities and environment.

At the heart of this programme lies the principle of collaboration and active involvement of the stakeholders.

Some of the major stakeholders from sugar sector supporting this initiative. The program also draws in the energy of local NGOs and other institutions to deepen collaborative arrangements.

Solidaridad believe the programme would be of strategic signifi cance as it has following shared agenda with HUF:

1. Focus on the demand side water management in agriculture done in different agro-climatic zones and diverse hydrological areas and has the ambition to collaboratively look at value chain of individual businesses for large scale impact

2. The project seeks to build the capacity of smallholders, workers, as well as communities for reducing water application in the crops.

3. It seeks to enhance agricultural production in the selected region

4. Involve smallholders, workers and businesses to join water platforms and enable them to engage on policy dialogues around water management in agriculture in select crops

The support from HUF has enabled to mainstream water saving interventions in supply chain which otherwise was missing, thus it helped in bringing in larger business and NGO collective together on one


34

development agenda. The HUF has played a signifi cant role in strengthening the concept of water savings along three core principles in to the project proposal. To build the same the HUF team and Solidaridad commodity teams have interacted over last one year through various workshops and consultations to arrive at KPIs. These interactions and joint discussions helped in developing

Solidaridad’s understanding on core principles and their mainstreaming in larger co-funded supply chain projects. The support of HUF during inception phase through support meeting and joint workshops were helpful in clarifying various components of the project at all level.

Securing Waterand Livelihoods through

Community Led Watershed

Development in Semi-Arid, Drought

ProneRegion of Maharashtra

3434


35

Securing Waterand Livelihoods through

Community Led Watershed

Development in Semi-Arid, Drought

ProneRegion of Maharashtra

Watershed Organization Trust (WOTR)

Dr. Marcella D’SouzaExecutive Director

Watershed Organization Trust


36

The project “Securing water and livelihoods in the changing climate through Community-Led Watershed Development in Drought Prone Region of India” is being implemented in 3 blocks of Jalna district. In year 2012-13, Maharashtra government declared Jalna as severely drought affected district, more than 970 villages were affected by drought. The proposed project area is ranked 101 in India and 15 in Maharashtra as per Rainfed area priority index. The component of Soil and Water Conservation will be completed through MGNREGS program. This project seeks to develop an effective approach or methodology for orienting MGNREGs to undertake works on a watershed basis and actively engage with the Department of Water Conservation and EGS, Govt. of Maharashtra to adopt this approach. The MGNREGS-funded watershed model that will be developed by WOTR under this project would enable greater effectiveness of use of these funds and creation of durable assets that meet both conservation and economic needs of the community extending well beyond project period.

The project objective is to increase water and biomass availability as a basis of poverty alleviation through empowerment of the village communities in 75 villages of Jalna district.

• Harvest a cumulative of 178 Billion Liters of runoff water over the project period and control soil and

water erosion over 25000 Hectares of agriculture land through soil and water conservation measures.

• Stabilize and enhance the productive capacity of the local ecosystem, the agricultural, and livelihood base of the project villages.

• Mainstream women and marginal groups in the institutional life of the village, improve the quality of their lives and strengthen the capacities of village institutions to effectively and accountably manage the projects as well as access locally available resources

• 5% of people from very poor category would get project benefi t (employment, land improvement, livelihood opportunity , access to water) and moved to next category (poor, average and better off)

• Climate resilient agriculture: Weather based information used by farmers making decisions for 30% of net cultivated area.

• Social equity enhanced as evidence by the upward movement of the lowest wealth ranked section of the local community.

Following are the expected outputs, outcomes and impacts


37

Expected Outputs• Area treated: During the project period it is

expected to treat 25000 ha area with various soil and water conservation measures.

• Drainage line structures: During the project period of 6 years a total of 600 minor and major drainage line structures would be constructed.

• CBOs formed: 75 VDCs formed/reorganised and to trained to sustainably manage the ecosystems. 150 SHGs formed/reorganized and trained to take up social developmental activities in their villages.

• Employment: During the project period, a total of 18, 00,000 person days will be created through implementation of soil and water conservation work in proposed project villages In addition to this agriculture employment would be available in the villages as irrigated area is increased.

• Impact study and news letter: -impact studies and 10 news letter published.

Expected Outcomes

• Improvement in soil quality and moisture retention

• Increased crop productivity

• Increased area under irrigation

• Increased number of farmers with Kharif and Rabi irrigation

• Increased ground water levels

• Water availability throughout the year

• Funds generated for works from convergence of government departments.

• Reduction in crop losses due to weather hazards.

• Command area at the tune of 1500 ha would receive supplementary irrigation.

Expected Impacts • Improved soil health and increase in family

income from rainfed and irrigated crops.

• Improved health with reduction in drudgery of women in their works.

• Empowered community and village level institutions

• Improved adaptive capacity of the farmer in climate change scenario.

• Revival of ecology

• Reduced Migration

WOTR’s View on the HUF supported Project:This is an interesting project as it seeks to

operationalise a public-private - civil - partnership (PPCP)


38

to leverage complementary strengths of these key sectors - investment funds from the government; operational funds and technical support from the private sector; mobilisation, technological and networking skills of NGOs; and ownership, implementation and governance resources of the local communities (the NGOs and local communities together constitute the civil sector).

With the recently announced Govt policies underlying the need for such partnerships to drive

India’s growth, this collaboration between the Govt. of Maharashtra, HUF, WOTR, the local administration and local communities is timely indeed and will help develop and validate a model and pedagogy that can facilitate up-scaling and out-scaling of such synergistic developmental collaborations in the country.


39


40

Unilever HouseB D Sawant MargChakala, Andheri (E)Mumbai-400 099. India

www.huf.net

About Hindustan Unilever Foundation (HUF)

Future demand for water resources will increase signifi cantly as populations, economies and consumption rates grow. Estimates tell us that by 2030, the supply of water

in India will be half its demand. The impact of climate change on agriculture would further compound the linkages between food, energy and livelihoods in the country.

To understand and partake in meeting this challenge, we have set up the Hindustan Unilever Foundation (HUF) in 2010.

It is a not-for-profi t company that anchors various community development initiatives of Hindustan Unilever Limited. HUF supports national priorities for socio-economic

development, through its Water for Public Good programme. Each of our projects also complies with the requirements of the Companies Bill 2013.


alpha Partners' View - Huf · Hindustan Unilever Foundation have been working on the Jal Samriddhi...

Documents

Transcript of alpha Partners' View - Huf · Hindustan Unilever Foundation have been working on the Jal Samriddhi...