Local Governance and Community Development Program: Vehicle for Integrating cross –Sectoral Programs

Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development under Local Governance and Community Development Program (LGCDP) Framework have successfully implemented the Poverty Environment Initiatives (PEI) program. It has been found that PEI was "Small but very effective" tool for mainstreaming environment and climate change considerations into local development planning and budgeting framework. During the tenure of PEI, the government produced various knowledge documents following the principle of sustainable development such as i) Current Practices of Revenue Generation from Natural Resources in Nepali, ii) Policy Brief on Rural Road Management in Nepali and English, iii)  Video Documentary,  and iv) Conceptualized Environment Friendly Local Governance (EFLG) framework. 

Similarly, under the capacity enhancement front, the Ministry produced, i) Training of Trainers' Manual on Mainstreaming Environment into Local Development Planning for Social Mobilisers, VDC Secretary and VDC Technicians, and   ii)  A Resource Book on environmental impact assessment prepared. The book guides DDC and Municipalities in preparing Initial Environment Examination's Terms of References (IEE- TOR) and reporting procedures and Environment Impact Assessment's Terms of References (EIA – ToR) and Scoping Document. The book also annexes revised Social and Environment Safeguard Framework Checklists. Moreover, Various trainings were conductedincluding  i) Organised sensitization training on Mainstreaming Environment into Local Development Planning Process conducted for DDC and Municipality Officials of Far Western and Western Development Region and ii)  Training on effective management of sand, gravel and stones were conducted in five different districts, Sunsari, Makawanpur, Dhading, Rupandehi and Kailali

Now, to upscale the PEI approach to a more strategic level, MoFALD is preparing Environment Friendly Local Governance Framework. The EFLG concept empowers household and makes them more responsible through an  "incentive based volunteer approach". The framework is developed under the principles of equity, subsidiary, harmonization and alignment, participation and collaboration, mutual accountability, downward accountability and transparency and a Sector Wide Program Approach (SWAp).  Moreover, the Framework has been considered as a major cross cutting theme under LGCDP - II Framework.

It is believed that the EFLG concept accommodates all the programs and activities that are being implemented by the government with the support of various development partners. In addition, the concept strengthens the integrated bottom up planning process, coordination and collaboration amongst the various sectors. It helps crating demand from local communities for integrated environment friendly infrastructure development and also enhances capacity of local bodies and other service providers for effectively delivering the message of sustainable development to grass root level communities.

To respond to this demand, environment, climate change and disaster management criteria are added on the essential services areas of the local bodies.   To make this possible the Environment and Energy Sections of the Districts must play a more strategic role in also addressing climate and disaster risk reduction.    They must move from being seen as a project vehicle to being fully owned and utilized by the DDCs.    The Ministry has already started this process of strengthening these Environment, Energy and Climate Sections.  

Climate change policy 2011, demands investing upto 80% climate change earmarked budget into local level through the local bodies. While there are many donor programmes funding climate change, only a few of them use national and local planning and budgeting systems.   Having the mandate to coordinate and facilitate in developing and implementing guidelines, channeling block grants and monitoring local development activities, it is wise to channel climate funds to the local level through the Ministry of Federal Affairs.  Some DDCs have set up Environment Funds as one mechanism to make this possible.   

As part of the PEI, the Ministry has proposal to support this process through the UNCDF’s Local Climate Adaptation Living Facility or LoCAL.    This can demonstrate how earmarked environmental funds will benefit the local community by reducing their climate vulnerability.   One important area will be to make sure that local infrastructure, such as rural roads are environmentally friendly or climate proofed.

In this connection, UNDP, UNCDF, UNEP and MoFALD jointly organized a workshop in Kathmandu on reviewing the modalities for how LoCAL will initially be demonstrated.   And then if successful what steps MoFALD can take to upscale the approach through the LGCDP in line with the Environmentally Friendly Local Governance –and finally into the government’s own budget.