1. TOWARDS CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCE BUILDING OF VULNERABLE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE AND THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (POLICY BRIEF) Jagadish Chandra Baral May 10, 2012

2.  V ulnerability context to climate change  National context  Ramechhap context  Synoptic overview of the vulnerable areas  International policy initiatives  National policy/framework  Key policy gaps  Recommendations  Conclusion PRESENTATION OUTLINE

3.  National Context  Nepal the 4th most vulnerable country  Attributable to - High exposure 0.04 degrees against.0074 global averages -High sensitivity Young geology/steep slopes -Low adaptive capacity Extreme poverty/difficult access Vulnerability context to climate change

4. Vulnerability context to climate change…  Ramechhap Context  Top-most vulnerable country (in rural settings) score.995  19 VDCs declared drought prone

5.  Synoptic situations in four vulnerable areas as defined by district stakeholders - Synoptic issues and adaptation /coping practices Vulnerability context to climate change…

6. 2Majhuwa Less drinking water (previous 24 hr supply; now 2 hrs/day) Erratic Climatic Pattern Reduce in Agriculture Production (Especially paddy) No more production of Masyang/Gahat Less buffalo or cow/HH; high no of goats Plantation around water sources Cultivation of Rajma/Bean instead of Masyang/Gahat Forest Conservation SNVDCsIssuesAdaptation Practices 1Pakarbas Huge Scarcity of Drinking water Drying of spring/well (out of 20 well, limited water in 5/6 well) Paddy Cultivation just a story Reduction in Grass/Fodder Havoc of Invasive species Erratic Climatic Pattern Low Agriculture Production Change in livestock holding and rearing Padlocking well Initiation of Rainwater Harvesting Paddy cultivation over come by maize Initiation of Cash crops like coffee/Avocado Forest Conservation

7. SNVDCsIssuesAdaptation Practices 3Deurali Drying of water sources/less drinking water supply Reduction in Agriculture Production Decrease in livestock Less Grass/Fodder Erratic Climatic Pattern Appearance of Mosquitoes Changing of Intake for water supply Forest Conservation 4HImaganga Drastically shrinking of water sources (24 hr Water Supply to 1 hr daily supply) High pest infestation in crops Erratic climate pattern Reduce in Agriculture production/Cultivation Almost no more Production of Masyasng/Gahat due to pest Infestation No vegetation cultivation now Reduce in Large livestock rearing Dying of trees in forest Water Storage in plastic tank Change in Livestock rearing (Hybrid goats) Optional profession Use of Chemical fertilizer and pesticides (Not effective) Forest Conservation Cash Crops (Junar)

8. Field Reality

11. Padlocking Well

13.  -Commonality -Erratic rainfall -Ever depleting water sources -Crop failure and -Loss of biodiversity PROBLEMS  Problemcenteredaroundwaterstress  Problem centered around water stress -Priority Order 1: Drinking water -Priority order 2: Irrigation water

14.  Poor Support from the central government and the district agencies  Increasing level of hardships to sustain local livelihoods  Desperate attempt to cope  Tendency to drift temporarily/permanently if favors -Temporary drift by way of getting employment (Headquarter Region, Kathmandu, Overseas) -Permanent drift by way of Property shift/Matrimony DAG can hardly get this opportunity

15.  IPCC 1988  UNFCCC 1992  Attempts for ambitious targets for mitigation and adaptation is on… INTERNATIONAL POLICY INITIATIVES NATIONAL POLICY/FRAMEWORK  CC policy 2011  NAPA 2010  LAPA framework 2012  Toolkits for CCVA: Draft

16. Key policy gaps  Lack of effective integrating agency at the central level to push the climate agenda in a holistic and effective way  Lack of two-way communication mechanisms among and between the center and the local levels  Weak arrangements to rightly identify and to intervene the vulnerable areas and communities  Role and space for ‘learning by doing’ is not adequately emphasized by policies and programmes

17. Details of policy gaps 1. Lack of effective integrating agency at the central level to push the climate agenda in effective and holistic way CCC not afford to do it-too high an authority for this MOE has its limitations NAPA overlooks the role of MLD LAPA risks of being it for ‘nobody’ Water problem at the core: govt structures (water supply and irrigation offices) are yet to realize this

18. Details of policy gaps….. 2. Lack of two-way communication mechanisms among and between the center and the local levels  Poor coordination among sectoral ministries  Disproportionately low attention at the grassroots -Towards desperate community needs -What they have to offer -What project experience has to offer  A sort of reflective shield is at work  MCCICC does not have constituency at the grassroots  Ensuring adaptation as rights looks uphill struggle in the face of local understanding that problem is linked with divinity

21. 3. Weak arrangements to rightly identifying and to intervening the vulnerable areas and communities Vulnerability: just a NAPA Basis-Optional thereafter Vulnerables are too weak to make their voices heard Vulnerability changes over small space: thus capturing it is difficult Lack of adequate/reliable data can a take a toll on vulnerable communities: Eg PPCR Details of policy gaps…..

22. 4.Role and space for ‘learning by doing’ is not adequately emphasized by policies and programmes CC is a new area requiring more than a sectoral intervention Need to go ‘out of box’: NAPA does not really conceive this issue Only a learning by doing might figure out 1) what process 2) approach 3) program) coordination mechanism works The vulnerability tool kits have limitation: o Not all 7 steps of LAPA framework have been dealt o Lacks experiential learning base Details of policy gaps…..

23. Recommendations Issue 1: Lack of effective integrating agency at the central level to Push the climate agenda in a holistic way Establish Climate Change centre with a mandate to  Research and inter-sectoral integration  Backstopping the role of climate change council and the MoE MoE to start empowering/backstopping other sectors to shoulder burden of NAPA fund raising and implementation - An idea of separate unit may be useful Make some agency functionally responsible for LAPA implementation - MLD could be rightly placed for that Focus adaptation on water stress through:  Revised NAPA  NAP More exclusive agency for handling water conservation and supply.

24. Recommendations………….. Issue 2: Lack of two-way communication mechanisms among and between the center and the local levels MOE should start communicating better with  Rest of the sectoral ministries  Grassroots: o For indigenous knowledge/Opportunities o For past leaning from intervention MCCICC need to be crafted right up to the grassroots Work towards ‘adaptation as rights than a conventional aid’ o Though not easy requiring an extension  to defy the old conviction that it is the divine phenomenon  to convince that it is the GHG for which industrialized world is responsible

25. Recommendations………….. Issue 3: Weak arrangements to rightly identifying and to intervening the vulnerable areas and communities Make mandatory arrangements in a way that vulnerable communities/ places get first priority by interventions Empower vulnerable communities to make their voices heard - Institution building may be an entry point Make use of NAPA information to identify vulnerable districts. However, be aware that  NAPA’s identification of an entire district ‘vulnerable’ or ‘non- vulnerable’ is not always helpful  Supposedly non vulnerable/less vulnerable areas may have inclusion of vulnerability. Opposite may also be true. (example: all Ramechhap may not be vulnerable and part of Sindhuli may be vulnerable)

26. Aim for more data (met and socio-economic) that covers micro catchment. Use truly participative PRA  until detailed data are available  for validation of ‘statistical data’ Gear towardsbetter research to develop drought resistant varieties of crops and livestock Pilot crop and livestock insurance system with a focus on drought prone areas Recommendations…………..

27. Issue 4: Role and space for ‘learning by doing’ is not adequately emphasized by policy Given the new field where uncertainties abound and there is no known method, program and approach ‘learning by doing’ should be the basis Piloting should be  Based on indigenous knowledge system  Process than blueprint  Holistic than sectorally segregated  Empowerment focused than centrally sponsored  Vulnerability centric than vulnerability blind Recommendations…………..

28. Should initially be done along the 5 physiographic transact from north to south Named as community based climate learning school Replicate/expand the model with necessary modifications Modify the toolkits based on new knowledge The overall task may be a collaborative effort among the local communities and sectoral agencies under the facilitation/support/patronage of MLD/NAST MoE must ensure necessary backstopping Recommendations…………..

29. The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them.level of thinking with which we created them. Albert Einstein Think Out of Box by Way of Putting Vulnerable Communities at Centre

30. Reflection over Nepal’s concerns  National Climate Change policy,2011  Major Targeted dates Establishment of a Climate Change Center by 2011 Initiation of community-based local adaptation by 2011 Preparation of a national strategy for carbon trade in order to benefit from the CDM by 2012 Formulation and implementation of a low carbon economic development strategy by 2014

31. Reflection over Nepal’s concerns……..  NAPA  USD 350 million (estimated cost)  6 thematic Areas Agriculture and food security Water resources and energy Climate induced disasters Forest and biodiversity Public Health Urban settlement and infrastructure

32. Reflection of Nepal’s concerns……..  NAPA………………  9 combined profiles Community based adaptation through Integrated Management of Agriculture, Water, Forest and Biodiversity Building and Enhancing Adaptive Capacity of Vulnerable Communities Through Improved System and Access to Service Related Agriculture Development Community Based Disaster Management For Facilitating Climate Adaptation GLOF Monitoring and Disaster Risk Reduction Forest and Ecosystem Management For Supporting Climate Led Adaptation Innovations Adapting to Climate Challenges in Public Health The Ecosystem Management for Climate Adaptation Empowering Vulnerable Communities Through Sustainable Management of Water Resources and Clean Energy Supply Promoting Climate Smart Urban Settlement  Institutional structure including DCC/VCC/Reginal technical suuport/MCCICC

33. Reflection of Nepal’s concerns……..  LAPA framework Meant for local level 7 steps starting from vulnerability assessment

34. Reflection of Nepal’s concerns……..  LAPA toolkits Vulnerability mapping and planning Basic premise of vulnerability assessment: V=f(exposure*sensitivity*adaptive capacity)

35. Main concern of current work Do those national initiatives address conditions such as Ramechhap?

36. Community Interaction in Pakarbas VDC

37. Ramechhap Climate Change Issues SNVDCsIssuesAdaptation Practices 1Pakarbas Huge Scarcity of Drinking water Drying of spring/well (out of 20 well, limited water in 5/6 well) Paddy Cultivation just a story Reduction in Grass/Fodder Havoc of Invasive species Erratic Climatic Pattern Low Agriculture Production Change in livestock holding and rearing Padlocking well Initiation of Rainwater Harvesting Paddy cultivation over come by maize Initiation of Cash crops like coffee/Avocado Forest Conseervation 2Majhuwa Less drinking water (previous 24 hr supply; now 2 hrs/day) Erratic Climatic Pattern Reduce in Agriculture Production (Especially paddy) No more production of Masyang/Gahat Less buffalo or cow/HH; high no of goats Plantation around water sources Cultivation of Rajma/Bean instead of Masyang/Gahat Forest Conservation

38. Ramechhap Climate Change Issues… SNVDCsIssuesAdaptation Practices 3Deurali Drying of water sources/less drinking water supply Reduction in Agriculture Production Decrease in livestock Less Grass/Fodder Erratic Climatic Pattern Appearance of Mosquitoes Changing of Intake for water supply Forest Conservation 4HImaganga Drastically shrinking of water sources (24 hr Water Supply to 1 hr daily supply) High pest infestation in crops Erratic climate pattern Reduce in Agriculture production/Cultivation Almost no more Production of Masyasng/Gahat due to pest Infestation No vegetation cultivation now Reduce in Large livestock rearing Dying of trees in forest Water Storage in plastic tank Change in Livestock rearing (Hybrid goats) Optional profession Use of Chemical fertilizer and pesticides (Not effective) Forest Conservation Cash Crops (Junar)

39. SN Policy Issues VDCs PakarbasMajuwaDeuraliHimganga 1NCCP Not Known 2NAPA 3LAPA 4 CC program in budget Not included

40. Way forward for the district level Way forward for the district level  Orient yourself with  International initiatives  National initiatives NAPA/LAPA/CC policy  Identify vulnerable communities  Do not bulk all VDCs in one basket  Do not follow a blanket approach  ‘Water’ at the centre of intervention  Raise awareness: CC policy  Follow the LAPA steps: show diagram  Collaborate with existing NGOs/Organizations  Purposeful lobby as a last resort for securing financial and technical support financial and technical support