February 2001

Between the months of July 2000 and January 2001 the Nepal nssd dialogue process consisted of status review of selected sectors and series of dialogues across the country. The sectoral review focussed on economic, social and environmental aspects. The areas covered included land and agriculture; forestry; rangeland and biodiversity; tourism; health; population; drinking water and sanitation; education; good governance; poverty reduction and macro economic policies.

In July 2000 six countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam) participated in two-days dialogue. This was a very useful exercise in which countries in Asia region shared their experiences with respect to sustainable development strategies. Following the completion of status review, a national dialogue, five sub-national dialogues and second national dialogue were organized. A summary of the main issues, focus, and conclusions of these dialogues are presented here. Due to constraint of space the findings and conclusions are listed in point form.

Focus of the Dialogue: Main Issues Raised

1. People Related:

   • Disadvantaged groups/ Children
   • Gender/ Economic/ Participation
   • Equity
   • Nutrition
   • Education/ Technical/ Non Formal/ Training
   • Health – Investment, Security, Family Planning
   • Old citizen

2. Natural Resources

   • Information, Trends
   • Biodiversity
   • Forests/ Conservation/ Community forestry/ Buffer zone/ Leasehold forestry/ Forest user group taxes/ Disease in some forest species/ Smuggling of timbre and non timbre forest products/ Forest encroachment/ Private forestry/ Government forests/ Wildlife farming/ Training/ Medicinal herbs/ Water resources/ Energy
   • Grazing

3. Agriculture

   Subsidy, loan, interest rate, organic fertilizer, micro dairy, milk holiday, cash crops, ginger, subsistence agriculture, research, JTA (Agriculture Extension), agrobiodiversity, market mechanism, agriculture based industries, irrigation, seeds, regional agriculture training, soil, permaculture

4. Plans and Programs

   Top down, bottom up, target beneficiaries, implementation, frequent changing, people centred, participation, administrative burden, disintegrated programs, Agriculture Perspective Plan, monitoring and evaluation, duplication and overlapping

5. Institutional mechanism

   Sharing of benefits, Local & Central relationships, Coordination, Commitment at different levels, participation, transparency, duplication and overlapping

6. Law

   Framework/ Legal/ National dialogue prior to international commitment/ Patent right for medicinal herbs

7. Infrastructure (neglected in review)

   Road/ NS Highway/ Unplanned human settlement/ Irrigation/ Tourism infrastructure/ Postal services

8. Macro Issues

   Donor dependency, Decentralization, Democracy, Poverty, Equity, Globalization, Monitoring and Evaluation, Lack of vision, Lack of implementation, Local Self Governance Act, Private sector

9. Environment

   • Polluters pay Principle/ Penalties/ Fiscal Incentives/ Adverse impacts of hydro-electricity

10. Alternate energy (only mentioned)

11. Land fragmentation (only mentioned)

Learning and Key Conclusions from the Dialogue

1. Ignorance about national strategies in general
2. Centre makes promises/ plans/ laws but does not follow through
3. Many local success stories – need to be developed / built on
4. Regional problems not reflected in national policies
5. Rethinking on the role of open border

What plans are there for future?

1. Preparation of Agenda 21
2. Testing the successful lessons learnt
3. Monitoring and evaluation of successful projects

How has the dialogue contributed to existing in-country process?

1. NPC's 9^th five year plan midterm review and inputs for 10^th five year plan
2. National and regional consultation
3. Emphasis on government planning system to incorporate regional and local priorities and plans
4. High level of awareness on the policy and programs

What are the next steps envisaged?

1. Continue dialogue on key sectors such as environment and poverty alleviation at different levels
2. Detailed case studies on success stories with implications for replications
3. Transfer of successful principles/projects/action as pilot programs to other regions

Has the dialogue stimulated further initiatives?

Likely to initiate/influence

1. Greater awareness of regional and local demands
2. Region specific policies
3. Resource allocation disparity

Indicators

1. Increased internal revenue generation
2. Increased mobilization of available local resources
3. Increased community based income
4. Local authorities empowered
5. Monitoring and evaluation system in place
6. People feel more secure
7. Reduced poverty
8. Stocks of natural resource being augmented, endangered species protected
9. Sustained growth in agriculture production
10. Increased involvement of NGOs in decision making
11. Increased involvement of private sectors in decision making
12. Increased involvement of civil society in decision making
13. Sustained industrial growth
14. Increased public awareness
15. Improved infrastructure facilities available
16. Quality of education enhanced
17. Law and order maintained
18. Knowledge base has been increased
19. Substitution for renewable resources established
20. Population growth stabilized
21. Environmental pollution reduced
22. Ecosystem restored
23. Reduced donor dependency
24. Increase in GD