Community Work

Sustainable Community Development Program (SCDP)

 MISSION STATEMENT 
To support the government's efforts in building local institution's capacity to manage environment and natural resources integrating socio-economic development through local community initiatives in remote and degraded people for sustainable community development.

 INRODUCTION

The Sustainable Community Development Program (SCDP) has been formulated in line with spiritual felling when we trek to remote areas. People in the remote areas they are illiterate, poor in economic & health. They are innocent & ignorant to proper utilization of natural resource, firstaid. As per our past experience and our visitor statement, they love to contribute effort as financial / physical / health or educational. Authentic Nepal Treks & Expeditions P. Ltd. committed that to contribute certain percent profit in same area where our visitor has been visited and want to do SCDP. We work together with local people and build their confident. We do not give them fish to eat but we teach them how to fishing.  We are looking for selection of partner NGOs or Support Organizations for each entry point (environmental, economical and social) to facilitate Program activities.

 DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE

The development objective of SCDP is to assist the government of Nepal in building the capacities of local communities and governments, and in adopting the local and national policies necessary to ensure sustainable community development which integrates effective, gender sensitive poverty alleviation strategies with sound health and education management.


 

Since it is equally important to conserve micro-watersheds, including forest and other natural resources, in order to safeguard local supplies of fresh drinking water and check further soil erosion, the Programme is implemented in diverse micro-watersheds. Okhaldhunga borders with its adjoining districts by two major tributaries of Koshi river namely, Likhu, Dudhkoshi and Sunkoshi. These river systems engulf a number of degraded micro watersheds. Landslides and floods are severe after monsoon that causes a heavy loss every year. Likewise Sarlahi is treasure of agriculture & culture. Irrigation proves boon for farmers if they utilize Bagmati water of river.

 

FROM AGENDA TO ACTIONS

SCDP plans and implements various activities under each entry point.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

  • Formation of functional community based organisations; or groups. Promotion of environmental education and awareness.

  • Implementation of forest resource conservation and watershed-management activities, including sustainable use of non-timber forest products and alternative energy sources

  • Promotion of biodiversity conservation.

  • Establishment of local networking and information systems.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

  • Establishment of institutional support for functional community-based organizations such as farmers, traders and self-help cooperatives for agro-based industries.

  • Enhancement of local production systems.

  • Establishment of market linkages and market information systems.

  • Promotion of credit mobilization and micro enterprise development for both men and women groups.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

  • Empowerment of functional community based organizations of men and women. Promotion of education through literacy classes and awareness activities.

  • Promotion of capacity building of communities to identify, plan and implement environmentally sound small scales community development schemes such as health care, sanitation, drinking water, school buildings.

  • Establishment of local information system.

INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

 

The Executive Committee of SCDP, headed by the Member of the Planning Commission responsible for Forest and Soil conservation, formulates policies at the Central level. The Sustainable Development Committee (SDC) chaired by the District Development Committee (DDC) Chairperson is responsible for coordination and managing the Programme at the district level. In the same way, community organizations are responsible for implementing programmers at the settlement or village level. The Programme office is responsible for coordinating the activities of all central, district and village level institutions to achieve the Programme's goal by the 21st century.

 

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FACILITY (SDF)

 

 

Sustainable Development Facility (SDF), either under NGO or DDC/Support Organisation (SO), are created in each districts to support the communities in the long run. These SDFs are autonomous institutions who provide technical as well as loan support to develop micro-enterprises.

While SCDP aims to implement its programmes through capacity building of partner NGOs and CBOs, it has also been working with the authorities at the DDC and VDC levels to develop an information system and a district level natural resources management programme. SCDP also provides a unique opportunity for the government, local authorities, partner NGOs, and CBOs to work together for sustainable development.

 

 

 

PROMOTING SYNERGY

 

A Network called Sustainable Development Network (SDN) is established to facilitate the member NGOs in replication and adapting the SCDP methods and processes. Registered as an NGO, over the time, the SDN is expected to work as the Human Resource Development Center for Sustainable Development in Nepal.

SCDP also collaborates with different line agencies and development partners such as Global Environment Facility, Small Grants Programme and many other Authentic Nepal Treks & Expeditions  assisted development programmes in order to promote synergic efforts.

 

 

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

 

SCDP has adopted the following five phases strategy for effective implementation of its agenda:

First Phase: Selection of partner NGOs or Support Organisations for each entry point (environmental, economical and social) to facilitate Programme activities.

Second Phase: Formation of community based organisations (CBOs) by partner NGOs. CBOs are responsible for implementing all activities at the settlement or village level. This phase concentrates on the three entry point for each district.

Third, Forth and Fifth Phases: Consolidation of achievements for both higher impact and sustainability. The Programme provides training and the necessary technical, financial and institutional support to partner NGOs/SOs and implementing CBOs. This support is to be enhanced by the creation of a Sustainable Development Facility to ensure all activities undertaken are towards sustainability. At the same time, it is anticipated that NGOs and CBOs will soon have the capacity to independently carry out development activities that are sustainable socially, economically and environmentally.

 

AT THE END OF THE PERIOD

SCDP's support will have developed approaches that can help other communities replicate and promote community-based sustainable development throughout the country. Communities will be able to mobilise human and financial capital, both internal and external. They will be able to identify problems, formulate and implement plans, and manage resources. Most importantly, communities will have established link with the services and resources available and developed partnerships with government organisations, NGOs and private sector organisations. This, ultimately, will lead to better collaboration in the design, planning and management of community-based conservation and development at the micro watershed level.