Process and Progress: Thematic Working Group (TWG) of Agriculture and Food Security (Nutrition) for Nepal NAP

Process and Progress: Thematic Working Group (TWG) of Agriculture and Food Security (Nutrition) for Nepal NAP

S.B.Thakur

Thematic Lead, Agriculture and food security (nutrition), NAP formulation process

Introduction:

In Nepal, as per the decision one of sixteen Conference of Party (COP) in 2010 and decision five of COP seventeen in 2011 of United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC), National Adaptation Plan (NAP) formulation process has initiated since September 18, 2015 by Ministry of Population and Environment (MoPE) of Government of Nepal as focal point. The objectives of the NAP to reduce vulnerability to the impact of climate change by building adaptive capacity and resilience; and to facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation into relevant new and existing policies, programmes and activities in a coherent manner, in particular development planning processes and strategies, within all relevant sectors and at different levels, as appropriate. The COP 16 of Cancun in 2010 has decided to formulate and implement National Adaptation Plan (NAP) to identify medium- and long-term adaptation needs. The COP 17 of Durban in 2011 published NAP Technical Guideline and outlined 4 key elements i.e. A. Lay the groundwork and address the gaps; B. Preparatory elements; C. Implementation strategies; and  D. Reporting, monitoring and review. The CoP17 also agreed to enhance the process by following country-driven, gender sensitive, participatory and fully transparent approach, taking into consideration the vulnerable groups, communities and ecosystems. In Nepal, MoPE has determined to formulate the NAP through Thematic Working Group (TWG) approach and defined seven thematic working groups and two cross cutting working groups. Among all, agriculture and food security (nutrition) is one of the important and highly climate change vulnerable. As per the concept paper of the NAP process the Working Group (WG) has to be formed for better consultation and coordination. This paper has tried to communicate and document the formation process of Thematic Working Group (TWG) and its progress.

Methodology:

As per the launching meeting on the NAP formulation process on September 18, 1015 organized by MoPE, Government of Nepal, seven thematic working areas determined are: Agriculture and food security (nutrition), Forest and biodiversity, Water resources and energy, Urban settlement and infrastructure, Disaster induced disaster, Public health and WASH and Tourism, natural and cultural heritage; and two cross-cutting thematic working groups: Livelihood and Governance, and Gender and Social Inclusion (Table 1).

TWG formation was one of the foremost pivotal work for moving the NAP formulation process. As the high interest of the various groups on climate change issues and NAP process, identification of key members were little difficult. Formation of the TWG of agriculture and food security theme was done with following steps;

1.      Identification of thematic working areas

2.      Identification of the coordinating ministry

3.      Listing of the stakeholders

4.      Stake holder analysis and mapping

5.      Determination  of responsibilities of TWG

6.      Information and communication

7.      Decisions from the lead ministry 

8.      Meetings and actions.

Table 1: working groups and coordinating ministry

Working group	Coordinating ministry
Thematic working group
Agriculture and food security (nutrition)	Ministry of Agriculture Development
Forest and biodiversity	Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation
Water resources and energy	Ministry of Energy
Urban settlement and infrastructure	Ministry of Urban Development
Disaster induced disaster	Ministry of Home Affairs
Public health and WASH	Ministry of Health
Tourism, natural and cultural heritage	Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation
Cross-cutting working group
Livelihood and Governance	Ministry of Federal affairs and Local Development
Gender and Social Inclusion	Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare

Formation of TWG of agriculture and food security (nutrition)

Separate TWG were formed for nine working groups. For the identification of the key actors for agriculture and food security TWG, the major actors were listed from various governmental, non-governmental, academic and research institutions, civil society, and private sectors. The list was prepared keeping in the mind that major contribution on climate change adaptation in the sector. The list was almost more than 30 which was highly unmanaged.

After listing of the different actors, the stakeholder analysis was done based on their nature of actions like service providers, policy stakeholders, beneficiaries, enabler, and advocates¹. Then level of interest and influences of the actors were analyzed and mapping was done in four by four matrix in different classes like high interest and high influence, high interest and low influence, low interest and high influence, and low interest and low influence.

Again, high interest and high influence, high interest and low influence, low interest and high influence institutions were analyzed based on their affective most, moderate and least affecting.

Like this, the key actor institutions were identified for the TWG of agriculture and food security (nutrition) sector. During the stakeholder analysis, NAP team members were rigorously involved in discussion following group exercises and presentations. Many consultations were done with the relevant organizations. The members from different institutions like research, academic, development, civil society, media, expert and farmers network.

As there were three ministries were involving like Ministry of Agricultural Development, Ministry of livestock development and Ministry of irrigation, the broader and influencing ministry was selected as coordinator of TWG.  MoAD was   selected as coordinating ministry and MoLD was as co-coordinating ministry. The coordinator for the TWG joint secretary of the Food security, agriculture enterprise promotion and environment (FSAEPE) section of MoAD was authorized. The undersecretary of the section was identified as the member secretary of the TWG. The undersecretary of the MoLD was selected as deputy coordinator.

As focal point of the NAP process, MoPE secretary level decision was made on July 18, 2016 and along with objectives of TWG formation and major responsibilities, letter was circulated to MoAD to form TWG. MoAD joint secretary of FSAEPE section initiated on discussion in team and reached at the point to form TWG. MoAD was also consulted UNDP and FAO for better coordination and synergy development.

Eighteen member TWG from different disciplines and provision was made to invite the members as and when required as invitees. The memo was prepared and submitted to the secretary of MoAD. Secretary level decision was made on August 21, 2016 to form thematic working group for agriculture and food security.

MoAD circulated letter on August 22, 2016 to concern institutions, requesting to select and inform a representative for TWG. Under-secretary of MoAD as member secretary of TWG has taken initiatives by sending letters, follow up and name collection and communication to coordinators. Around two weeks was taken to response from all the institutions. The complete TWG was formed by last week of September, 2016. The TWG portfolio members in this sector are coordinator, Co-coordinator, members and member secretary (Table 2).

                                                                                                                   

Progress of TWG of Agriculture and food security (nutrition)

It was decided to conduct first meeting of TWG was planned on October 2, 2016. The agenda of the meeting to introduce and orient on global and national initiative on climate change adaptation, NAP formulation process, and basis of agriculture and food security in NAP process. The meeting was held in chairmanship of MoAD joint secretary in MoAD conference hall. Two presentations were done from NAP team for wider communication and better understanding of stakeholders on NAP process. Electronic copy of the presentations, set of capacity self-assessment of format and decision copy were shared to all TWG members.

After one and half months of first meeting, second meeting was conducted on December 16, 2016 in conference hall of MoPE with objective of sharing stocktaking report and conceptual framework of Vulnerability assessment and Risk assessment (VA&RA). During the meeting, inception report of integrating agriculture into NAP project of UNDP and FAO was also shared by the project team. As per the decision of the meeting, electronic copy of the stocktaking report, conceptual framework of Vulnerability assessment and Risk assessment and indicators of the VA & RA for the agriculture and food security along with meeting minute were shared to all TWG members.

Figure 2: Stakeholder mapping of NAP process in Nepal

Table 2: Composition of the Thematic Working Group (TWG)

SN	Institution	Portfolio	TWG portfolio	Remarks
1	Ministry of Agricultural Development (MoAD)	Joint secretary	Coordinator	Service provider
2	Ministry of Livestock Development  (MoLD)	Undersecretary (Technical)	Co-coordinator	Policy stakeholder
3	Ministry of Agriculture Development (MoAD)	Undersecretary (Technical)	Member	Service provider
4	Department of Agriculture	Undersecretary (Technical)	Member	Service provider
5	Department of Livestock Services	Undersecretary (Technical)	Member	Policy stakeholder
6	Department of food and quality control	Undersecretary (Technical)	Member	Policy stakeholder
7	Agriculture and Forest University (AFU)	Assistant professor	Member	Enabler
8	Nepal Academic Science and Technology (NAST)	Scientist	Member	Enabler
9	Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC)	Scientist	Member	Enabler
10	NGO-Centre for environment, agriculture policy, research, extension and development (CEAPRED)	Program director	Member	Enabler
11	NGO-Local initiative for bio-diversity, Research and Development (LIBIRD)	Program director	Member	Enabler
12	Agriculture technical association	Member	Member	Enabler
13	Farmers association	Chairperson	Member	Beneficiary
14	Central agricultural cooperatives Ltd.	Chairperson	Member	Advocate
15	FNCCI (Agriculture Enterprises Center)	Executive Director	Member	Advocate
16	Nepal Environment Journalist Group	Executive Director	Member	Advocate
17	INGO FAO	Program Officer	Member
18	MoAD	Under secretary	Member-secretary	Service provider

All together nine officials from government, three form civil society and networks, two each from research and NGOs and one each from private sector and media.

When TWG member stakeholders are categorized based on the influences and interests. The TWG were from multi-stakeholders groups. There are five service providers, three of policy stakeholder, one of beneficiary, six of enabler and three of advocates stakeholders categories.

Constraints

·                     High interest of the people and organization to be a part of the NAP TWG has little difficulty.

·                     Capacity on climate change is not adequate to all the TWG members.

·                     Information and documents on climate change variability in agriculture and food security are not sufficient.

·                     Understanding on climate change to the stakeholders in agriculture and food security is not uniform.

·                     Member in TWG may be changed due to government transfer system.

Opportunities

·                     Better opportunity to discuss and inculcate the climate change vulnerability and risk and its adaptation measures in agriculture and food security among multi-stakeholders. 

·                     Opportunity to integrate climate change adaptation in new policy, plan, programme, projects, activities, etc.

·                     Better opportunity for integrating the climate change adaptation measure in national level planning process.

·                     Discussion and interaction may support in capacity building and ownership development to TWG members and institutions.

·                     Better opportunity to know the upcoming and existing status at different sectors.

·                     Opportunity to include more potential stakeholders for better support and cooperation as TWG member or invitees.

Conclusion:

The TWG is an important forum for multi-stakeholders consultation, understanding and ownership for the NAP formulation process.  The TWG of agriculture and food security is moving smoothly in a good direction. Good support and cooperation from the coordinating ministry i.e. MoAD as well other agencies are adding value for NAP formulation process. The TWG meeting has enhanced the capacity of TWG members and wider communication of the NAP process.

Acknowledgement:

 We are highly acknowledged to MoPE and UK-aid, Act on Climate today, Oxford Policy Management, and Practical action, for  their  kind support  and cooperation.  We are highly grateful to the coordinating ministry MoAD and co-coordinating ministry MoLD.  The members of TWG are highly appreciated for their sincere support and cooperation.

Reference:

NAP technical guideline, UNCCC, 2012.

Proceeding of   launching meeting of NAP formulation process on 18^th Sep, 2015., MoPE, GoN.

NAP approach paper, October, 2016, MoPE, GoN.

Annex 1

Categories of stakeholders

Categories of stakeholders' described as follows:

1.       Service provider: Stakeholder who play a leading role as service providers for the NAP formulation process in thematic working group and cross-cutting working group. For an instant Ministry of agriculture and development and concern department and authority is service provider for agriculture and food security thematic area.

2.       Policy stakeholders: Stakeholder one who can make an effect and impact or impacted governmental sector during the report preparation and implementation are considered as policy stakeholder. For example TWG of agriculture and food security ministry of livestock development, ministry of irrigation, ministry of forest and soil conservation and its concern department will be policy stakeholders. 

3.       Beneficiary: Representative of group or organization of community, private sectors, geography who impacted or benefited from climate change adaptation actions. For example: producers, farmers, farmers groups, etc. for agriculture and food security.

4.        Enabler: In the NAP formulation process, stakeholders who play a role of catalyst, promoter, information providers, academic, research, technology transfer, technical and financial support are considered as enablers. For example, NARC, NAST, FAO, AFU, etc.

5.       Advocate: Stakeholders one who play role for facilitation, information dissemination, advocacy for beneficiary in NAP formulation process. For example: farmer's network, Federation of farmer's cooperatives, indigenous groups/ networks, Nepal environmental journalists group, etc.

Annex 2

Expected roles of TWG

§  Review and analytical inputs on and/or finalize documents related to agriculture and food security (nutrition) such as stocktaking report, capacity gaps and needs, vulnerability, risk and development priorities.

§  Actively engage in identifying, selecting and prioritizing to agriculture and food security (nutrition) based adaptation options to include in the NAP.

§  Provide inputs in communicating and/or communicate NAP-related information at appropriate fora.

§  Integrate climate change adaptation into existing and new policies, programmes and activities related to agriculture and food security (nutrition).

§  Actively engage in formulating NAP implementation strategy, and reporting, monitoring  and reviewing framework

§  Coordinate the whole NAP process of the respective theme or cross-cutting area and align with national and international initiatives such as SDGs, DRR, ADS, etc.

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