Sustainable Rural Infrastructure and Watershed Management Sector Project

SRIWMS

SRIWMS at a Glimpse!

Description

The project will improve rural incomes from market-driven diversified farm output, watershed health, and community nutrition in the four northern provinces (FNP) of Houaphan, Louangphabang, Xaignabouli, and Xiangkhouang. It will (i) promote diversification into dry season high-value crops (HVCs), improve the yields of wet season rice by providing irrigation and access; (ii) protect watershed ecological services; and (iii) improve nutrition. The project contributes to government policy goals for food security, economic growth, and natural resource conservation.

Impact and Outcome

The Project is aligned with the following impacts: market-driven and safe agricultural products developed, and rural areas integrated into the national economy. The project will have the following outcome: high value agricultural production, natural resources management, status of women and community nutrition improved.

Where we work

The SRIWM Sector Project aims to improve rural incomes from market-driven diversified farm output, watershed health, and community nutrition in the four northern provinces of Houaphan, Xiengkhouang, Luang Prabang, and Xayabouly.

The SRIWM Sector Project works in 10 districts across 77 villages in Viengxay, Sopbao, Samneau ( Houaphan), Pek, Kham (Xieng khouang), Nan, Xiengngeun (Luang Prabang), and Phieng, Paklai, Xayabouly (Xayabouly).

Funding sources

The project investment cost is $61.46 million, including (i) ADB will provide $40.0 million in loan, (ii) $5.0 million in grant, (iii) $4.46 million from the EU grant and (iv) $2.0 million from the Government of Lao PDR, (v) GAFSP grant of $10.0 million.

Project Outputs

The project has 4 main outputs as mentioned below;

Output 1: Market-oriented agricultural production increased. Key activities include the following:
(i) Market demand assessments for all subprojects completed and confirmed;
(ii) Market connectivity forums and meetings started in the representative subprojects (RSPs);
(iii) Enterprise grants procedures and implementation arrangements confirmed and grants awarded;
(iv) Subproject farm to farm extension implemented; and
(v) Market produce quality assurances systems operational.

Output 2: Watershed ecological services protected. Key activities include the following:
(i) Provincial land use plans (PLUPs) prepared for 9 catchments in Xiangkhouang province (4) , and in Houaphan province (5) infrastructure (PRIs);
(ii) PLUPs-associated behavioral change programs with supporting community agreements prepared, including 45% female participation; and
(iii) PLUPs land use behavior change action plans implemented.

Output 3: Command area irrigation reliability improved. Key activities include the following:
(i) RSP works contracted and completed;
(ii) Additional PRI subprojects designed and contracted in batches 2 and 3 with batch 3 being the final processing deadline. Works contracted and completed with handover for batches 2 and 3.
(iii) Water user groups (WUGs) and water user associations (WUAs) formed, with 50% participation by women, and with women in positions of management in 25% of the WUGs and WUAs ;
(iv) Subproject WUG organized into WUAs and.

Output 4: Nutrition awareness and facilities improved. Key activities include the following:
(i) District nutrition committees formed and operational;
(ii) Village nutrition schools implemented; and
(iii) Water, sanitation and hygiene facilities implemented in targeted villages.

Output 1

Market-oriented agricultural production increased. 22%

Output 2

Watershed ecological services protected. 39%

Output 3

Command area irrigation reliability improved. 52%

Output 4

Nutrition awareness and facilities improved. 26%

Unique to SRIWMS

The SRIWSM design builds on the existing ADB financed subsector irrigation portfolio and adopts new features. These include:

(i) The transition from irrigation infrastructure focused on paddy rice to command areas, management, provision, and regulation of reliable water for dry season HVCs.
(ii) The requirement for cropping to be market-led and connected, including support for developing (a) agribusiness capacity within the provincial administration, (b) supporting key commercial market chains attached to the irrigation districts, (c) ensuring crop water demand is defined, scheduled, and used to specify engineering design terms of reference, and (d) good agricultural practices using LAOGAP.
(iii) Support to secure watershed ecological services especially through land use change programs within the linked catchments that reduces the risk of accelerated evacuation of flood water, while increasing water retention within the catchment to reduce risk to dry season water supply.
(iv) A strong commitment to devolved project implementation under the Sam Sang policy with implementation responsibility delegated to provincial administration, recognizing the need to provide governance oversight and short-term mentoring with the benefit of building capacity in public institutions as opposed to local consultants.
(v) Support devolution with project wide information and financial management systems that will be cloud-based and able to interface with the new public sector’s double entry accounting systems for the Ministry of Finance (MAF) and the Department of Irrigation (DOI).
(vi) The piloting and application of mobile phone technologies for project monitoring and reporting functions that will also enable public sector work plan reporting at far less cost and increased reliability.
(vii) The integration of nutrition sensitive agriculture activities into ADB-financed loan portfolio.