Introduction

TROSA Phase-2: Rivers, Rights and Resilience (T2:3R), funded by SIDA, works to support climate-resilient livelihoods for vulnerable natural-resource-dependent communities in the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna (GBM) basins, improve management of transboundary river ecosystems, and scale up efforts to empower and increase participation of women, youth and Indigenous People in water governance across the basins, as well as strengthen institutions for cooperation on governance of shared water resources. The program works in strategically selected transboundary sub-basins within the GBM river basin system, across Bangladesh, India, and Nepal. In Nepal, TROSA project is being carried out in Mahakali river basin covering four districts of Nepal Darchula, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, and Kanchanpur for four year starting from April, 2023 to March, 2026. The first phase of TROSA-II lasted for 5 years since 2017.

Working Area of RUWDUC under the project

Dadeldhura Distict , Parhsuram Municipality ward no. 5 and 6

Target Group: Vulnerable riparian communities of

Mahakali basin, especially women with different intersectionality

Goal and Outcomes

Goal: Improved cooperation in governing shared water resources, strengthening resilience to climate change of riparian communities in the transboundary Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna River basins.

Outcome 1: Strengthened climate-resilient livelihoods of communities living in the transboundary GBM river basins
Outcome 2: Improved and inclusive management of transboundary river ecosystems and protection of biodiversity across the GBM river basins
Outcome 3: Strengthened leadership of civil society, especially women, Indigenous People, and youth to influence government and private sector on water governance across and between the transboundary GBM basins
Outcome 4: Strengthened cooperation, collaboration and accountability across and between the transboundary GBM river basins

Achievements

Five women Empowerment Centers are actively conducting the water quality test in different testing points or tributaries of Mahakali river. Evidenced based advocacies for water quality of Mahakali river is an ongoing process. Cleanliness campaigns often conducted is one the major initiation of Citizen Scientist to contribute to river health of Mahakali except for data collected from water quality test.
Capacity of 163 Members of Women Empowerment Centers (WEC) strengthened and taking leadership roles in water governance and empowered women water leaders.
Community Based Flood Early Warning System (CBFEWS) station at Aaalital Rural Municipality established and owned by local level government.
Six Points Dhangadhi Declaration (DD) committed and published by local level and provincial government. The declaration guides all the stake holders including the Provincial and Local Governments to plan and implement actions on Trans-boundary and Water governance issues such as mining, livelihood support, and vocation skill development of riverine communities.Upstream to downstream local government of Mahakali Basin allocated around NRs One Crore Sixty Lakhs for raising the living standard of women and marginalized communities of Mahakali basin areas
Women Empowerment Centre (WEC) working procedure 2077 established in official website of Ministry of Social Development.
Sanitation Guideline and Sand Minining Guideline prepared, adopted and implemented by local level government.
The Indo-Nepal rafting has been conducted successfully in the Mahakali River From Parshuramdham of Dadeldhura to Khall Musetti of Kanchanpur district. Thus initiated the white water rafting in Mahakali river in collaboration with local level government and private sectors. Advocacy for complete package to sustain the rafting is ongoing in the local level and policy amendments necessary in River rafting policy 2063 for river rafting provisions in transboundary rivers of Nepal.
Provided water based and climate resilient livelihood to a member of Bahadure WEC as playhouse vegetable farming support.
Group livelihood support for 15 days training to Bhageshwori WEC for “Duna Tapari” Business and established a group livelihood initiatives that is climate resilient.
MOU signed with Sudurpaschim University

WEC Advocacy/results
For River bank protection the District Forest Office allocated NRs 130,000 for fencing in the plantation area. 16,250 plants were planted at Rangoon and Mahakali Basin and Parshuramdham area in 10 hectares’ land in coordination with the local government, forest user committee and district forest office.
The Drinking Water Department of Dadeldhura allocated 25 meters of water pipe for deep water boring. Ghatteplat boring water for drinking water supported by ward and municipal office benefitted 25 to 30 HHs of Ghatteplat
Parshuram Municipality allocated NRs. 2 lahs to construct Water Tank for storing 200,000 and 50000 for kuna . Bhagwshwri
Ongoing and Continuous lobbies of the WECs with the local level government for the plans and programs related to water governances for the fiscal year 2081/82
Learnings: Strengthening agency of women in transboundary and or water governance at local level is the key to develop transboundary cooperation and shared water governance.
Challenges: Prolonged absence of partners in India, with newly appointed partners pending updates/understanding about the overall project resulted into cross-border coordination lacks and requires collaborative efforts from both sides.