Nepal

Quick Impact and Peace Support Initiatives - QIPSI

Background

As part of direct support to peace building efforts, UNDP launched a special project called Quick Impact and Peace Support Initiatives (QIPSI) (first phase- January- June 2008) initially in the 10 districts of Eastern, Central and Western Terai (Saptari, Sunsari Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottarai, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, and Kapilbastu), which were affected by the then on-going conflict. The project was implemented by the three existing UNDP supported programmes, such as the Decentralized Local Governance Support Programme (DLGSP), Micro-enterprise Development Programme (MEDEP), and the Community Based Disaster Management Programme (CBDMP).

UNDP allocated US$ 2 million (Rs. 12, 60, 00,000) from its core resources for this initiative in order to target the poor and the excluded communities in the selected districts to support livelihood enhancement activities contributing to peace and maintaining social harmony. Those activities were targeted which would bring immediate benefits to the people.

For the second phase of QIPSI (July 2008 - June 2009), the Royal Norwegian Embassy and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed an additional amount of US$ 1.5 million (NOK 10 million) and $ 1 million from UNDP for the continuation of the Quick Impact for Peace Support Initiative (QIPSI) in 11 eastern Terai and 9 mid and far western districts of Nepal, under the UNDP supported Programme implemented by the Ministry of Local Development (MLD).

Objective

The over all objective of the Quick Impact and Peace Support Initiatives (QIPSI)�Eis to provide tangible and immediate livelihood benefits to the poor and excluded communities in conflict-affected areas of the Terai which have not benefited from UNDP support in the past.

Areas covered

A total of 20 districts have been identified. Out of 20 districts, the ten on going QIPSI districts in the Terai are Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Bara, Parsa and Kapilvastu. In addition one more Terai district (Nawalparasi) which is highly deprived and conflict affected has also been included. Similarly, nine highly deprived and conflict affected districts of Mid and Far West Region, namely, Darchula, Baitadi. Dadeldhura, Achham, Rolpa, Dailekh, Pyuthan. Salyan and Dang have been identified. These districts were identified on the basis of presence of UNDP programme, concentration of DAG VDCs and low Human Development Index.

Areas of Interventions and Beneficiaries

Mainly three types of interventions are supported: community infrastructure (such as drinking water, toilets, micro-irrigation, and repair of schools, health posts and other community infrastructure); micro-enterprise development; and disaster (primarily flood) mitigation works, the construction of which will also provide short-term employment.

The beneficiaries include both community groups, households, and individuals from the targeted communities in the programme VDCs. The micro-infrastructure projects do not provide immediate livelihood support to the poor and the excluded groups, but also build physical assets required for future livelihood needs of the community.

Ongoing activities

In the first phase, out of the total budget made available for QIPSI implementation, 90% budget was allocated for community development work and 10% to cover programme support costs. For community infrastructure work, at least 75% was spent for the priority projects identified by the poor and the excluded groups, while the remaining 25% was used for projects benefiting a wider range of community members, but still including the poorest of the poor.

This contribution will support the Ministry of Local Development (MLD) to provide immediate peace dividend to the most disadvantaged communities in an additional 200 VDCs in these 20 districts. With this additional funding of US$ 2.5m, the Programme is expected to support the implementation of basic community livelihood and micro-infrastructure projects such as drinking water and micro-irrigation projects, construction of culverts and bridges, repair and maintenance of rural roads, schools, health posts, community halls and also river protection.

Details of QIPSI:		Project Partners
Duration of QIPSI:	First Phase: First Phase- Oct 2007 � June 2008 Second Phase (Current Programme Period): July 2008- June 2009 Second Phase (Current Programme Period): July 2008- June 2009	Implemented by:	Ministry of Local Development (MLD)
UNDP Resourcest:	$ 4.5 million
Donor	$ 1.5 million (Norway)
Districts covered:	Darchula, Sunsari, Saptari,Siraha, Dhanusa, Mahotari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Nawalparasi, Kapilbastu
Total Budget:	$ 4.5 million

Contact

UNDP Focal Point Rafeeque Siddiqui Programme Officer UN House, UNDP POB 107 Lalitpur, Nepal Email: rafeeque.siddiqui@undp.org

Project Raghu Shrestha Project Officer Local Governance and Community Development Programme Programme Coordination Unit Ministry of Local Development Tel: 00-977-1-5532556 Email: shrestharaghu@yahoo.com

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Last Revised: March 2010