Narrative description of Project:

ADB has supported Nepal since late 1980s in rehabilitation of old and damaged farmers-managed irrigation systems (FMIS). Those FMIS were constructed by farmers without engineering design and mostly having annually constructed temporary intake and earthen canal with high seepage loss. The irrigation sector projects included (i) rehabilitation of old systems with construction of permanent intake and lined canals and infrastructure to minimize seepage loss, (ii) institutional strengthening of farmers and formation of socially inclusive and gender sensitive water users association (WUAs) for taking responsibility of appropriate operation and maintenance of the system, (iii) capacity building of executing and implementing agencies for better project implementation and (iv) capacity building of farmers in improved agricultural practices. The outcome of the project was effective and popular among farmers and the government. The project started in late 1980 and is continuing with four projects in series (community-managed irrigated agriculture sector project-additional financing [CMIASP-AF] currently under implementation).

The Technical Assistance for the current project aims to align the Climate-Resilient Community Managed Irrigated Agriculture Project (CRCMIP) with government and ADB standards. It involves assessing ongoing projects like CMIASP-AF, studying reports from initiatives such as the Rajapur Irrigation Project (RIP) and Lift Irrigation Schemes, and recommending modifications to design and implementation. ADB has recruited international and national consultants for this task, emphasizing capacity development and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) considerations throughout the process.

Description of actual services provided in the assignment:

The national hydrologist / climate change specialist was responsible to prepare an assessments of flood flows to support the design of small weirs for FMIS schemes. The assessment was incorporated the latest research into flood flows in small catchments under climate change and to prepare the economic evaluation and financial analysis of the CRCMIP in accordance with ADB (2017) Guidelines for the Economic Analysis of Projects

The detailed services provided by the the National Hydrologist / Climate Change Specialist were as follows:

• Reviewed of climate research relating to peak one- and five-day rainfall events in Nepal under climate change for the years 2050 and 2100.
• Reviewing the various consultants' agriculture and economics reports and prepare a consolidated MS Excel data base of current and with-project production costs and benefits.
• Carried out an analysis of floods for 5 selected small rivers at the proposed FMIS Terai weirs using HEC-HMS for different return periods (50,100,500 year and PMF) incorporating the projections for climate change to 2050 and 2100.
• Prepared guidelines for the methodology to estimate floods incorporating climate change for small rivers in the Terai to be used by the divisional engineers.
• Based on available river flow data from DWRI and at the Chisipani in the Karnali river assess the maximum and minimum flows available to the Rajapur irrigation project for various return periods.
• Assessed current and future abstractions for irrigation and other uses in the Lower Karnali river.
• Identifying the project rationale for public intervention which can be based on the failure of (a) markets to adequately provide what society wants, or (b) public institutions to deliver public goods or services.
• Helping to develop the "theory of change" for the project, which links demands/problems to be solved by the project, the project intervention, outputs, expected outcomes and impacts.
• Identifying project alternatives. Least-cost analysis to be undertaken to identify the preferred alternative.
• Undertaking and comparing project benefits and costs in economic terms using with-project and without-project scenarios for each major project component.
• Assessing if the project is sustainable (if its net benefits endure throughout its life at a level sufficient to meet the economic viability criteria) in accordance with ADB's guidelines for Financial Management and Analysis of Projects 2005
• Examined existing relevant research and climate change modelling studies of the Karnali to estimated projected changes to flow under climate change; assess the likely available flow to the Rajapur Irrigation project, including indicative estimates of water available to the east bank.
• Supported other hydrological analyses for the CRCMIP as required.

Approx. value of the contract (in current NRs; US$ or Euro): US$ 29120

Duration of assignment (months): 4 months

Total No. of person-months of the assignment: 2.5 mm

Approx. value of the services provided by your firm under the contract (in current NRs; US$ or Euro): US$ 29120

Name of Senior Staff (Project Director/Coordinator, Team Leader) involved and functions performed:

Dr. Binod Shakya – Climate Change and Hydrologist

Shiva kumar Upadhaya - Economist