Download Summary of project proposal for

Summary of project proposal for:
Where the Rains Falls (WtRF) – Community Based Adaptation Project
Improved Water Security among the Adivasi Communities
In Jashpur District of Chhattisgarh State in India
Background :
Almost the whole of India can be characterized as suffering from a very high degree of human water security
threat. High levels of water abstraction, pollution, population density and unregulated development, as well as
climate variability, all contribute to water insecurity. There is consensus across both global- and national-scale
studies that drought-related water stress could increase in India with climate change. However, there is great
variation regarding the likelihood and the magnitude of the increase due to the application of different climate
models and indicators of water stress.
There is consensus that India is projected to experience increases in precipitation across most of the country over
the longer term. Increases of up to 20% or higher could occur in western regions with more widespread increases
of 5-10% over the rest of the country by the next century. However, in the short-term, there may be no increase
and may even be a decrease in precipitation in a few regions. Similarly, projections show a consistent increase in
the number of extreme rainfall days over the long term (2060s and beyond), but that consistency is lacking for
daily extreme precipitation change over the short term. It is important to note that longer-term projections for
precipitation are more reliable than the short-term projections. It is also important to acknowledge the trade-offs
between increases in precipitation and temperature rise.
There has been a widespread warming trend over India since 1960, with further temperature increases
projected by 2100, ranging from up to 3°C in the South of the country and up to 4.5°C in the North.
Climate change and variable rainfall will have a negative impact on food security in India, which is already
characterized by moderately high levels of undernourishment. Global scale studies generally project that India
could face worsening food security over the next 40 years, including due to climate change, but that after this, food
security may improve. Indeed, agriculture is the backbone of Indian Economy: about 65% of the Indian population
depends directly on agriculture and it accounts for around 22% of GDP. Most of this population depends on rainfed agriculture and fragile forests for their livelihoods.
To face these issues, the Where the Rain Falls research was
undertaken in four villages in Janjgir-Champa district of Chhattisgarh.
During the project design workshop, the decision was taken to implement the
CBA project in the neighboring district of Jashpur, which is more dependent
on rain-fed agriculture and has a higher representation (63.24%) of tribal
(adivasi) communities. The district receives an average rainfall of 1048.4mm
per year and an irrigated area of 9,146 hectares, while 239,738 hectares of
land remains non-irrigated. Also long-term trend analysis of ground water
level reveals that 9.5% of the district’s wells in pre-monsoon and 5% of the
wells in post-monsoon show a significant (20cm/yr) falling trend in water
level. There is very little knowledge among community members in Jashpur District on water conservation. Based on the findings, one of the key recommendations of the study was that existing irrigation canal
systems need to be maintained and managed to make sufficient water available to local farmers to ensure minimal
volume of water is wasted. Also major and minor irrigation ponds in the villages need to be regularly de-silted and
co-managed with complete participation of local communities and greater transparency in water sharing.
Overall Objective
By 2025 Adivasi and Dalit women and girls have water security, which will improve their well-being and
increase their resilience to climate change and other shocks and stresses.
Toward the overall objective, the present project will focus its efforts on the following specific objectives:
x
x
x
x
To improve capabilities of Adivasi women to adapt and cope with stresses and shocks, especially water,
affecting their livelihoods, including those induced by climate variability;
To facilitate effective participation of Adivasi women in decision-making related to water governance;
To facilitate the rehabilitation of water structures in at least five villages and establish mechanisms for their
maintenance with the active participation of local communities;
To enhance capacities of local authorities to be more responsive and transparent in designing and
implementing pro-poor and inclusive policies, programmes and budgets.
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Expected Results
Some Activities
x
Adivasi women take adaptive measures to cope with stresses and
shocks arising out of climate change -
x
Effective participation of Adivasi women
in
decision-making
processes on water governance in various fora, especially Gram
Sabhas
x
Rehabilitated water structures in at
least
five
villages
through
community processes and actions
x
Demonstrated engagement of local authorities/bodies (Panchayat, block
and district) to ensure effective
participation of Adivasi women in
water governance issues.
-
Participatory mapping of water resources involving
Adivasi
Women’s Groups (AWG) in 20 selected villages of Jashpur district
Mapping of other livelihood assets and resources that affect food
security in the 20 selected villages of Jashpur district
Training/skill-building (e.g. legal literacy around water rights and
governance and other related issues)
Exposure and Learning Visits of AWGs from Janjgir-Champa (CSR
district) district to Jashpur (CBA district), as well as AWGs from
Pathways programme (from neighbouring state of Odisha) to share
experiences on governance of water issues (including
documentation of these experiences such as a short film for those
AWGs who are not able to participate in these fora)
Identifying villages from among the 20 villages for carrying out
rehabilitation work
Forming water
groups in the villages for overseeing the
rehabilitation work and carrying out regular periodic monitoring of
the maintenance/ governance of use and management of these
structures
Compiling and disseminating good "shocks and stresses coping"
practices with AWG
Developing effective and functional accountability mechanisms
related to water governance through joint consultations with AW
and local authorities
Project Location: State : Chhattisgarh / District: Jashpur / Block: Pathalgaon
Partners: Local authorities including: Water Resources Department; Panchayati Raj Department; Women and
child welfare Department; Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED); Fisheries Department. Others
NGOS with community mobilization competences in different areas.
Target groups:
The target groups are Adivasi and Dalit households in 20
villages (around 35 000 people), Public authorities and
representatives at local PRI level (village, block and
district) in the state of Chhattisgarh and Line
departments at the block and district level.
The impact population is Adivasi women in 20 villages of
Jashpur district in Chhattisgarh state.
Starting date : January 2013
Duration of project : 18 months
Budget: 190 000 €
Donors : AXA
Contacts
CARE France – Mlle Aurélie Ceinos
Project Officer
[email protected] - 01.53.19.89.89
CARE India - Mr. Sudhakara Pecheti
Climate Change Advisor
[email protected]
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