Implementation and Management of WTLCP

WTLCP is implemented by the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation with the financial and technical support from UNDP, GEF, SNV Nepal, WWF Nepal, Bioversity International, NARC and LI-BIRD. The MFSC coordinates and facilitates the involvement of other main ministries, in particular, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC) and Ministry of Local Development (MLD), in project execution through the Project Steering Committee (PSC) and implementation through line agencies and relevant partners. The PSC, chaired by the Secretary of MFSC, has a key role in the institutionalisation of the multi-sectoral approach and ensures full involvement of multiple partners. The members of the PSC include: relevant representation from MFSC’s internal divisions/departments, including Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) and Department of Forests (DOF), MoAC, Department of Agriculture (DoA), Department of Livestock Services (DoLS), Ministry of Finance (MOF), National Planning Commission, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MoEST), MLD, UNDP, SNV Nepal, WWF Nepal, Bioversity International, NARC, LI-BIRD. and I/NGOs such as The World Conservation Union (IUCN) and National Trust for Nature Conservation.

The Project Management Committee (PMC), comprised of members from direct implementing government line agencies and co-funding partners at the central level, provides and coordinates for relevant technical expertise for project implementation. Chief of Planning and Human Resource Division of MFSC chairs the PMC while the Director
Generals of DNPWC, DOF, DoA and DoLS are Co-Vice Chairs. The members of the PMC include MLD, Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management (DSCWM), UNDP, WWF Nepal, SNV Nepal, Bioversity International, NARC and LI-BIRD. At the regional/landscape level, Landscape-level Coordination Committee (LCC) facilitates coordination, collaboration, cross-fertilisation and networking among multiple stakeholders (i.e. community user groups, local authorities, government line agencies, Non Government Organisations, Community Based Organisations and donors) from landscape to local level. The LCC is chaired by the Regional Director of Forests (either of mid-west or of far-west Regional Directorate). In WTLCP districts, three DFCCs have already been established representing 27 wide spectrum of stakeholder groups including DDC chairperson, DDC members, representatives from political parties, Municipality/VDC representatives, District Forest Officers, Chief of the government offices, representatives from User Groups, relevant Non Government Organisations and Community Based Organisations representatives including women’s groups. These committees have the mandate to coordinate and monitor all forestry programmes and activities in the districts. Since DFCC has a potential to improve transparency and coordination for the landscape programme and has an authority in overall planning and decision-making at the district level, WTLCP believes to have its strength in having voices of all stakeholders be heard. The WTLCP is managed by the Central Management Unit, located at Forestry Complex and two field offices at Kailali and Bardia. The project is headed by the National Project Director and coordinated by the National Project Coordinator deputed by the Government of Nepal.