Involvement
in Sector Wide Approach - SWAp (February 2010)
The
Sector Wide Approach project for the Rural Transport Infrastructure
sector is entering a trial phase, whereby six districts are
being used to test the approach. In these districts the DTMPs
are being updated and SWAp principles are being applied. DRSP
is providing two resource persons for this trial, applications
for these positions can be viewed at: …….
Visit
of Sri Lankans (February 2010)
DRSP
hosted a study tour from Sri Lanka during February 2010.
The participants were Mr. Eric Illayapparchchi, Additional
Secretary (Development), Mr. S. G. Chandradasa, Project
Director and Mr. R. M. Premawardhane, Social and Environmental
Specialist, All from the Ministry of Local Government and
Provincial Council in Sri Lanka. During their time in Nepal
they visited DRSP offices and some DRSP road construction
sites in Kavre, as well as visiting some Ottaseal and sand
seal roads of the RAIDP project in Kapilvastu. Finally,
they attended the 44th Rural Roads Forum meeting where pavement
options between the two countries were discussed.
.
Mobility
& Health Research Policy report (December 2009)
As
a follow-on from the Mobility and Health research project
undertaken by DRSP in 2008, the Programme has undertaken
an further study on policy to see how the recommendations
from the original report were taken up by GoN. This research
was funded by the Centre for Poverty Alleviation (CEPA)
in Sri Lanka. The report can be downloaded here: <click
here to download>
Stretcher
report (November 2009)
Also
as a result from contacts made during the Mobility &
Health project, DRSP was given a grant of £1,000
to provide stretchers to disadvantaged groups in the three
research districts of Dolakha, Ramechhap and Baglung.
These stretchers were donated mainly to mothers groups,
who made a commitment to manage and maintain them, and
to monitor their use. In total 50 stretchers were donated:
20 each to Dolakha and Ramechhap and 10 to Baglung. The
report can be downloaded here: <click
here to download>
SDC
Independent Review of DRSP (July 2009)
In
early 2009 SDC commissioned an independent review of DRSP
to look specifically at the social and economic development
in the Programme districts. The review was undertaken by
two independent consultants: Mr. Rod Stickland and Ms. Sangini
Rana Magar. Data was collected from Focus Group Discussions,
Household Surveys, Traffic Counts, Origin Destination Surveys
and Bus Passenger Interviews in the districts of Dolakha,
Sindhuli and Okhaldhunga.
Overall
it was found that economic development is taking place and
there are significant improvements taking place in people’s
standard of living, but that the roads only facilitate economic
development it and do not cause it. Also the disadvantaged
groups who are the focus of the Programme, benefit most
from employment during construction, whereas the better
off people benefit more in the longer term. The report can
be downloaded here: <click
here to download>
Implementation
of RRRSDP (March 2009)
DRSP has committed to implement the Rural Reconstruction and Rehabilitation
Sector Development Project (RRRSDP) in four districts: Sindhuli,
Dolakha, Sindhupalchowk and Kavrepalanchowk. The Project will
run until 2011. Additional staff have been recruited for this
purpose; please look on the DRSP Vacancy site for further opportunities:www.drspnepal.org
RRF
Independent Secretariat (January 2009)
Since January 2009 the Rural Roads Forum had had an independent
secretariat. Robin Workman from DRSP was secretary for the Forum
on an acting basis from 2002 to 2009 and handed over the responsibility
to Shuva Sharma in January 2009. Shuva is a locally based rural
road practitioner with extensive experience in the sector and
will manage the forum on a yearly basis, renewable pending the
agreement of all parties.
Flood
Damage Report (October 2008)
In October 2008 DRSP were asked by DoLIDAR to produce a
short report on the Flood Damage that had occurred earlier
that year in the Far West and Koshi barrage areas. The report
was designed to help DoLIDAR to secure funds for infrastructure
repairs from ADB and can be downloaded here: <click
here to download>
