Project Summary
Following the catastrophic floods of 2007 and 2008, USAID/Nepal launched the Nepal Flood Recovery Program (NFRP) to restore the lives and livelihoods of thousands. SW Nepal was commissioned to conduct independent assessments across the program’s lifecycle. Phase I focused on stabilizing flood-affected districts, while Phase II shifted toward driving rural economic growth and regional food security in non-flood areas.
The Challenge: From Recovery to Resilience
The 2007 and 2008 floods caused unprecedented destruction to Nepal’s agricultural heartland. Initially, the challenge was to move beyond emergency aid toward structural and economic stability. By Phase II, the focus evolved to address “secondary” vulnerabilities, promoting commercial agriculture in the Far-West to ensure regional food systems could withstand future shocks.
Project Locations Covered:
Our evaluation teams conducted exhaustive field assessments across the following regions:
- Phase I (Flood Zones): Bara, Parsa, Rautahat (Central); Banke, Bardia, Kanchanpur, Kailali (West/Far-West); Sunsari (East).
- Phase II (Growth Zones): Kailali, Kanchanpur, and Dadeldhura.
Evaluation Objectives & Core Interventions
The evaluations scrutinized critical interventions designed to transition communities from crisis to commercial viability:
- Infrastructure & Irrigation: Assessing the functionality of rehabilitated structures and irrigation networks.
- Agricultural Commercialization: Reviewing high-yield horticulture, farming inputs, and commercial production.
- Institutional Capacity: Evaluating the strength of local NGOs and CBOs in managing recovery and growth funds.
- Food Security & Nutrition: Measuring improvements in regional food availability and household nutrition standards.
Our Methodology: Triangulation & Household Evidence
As a leader in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) in Nepal, SW Nepal utilized a rigorous Triangulation Approach across both phases:
- Quantitative Analysis: Reviewing output data and conducting household surveys (including a 332-household survey in Phase II).
- Qualitative Narratives: Engaging with District Agricultural Development Offices (DADO), local government units, and individual farmers.
- Targeted Focus: Prioritizing interactions with women-led households to assess inclusive recovery and growth.
- Indicator-Based Assessment: Aligning findings with a customized “Statement of Work” (SOW) to reflect regional socio-economic nuances.
Outcomes and Learning
The evaluation established that NFRP effectively bridged the gap between disaster relief and sustainable development, providing a roadmap for subsequent initiatives like the Feed the Future Program.
- Restored & Expanded Livelihoods: Significant recovery in income through seed distribution and a shift toward commercial-scale agriculture.
- Infrastructure Success: Successful repair and management of small-scale infrastructure, including rural culverts and market collection centers.
- Water Management: Improved irrigation access allowed for off-season vegetable farming, increasing annual crop cycles.
- Empowered Local Institutions: NGOs and CBOs demonstrated increased capacity to lead local development projects independently.
- Strategic Evidence: Phase II findings provided the evidence base needed for USAID’s long-term regional food security planning.
Lessons Learned:
- Integrated Livelihoods: Livelihood support is most effective when paired with physical infrastructure; seeds require functional irrigation to yield results.
- Localized Preparedness: Disaster preparedness skills (Early Warning Systems) are better retained when channelled through local community organizations.
- Gender-Sensitive Data: Engaging directly with women revealed “hidden” recovery gaps, such as nutritional deficiencies, that aggregate data often overlooked.
- Commercialization as Resilience: Moving communities toward commercial agriculture in non-flood areas creates a regional economic buffer against future disasters.
Project Details at a Glance
| Feature | Phase I Details | Phase II Details |
| Client | USAID Nepal | USAID Nepal |
| Project Period | March 2011 – April 2011 | August 2012 – December 2012 |
| Lead Evaluator | SW Nepal | SW Nepal |
| Implementation Partners | USAID Direct | FINTRAC Inc. / METCON / FORWARD |
| Service Provided | Independent Evaluation | Independent Evaluation |
Looking for M&E Experts for your Next Project?
SW Nepal specializes in high-quality independent assessments, third-party monitoring, and socio-economic impact evaluations for global donors and government agencies.
Contact our Evaluation Team Today to discuss how we can help you measure impact and improve project performance through evidence-based learning.
