Consortium Approach for Capacity Building for Watershed Management in Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

In Andhra Pradesh, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has developed and demonstrated holistic consortium approach for improving rural livelihoods through community watersheds. In Andhra Pradesh Rural Livelihoods Programme (APRLP) supported by Department of International Development (DFID), U.K. ICRISAT scaled-up the consortium approach with technical backstopping in 150 watersheds in five districts. Andhra Pradesh pioneered and up-scaled the livelihood approach in watersheds for improving rural incomes in dryland areas. As the complexity of meeting the capacity building demands of watershed development projects increased, Andhra Pradesh took the initiative of forming a consortium for providing services to the watershed development stakeholders. This consortium offered lessons and learnings to those in search of new paradigms of integrating watershed development issues with those of rural livelihoods. A study titled Consortium Approach for Capacity Building for Watershed Management in Andhra Pradesh: A Case Study was undertaken through GTZ-Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India (GoI) support to chronicle the evolution of the capacity building consortium in Andhra Pradesh and documenting the lessons learnt, including the experience of ICRISAT in consortium approach for improving the livelihoods of the rural poor. The study explored the consortium’s role in meeting the capacity building demands for complex livelihood approach, mentoring and handholding demands by the consortium partners, the process of forming consortium through capacity building, demystification of the government departments like the Commissionerate of Rural Development and NGOs’ role and experiences to implement the development agenda of the state along with the benefits and shortcomings which need to be addressed for effective functioning. The case study also recommended some practical steps for establishing and strengthening state level consortium in terms of reviewing mechanism, and sequencing activities, selection of criteria for consortium members, etc. Recently Government of India released new common watershed guidelines professing holistic livelihood approach and this case study would benefit important capacity building aspect for achieving better program implementation in different states.