completed· Governance

Effective lobby and advocacy to attract investments for agricultural cooperatives

Nepal Agricultural Cooperative Central Federation (NACCFL) is a central level umbrella organization of Small Farmer Agricultural Cooperatives (SFACLs) and Agricultural Cooperatives. NACCFL has a project contract with Agriterra to strengthen two aspects of NACCFL: (financially) sustainable service provision and effective lobby and advocacy support in 2016. NACCFL also maintained the record of member cooperatives. NACCFL and its member organizations have used the methodology of FACT to write SMART proposal, and policy lobbying and advocacy. The result of the interventions was quite positive. NACCFL succeeded to attract grant from Government and provided inputs in the policy. To maintain the momentum achieved during 2016, there is need of continuation program in FACT. For 2017, the collaboration of Agriterra and NACCFL focus on roll out, coaching and effective use of FACT methodology in the policy lobbying and advocacy. Agriterra will introduce the concept of youth council and governance training to NACCFL and other clients. The expected outcomes are NACCFL and member organizations developed the lobby and advocacy skills, and have access to government and donor grant. NACCFL properly utilized the information of member database for policy lobbying and advocacy In 2017, Agriterra mainly focus on supporting NACCFL on effective policy lobbying and advocacy. NACCFL with their members have reaped the benefit of using FACT methodology to access the grants and influence in policy advocacy in last year. Government of Nepal and donor organizations value inputs from NACCFL in making strategic decision, policy making and budget related to agriculture and cooperatives sector. Strengthening capacity of NACCFL in policy lobbying and advocacy will support to access that unspent budget of government and favorable policy change. This will benefit large number of farmers in Nepal. Agriterra and NACCFL will do regular monitoring and coaching in the FACT trajectory and ensure the implementation of action plans made during the FACT workshop. The mid term evaluation will be done by Agriterra based upon the indicators set in the action plan. Agriterra will revise the action plans if needed. In 2016, Agriterra has developed 16 local trainers for conducting the roll out of FACT training. In one roll out training, Agriterra will provide one resource person and NACCFL will do remaining 2 training by own resource person. During policy lobbying and advocacy, NACCFL will give priority of gender and youth involvement in agricultural sector. As cross cutting issues of the project, Agriterra also focus on governance and youth council with NACCFL. Developed the lobby and advocacy skills, and have access to government and donor grant.