Federal Departement of Foreign Affairs FDFA Swiss Agency

Federal Departement of Foreign Affairs FDFA Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation South Asia Water Initiatives in South Asia Highlights 23. 6. 2014

Federal Departement of Foreign Affairs FDFA Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation South Asia Bill 2013 – 2016 • Involvement in fragile contexts as a strategic priority • Link between poverty & conflict • Social inclusion & equitable access

Federal Departement of Foreign Affairs FDFA Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation South Asia Division Overview • Afghanistan: • Improving Livelihoods of Rural Communities • Sustainable Livelihoods & Social Development • Water, Sanitation & Hygiene • Bangladesh: • Integrated Water Resources Management • Sanitation Market Systems • Nepal: • River Protection Works Chitwan • Pakistan • Water Governance in FATA 3

Federal Departement of Foreign Affairs FDFA Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation South Asia Division Afghanistan Context • Low HDI, productivity or alternative incomes • No resilience to droughts or flash floods • Disputes around land water are main sources of conflicts due to unclear legal framework and weak conflict resolution mechanisms Approach • Technical solutions • Social coherence • Governance capacity 4

Federal Departement of Foreign Affairs FDFA Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation South Asia Division Afghanistan Improving Livelihoods of Rural Communities • Contribute to social cohesion and economic development with improved natural resources management and income opportunities benefitting both men and women while building capacities of local actors Sustainable Livelihoods & Social Development • Livelihoods and resilience of rural communities are improved through economic development and sustainable water and land management benefitting both men and women while strenghteming local actors 5

Greener valleys. . Severe flood damages (11 June 2010) Federal Departement of Foreign Affairs FDFA Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation South Asia Division Low intensity floods (26 May 2014) 6

Comparison - before and after Federal Departement of Foreign Affairs FDFA Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation South Asia Division Surakhak Watershed, Kahmard 2014 2010 7

Federal Departement of Foreign Affairs FDFA Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation South Asia Division Lessons learnt • Long-term support (social, technical, institutional and financial) • Income generation from watersheds and equitable benefit sharing • Social and gender equity / Inclusion • Increased capacities of local communities, practitioners, university students and local governments for sustainable watershed management planning, implementation and monitoring • National authorities for policy advocacy and upscaling 8

Federal Departement of Foreign Affairs FDFA Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation South Asia Division Outlook • South Asia / Conflicts & Human Rights Network • Working Theme: Conflict & Water Thank you 9