phase 1

The first phase of the Indo Swiss Participative Watershed Development Project Karnataka (ISPWDK) started in 1995 in five districts of Karnataka viz. Bidar, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Koppal (Raichur) and Chikmagalur. The project was initiated as a bilateral project in collaboration with the then Dry land Development Board (DLDB), now Watershed Development Department (WDD) of GoK and 5 NGOs. The NGOs were PRAWARDA, Yuva Vikas Kendra, MYRADA, SAMUHA and Sri Christa Sharan.

The project entails a multi partnership set-up with community-based organisations as the main stakeholders at village level. In its initial phase, the project partners, i.e. Watershed Development Department (GoK) and NGOs, took up support roles as providers of services and advice. The first phase of the project ended in 1999, but consolidation activities were implemented until 2002.

In the period 2000 - 2002, the NGO partners implemented preparatory activities in Phase 2 areas. These included the mobilisation of communities, establishment and capacity building of people's institutions, pilot interventions and support of village level groups (VDS, SHGs, street groups etc). Support activities such as studies, capacity building for NGO staff, developing participatory planning processes and methods, and sustainable agriculture promotion activities were also taken up during this period.