Users' committee and participatory techniques

A users' committee (upabhokta samiti) is a group elected from among the beneficiaries of a project (drinking water, irrigation, rural road, micro-hydro, community forest) to plan, implement, operate and maintain it on behalf of all users. In Nepal it is recognised by the Local Infrastructure Development Policy, 2061, the Local Government Operation Act, 2074 and the Public Procurement Regulations.

Role of a users' committee

1. Represent the users – bring the needs and priorities of the community to the local government and project.
2. Planning and selection – take part in project selection, site and alignment decisions.
3. Resource mobilisation – collect users' contribution in cash, labour or local materials.
4. Implementation – carry out works (for projects within the legal limit), hire local labour, buy materials, keep records.
5. Monitoring and quality control – supervise work, check materials and measurements with technicians.
6. Transparency – hold public hearing and public audit, display cost boards, keep accounts open.
7. Conflict management – solve disputes over land, water share and benefits.
8. Operation and maintenance – fix tariff or user fee, collect maintenance fund, appoint caretakers or maintenance workers.
9. Inclusion – ensure women (usually at least 33% members, with a woman in a key post), Dalits and the poor take part and benefit.

Participatory techniques to collect information from a community

Brief notes on the main ones:

• Mapping: people draw their village showing houses and resources; outsiders learn quickly and people see their own situation.
• Transect walk: facilitator and villagers walk across the area, observing and discussing soil, crops, water and problems.
• Seasonal calendar: shows in which months labour is free (best time to build), when rain stops works, and when sickness is high.
• Ranking: the community lists problems and ranks them, so the most needed project is chosen.
• FGD and key informant interviews: give reasons, opinions and history.

Information collected this way is cross-checked (triangulation) and shared back with the community, and the users' committee then uses it to prepare the plan.