A detailed and systematic approach was followed to achieve the objectives of this study. A broad review of external secondary data sources associated with the topic that included water and food production, irrigation, gender and development, employment generation, surface water management, etc., and internal SSWRDSPs which includes the sub-project based field data obtained for formulation, implementation and performance evaluation of SSWRDSPs was made. Pre-project data were compiled from sub-project appraisal reports while the monitoring and evaluation data were drawn from the Management Information System (MIS), the LGED’s Integrated Water Resource Management Unit (IWRMU) and various project reports. Field information was gathered with the support of the SSWRDSPs and through LGED’s IWRMU using post-project completion reports. Primary sources included extensive field visits, household surveys and sub-project beneficiary and WMCA interviews. Field workers of Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) were also involved in the surveys and interviews. As the author is a fulltime employee of the LGED, he was posted to the IWRMU as a Senior Assistant Engineer (Operation and Maintenance) and was also in charge of the MIS unit of LGED’s IWRMU; as such, he had the opportunity of partaking in every step of the sub-project implementation cycle. Transcripts of field visits, field notes and relevant literature were analyzed on the basis of themes, patterns and data on interrelationships among those that addressed the research goal.
Participatory approach of the SSWRDSP: Participatory approaches in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) for agriculture present eco-friendly farming as well as sustainable surface water management for agricultural and fisheries production systems (Roome, 2002). LGED has developed a very innovative framework of participation for addressing local people's views in development initiatives in water sector (LGED, 2009). The local people participate in all stages of the project cycle. After completion of the sub-project, the WMCA takes the responsibility of operation and maintenance of the sub-project infrastructure (LGED, 2009).
Framework of participation: The overall participatory process adopted by LGED is a combination of two parallel but interrelated processes: 1. “Institutional” involving software elements and 2. "Technical" involving hardware elements. The whole cycle of the subprojects development process is subdivided into four distinct stages as presented subsequently (LGED, 2009).
Stage 1: Identification and feasibility In consultation with local stakeholders, the union Parishad (Council) commences sub-project proposals. With the approval of the Upazila development coordination committee, the LGED Upazila engineer forwards proposals to the IWRMU. The IWRMU pre-screens the proposal through: (1) participatory rural appraisal (PRA) and (2) feasibility study (FS). Each subproject is reviewed and approved by the District Level Inter-agency Project Evaluation Committee (DLIAPEC).
Stage 2: Design and institution building Following the approval of DLIAPEC, engineering design and the establishment of a Water Management Association (WMA) are completed. The process of establishing a WMA is initiated under the legal framework of the Cooperative Societies Act (National Parliament of Bangladesh, 2001). The contracted NGO facilitator creates awareness, generated local enthusiasm in the local water resource systems, promotes membership enrollment and assists in collection of beneficiary contributions and conflict resolution. The WMA is registered with the Department of Co-operatives (DoC) and becomes a Water Management Cooperative Association (WMCA). The IWRMU undertook engineering design work in consultation with stakeholders for their approval. To sign the implementation agreement, the WMCA must have achieved: (1) enrolment of at least 70% of beneficiary households; (2) collection of beneficiary contributions equivalent to an annual O&M requirement, deposited in a joint account by LGED and the WMCA and (3) approved plans in consultation with people affected by the environmental mitigation and resettlement (land acquisition) (MoWR, 2000).
Stage 3: Construction and first year O&M The WMCA forms an O&M sub-committee and prepared schedules, beneficiary list and maps and plans comprising operating guidelines, and maintenance and resource mobilization plans. The IWRMU provided on-the-job training that helps WMCA to (1) undertake annual inspections, (2) identifies maintenance needs, (3) prepares and implements annual O&M plans and (4) collects O&M fees (ADB and LGED, 2009). Sub-project infrastructure is handed over to the WMCA one year after completion. The WMCA received support of agricultural extension and fisheries departments to prepare agriculture and fisheries development plans (ADB, 2008).
Stage 4: Sustainable operation and maintenance This stage started after sub-project handover and continues throughout its lifetime. Continuous monitoring and support was provided by the LGED’s IWRMU and other partner agencies. The WMCA and O&M committee receive regular training so that they can out O&M of the sub-project. The WMCA prepare O&M plans, undertook routine maintenance works and collected O&M fees from direct beneficiaries in proportion to their land area benefited by the sub-project (LGED, 2009).