A series of programmes designed to accelerate the multi-faceted development of regions was implemented in different parts of the world in the past. The multi-purpose river valley projects like the Tennessee River Valley Authority in the USA can be cited as a pioneering project in the early 1930s. The Rapti Valley Development Project in the inner Terai of Nepal initiated in the mid 1950s was also basically an area development programme, although resettlement was the main objective with an effective malaria eradication programme. An initiation of integrated rural development programme could be traced back to the mid 1970s when the Bicol River Basin Development Programme was launched in the Philippines.
The integrated rural development programmes with multi-sectoral approach appeared very sound and a series of IRDP projects have been designed and are being implemented in Nepal. The Rasuwa-Nuwakot Integrated Rural Development has generally been referred as the first IRDP in Nepal. Rasuwa Nuwakot IRDP was launched only in 1976 whereas the Integrated Hill Development Programme (IHDP) was designed and implemented in 1974 - which according to the author - should be considered as the first integrated rural development programme in Nepal.
