Water for Women - Nepal

Progressing safe drinking water, systems and supply chains for community resilience in rural Nepal

From 2023 to 2024 Water for Women partnered with SNV to deliver climate-resilient inclusive WASH services to reach 52,820* people living in in rural Nepal. This project was an extension of Beyond the Finish Line (2018 to 2022) which reached 137,966* people. SNV’s Water for Women project finished delivery in December 2024.

Partner: SNV Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV)

Locations: Sarlahi and Dailekh Districts, Nepal

Focus areas: Rural water supply systems strengthening, governance and leadership capacity-building, social behaviour change for safe water access

During the Water for Women Extension Phase, the Towards Climate-Resilient Inclusive WASH in Rural Nepal project supported stakeholders in rural municipalities (RMs) located in the two distinctly different ecological zones of Dailekh and Sarlahi districts. Through this project, the SNV team strengthened capacities in climate-risk informed WASH governance and regulation, performance in operation of water supply systems (WSS) and post-construction support, quality construction of water supply systems, social and behaviour change for safe water use, and consumer supply chains.

In the two RMs of the hilly Dailekh district, the project saw a significant improvement in the level of water supply services, 90% of the population having access to with the population having access to safely managed drinking water – a 2% increase from 68% in 2022 (and almost all remaining households with a basic level of service). The project’s area-wide approach in supporting local governments (LGs) to develop evidence-based plans contributed to this impact. These plans aimed to provide piped water with household connections to all, build capacity in the implementation and professional operation of climate-resilient WSS, prioritise LG investments and leverage resources through their own annual budget policy and other development actors to expand the WSS, and improve water quality in the WSS. The SNV team also supported an intensive behaviour change communication campaign (BCC) on premises-level safe water handling and water treatment to equip households with information and tools for safe water use.

In the two RMs of Sarlahi district, situated in the terai or flatlands of Nepal’s southern plains, there was no change in the access to level of service for safe drinking water. Here, the impacts of climate change were telling. In Parsa, drought saw lack of rainfall for approximately 12 months (early 2023 – early 2024) and led to the drying of over 50% of the shallow tubewells. The development focus shifted to recovery efforts and coordination around rapidly shifting water supply systems (access to water provided through off-site deeper tubewells). Ramnagar also had no rainfall during this period, but being surrounded by major river systems helped to keep the municipality’s shallow groundwater recharged. However, a high intensity rainfall event in September 2024 that led to downstream flash floods largely impacted Ramnagar, with much of the RM remaining waterlogged for an extended period. Both the drought and flooding deteriorated the water quality of the shallow tubewells. Furthermore, the BCC campaign to improve household water collection and treatment practices had only been partially implemented. 

After visiting the existing water source, WfW partners from SNV and International Water Management Institute Nepal, the Rural Municipal Vice Chairperson and community members reflect on climate risks to their water supply and community in Lohtse, Dailekh (SNV / Ram Prakash Singh)

In total, some 190,786 people were reached over the seven years of SNV Nepal's project. During the final two year Extension Phase, this included 52,820* gaining improved access to climate-resilient inclusive WASH. 

An additional 106,403 people indirectly benefitted.

Strengthened governance for sustainable water supplies and systems

In 2018, the governance system of the country changed from a centralised to federal system. This coincided with the start of the Phase 1 Water for Women project, providing the ideal opportunity to accompany this transition process and support local governments in realising their role as duty bearers for the provision of human rights.

The SNV project team supported the autonomous local governments to move from implementing ad-hoc and untransparent water supply infrastructure to implementing evidence-based strategies for progressing inclusive, resilient and sustainable water supply services. While prioritising new constructions to show progress to their communities, elected leaders lacked understanding on the importance of ensuring functional and sustainable services for all people.  The SNV project team engaged in strategic dialogues and used evidence, such as service level data of water supply systems, to support local government leaders to prioritise improvements to service delivery beyond the construction.

In the Extension Phase project, Towards Climate-Resilient Inclusive WASH in Rural Nepal, the emphasis on responding to climate-related impacts led to a notable increase in the capacity of local government actors and their ability to utilise climate-risk informed tools and approaches.

SNV strengthened capacities of the four RMs using data to enhance GEDSI and resilience in WASH governance, and ultimately in service delivery. RM WASH Coordination Committees (RM-WASH-CCs), which include elected leaders and government officials, representatives of organisations of people with disabilities (OPDs), women and marginalised Dalit community members, were supported in using multiple data sources for evidence-based decision-making.

The data included barrier analysis by the LGs for inclusion in WASH using the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Self-Assessment Tool. Researcher partner, the International Water Management Institute, Nepal (IWMI) applied models to develop climate projections for the RMs and supported the LGs in participatory risk assessments using the Climate, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction Integration Guidance (CEDRIG) tool. The project supported the RMs to collect and analyse data on the status of inclusive and resilient WASH services for their whole RM using the National WASH Management Information System platform. This included data on impacts on water supply infrastructure from disaster and climate events. Research partner, the University of Technology Sydney – Institute for Sustainable Futures (UTS-ISF) and inclusion adviser, CBM Australia, led seasonal studies on household coping mechanisms to hazards, focusing on women and people with disabilities.

The RM-WASH-CCs were supported in using this data to develop strategic WASH plans, which prioritise investments for improving water supply service levels, considering inclusion (unreached areas, access for Dalit communities), and impacts on WSS from climate change / disasters. The WASH plans included actions for inclusive WASH decision-making, provided costs for improving resilience of WSS, and guidance on BCC for safe water, including during climate hazards and for people with disabilities.

“One of the key priority activities in our RM’s plan for the upcoming fiscal year plan 2024-2025 is the implementation of SOPs and post-construction support plan to improve the water supply service level.”

Sundar Kumar KC, Chairperson, Dungeshwor RM, Dailekh

The LGs used the WASH plans to inform their annual budget policies and initiated systematic capacity building for all service providers. In Dailekh, joint investment by the RM, community, and project provided access to safely managed, resilient and accessible water supply for 295 households. New schemes were constructed in unreached areas, and the project supported the LG and water supply operators to revise, endorse and apply standard operating procedures (SOPs) for scheme management, including climate-resilient water safety planning pre- and post-construction. Post-construction plans prioritise support to water user supply committees for all WSS.

In Sarlahi, Parsa RM prioritised upgrades to deep tubewell systems constructed during the drought, including accessible communal points, and one to a piped network system that now provides clean water on premises for 68 households under a community managed service delivery model (the first in the area).

“With the drought in Parsa RM, the LG had to respond as quickly as possible to find and supply water and therefore introduced a system of deep tube wells attached to submersible pumps and haphazard supply system. This process led to a change in technologies; to these tube wells as well as the construction of one complete piped network system. … Therefore, the drought became an opportunity for developing water supply systems in line with the long-term vision of the LG’s WASH Plan.” 

SNV Nepal

The project first collaborated with Ward 5 in Ramnagar RM to demonstrate the value of WSPs in ensuring clean water for all point-source water systems (shallow tubewells) throughout Sarlahi. The WSP focused on sanitation improvements, such as increasing tubewell depth to access clean water from deeper aquifers, upgrading tubewell platforms, and distributing candle filters to all 400 households. When the extended drought in Parsa RM presented the opportunity to follow a similar approach to that of the Dailekh RMs, the project team focused on building LG and community capacity to upgrade tubewells, construct the piped water scheme and operate it professionally. The project also strengthened the capacity of women to participate in and take on executive and leadership functions within the water supply user committees, and linked women entrepreneurs supplying water filters with female community health volunteers (FCHV) delivering BCC campaigns to households for safe water practices.

In Sarlahi, a person with disability has access to a water filter (SNV / Heman Paneru)

Moving beyond empowerment to transformation 

Over many years, SNV focused on supporting the inclusion and active participation of women, low-income households, minority groups, and people with disabilities in decision-making forums, such as the WASH Coordination Committees. During the Water for Women Extension Phase, in addition to providing opportunities for participation, SNV focused on analysing and addressing structural barriers for the participation of potentially disadvantaged groups. This was done by targeting systems and social norms.

“Marginalised groups are always cornered out from basic WASH services. They are the ones which are severely affected by climate change impacts in WASH sector.”

Kamala Basnet, Education Coordinator, Chandranagar Rural Municipality (RM), Sarlahi

The SNV project team used the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Self-Assessment Tool (GESI SAT) for reflection with local governments on GESI transformation within their governance processes and taking actions for improvement. The project team also used the findings of formative research on the experiences of people with disability to capacitate organisations of people with disabilities (OPDs) in leading transformative change. Examples of this work included active coordination and engagement with local governments and disability help desks in all four project RMs for better service provision, supporting caregivers and their self-help groups, and facilitating trainings on disability inclusive development to change attitudes of leaders, society and family members. Furthermore, the project mobilised district-level OPDs for Disability-Inclusive Development refresher training in Dailekh, reforming RM level disability networks in Sarlahi and sharing the recommendations of coping mechanism research to the people with disabilities in both districts. The project also supported increased and strengthened women’s leadership, for example, women leading climate action within local governments and leading water supply user committees for the provision of inclusive and sustainable services for all people.

“After participating in the Village Maintenance Worker (VMW) training, I realised that roles of VMW are not inherently gender specific. Gaining valuable insights into water and developing skill of pipe joining, fittings and repair and maintenance, I am now committed to becoming a model woman VMW for my water supply scheme.”

Shanti Gurung, VMW of Tallogothpada climate-resilient WSS, Dailekh

In Dungeshwor Rural Municipality, in Dailekh, a sanitation entrepreneur presents menstrual health and hygiene products during an information session for mothers groups (SNV / Meeting Point)

Lessons learnt

Nepal is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, as documented through detailed vulnerability and risk assessments at the national level. However, there was little experience in the WASH sector of analysing climate risks for processes that support WASH services.

To expand understanding of the different climate change impacts on Nepal across climatically distinct districts, the project supported the analysis and development of strategies to address specific climate change risks for WASH services in different eco-zones and the vulnerability of potentially disadvantaged groups.

Throughout the seven-years of Water for Women, the project created an enabling environment for local governments and communities to effectively integrate GEDSI and climate resilience in WASH systems and services. Positive changes in perceptions and the GEDSI practices of officials are clearly visible at the community and local government levels. WASH-GEM findings showed that actively involving women, people with disabilities and other marginalised groups supported positive GEDSI outcomes, including increased participation in WASH decision-making processes and leadership positions, which increased resilience.

During the Extension Phase, the SNV project team assessed and integrated climate risks for improving resilience aspects within WASH governance, infrastructure implementation, water supply services, hygienic behaviours, supply chains, and for people with disabilities. This process was shared with stakeholders at the national level, including the Ministry of Water Supply (DWSSM), DPs, international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) and other non-government organisations, and contributed to enhanced knowledge and practice on climate-resilient WASH.

Supporting RMs to address issues such as management of very small schemes, providing refresher training to local government officials, village maintenance workers and FCHVs helped to motivate and increase support for climate resilience and GEDSI actions - by government, communities, and service providers. RMs and communities have strong awareness of specific climate impacts and resilience actions within their scope.

By working in partnership with local government and being adaptable to the changing contexts, the project influenced changes at an area-wide level, even when focusing on a few communities; for example, by capacitating all FCHVs, all ward technicians, influencing RMs with professional support for preparation/updating of WASH plans, the BCC strategy, and  disability helpdesk SOPs. Research partnerships contributed to project rigour and quality.

In Dailekh, local partnership contributed to sustainable change, including water service improvements in communities which now have oversight from the Ward, and RM commitment  to scaling the model for area-wide climate-resilient inclusive WASH. In Sarlahi, the two-year duration of the Extension Phase project could not fully address complexities owing to the drought. However, the project supported increased awareness of the importance of water quality and positive hand hygiene behaviours. RMs are gradually undertaking water quality testing, and where upgraded household shallow tubewells are in use, households are committed to maintaining them. In drought-hit areas, new systems are installed, but the need for a clear management model remains to sustain the infrastructure and water quality.

Explore:

• Project reports: Nepal community reports: climate-resilient WASH facilities  
• Resources and tools: Safe drinking water – Nepal
• UTS-ISF research report: Household coping mechanisms: rural WASH
• BCC resources: SNV-Upward Spiral change hub
  • IWMI blog: Resilient water and sanitation systems in Nepal
• Watch: Building Climate-Resilient Water Supply – Insights from Dailekh District
• Watch: Advancing Climate-Resilient WASH Services: Lessons from Sarlahi District

Female community health volunteers participate in BCC training conducted by SNV in Dailekh (Everest Club / Bimala Bisunke)

Government data showed that around 3,500 children die annually in Nepal due to water- and hygiene-related causes. A 2022 SNV survey in Dailekh and Sarlahi revealed that only 36% of households were treating water before use, and these practices were inconsistent throughout the year. Recognising the need to improve behaviours, SNV supported local government engagement in a behaviour-centred design (BCD) approach for designing and rolling out BCC campaigns. Today, more than 110 FCHVs from the two RMs of Dailekh use the materials in a behaviour change campaign that has reached more than 7,000 people. FCHVs also maintain water filters in households - a task traditionally carried out by men.

Looking ahead

Water for Women provided the opportunity to develop in-depth knowledge and skillsets in climate-risk informed programming for progress on inclusive, sustainable, safely managed water supply services and hygiene practices, as well as interlinkages with safely managed sanitation. During the Extension Phase, the SNV project team also explored existing government systems, processes, and tools, and how these support inclusive, resilient WASH - and importantly, how they can be further developed or applied effectively.

The experience of the project across two very different settings also provided insights into the effectiveness of different types of strategies. With this knowledge, a tested approach, and relevant toolkits, further opportunities include:

• Expanding on the experiences in the terai for developing and sustaining inclusive and safely managed water supply systems and services that can respond and adapt to the extremes in climate impact from floods to droughts.
• Supporting country commitments on the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) by taking inclusive and resilient WASH programming to scale with clusters of local governments and/or by capacitating provincial governments to provide the policy, capacity, technical and financial support to local governments in the province on inclusive and resilient WASH.
• Expanding on the recommendation from the project’s final evaluation on considering climate resilience of RMs and communities within a wider landscape (i.e. beyond their area of jurisdiction) and developing strategies for adapting to climate change impacts on cross-boundary water resources that ultimately impact the sustainability of local water supply systems.

Feature photo: BCC formative research session being conducted in Sarlahi (SNV Nepal)

*Project targets are based on partner Civil Society Organisations (CSO) baseline studies. Project targets were updated periodically in response to changes in context as appropriate. To see our program impact across a range of indicators, see our impact.