Addressing Climate Vulnerability in Nepal Through Resilient and Inclusive WASH Systems (RES-WASH)

International Water Management Institute

Climate Resilience Research (WRA-CR05)

Research theme: Climate change vulnerability and risk in Nepal and implications for inclusive WASH services

Research focus: An assessment of climate change vulnerability and risk in two Nepalese districts – mountainous Dailekh in western Nepal and Sarlahi, situated in the eastern plains – with consideration of the gendered and social vulnerabilities of women, girls, people with disabilities, and marginalised communities.

Location: Dailekh and Sarlahi districts, Nepal

Partners: International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Bagmati Welfare Society Nepal (Sarlahi district), Everest Club (Dailekh district), The Global Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal

This project aimed to improve local capacity and knowledge on climate-resilient, sustainable and inclusive WASH by producing scientific data, information and knowledge, and ensuring their outreach, accessibility and use by local stakeholders, especially local governments.

This included determining:

1. What are the vulnerabilities and risks to WASH resources and infrastructure in a changing climate context in Nepal?
2. What are gendered and social vulnerabilities related to WASH experienced by marginalised women, girls and people with disabilities?
3. What strategies are needed to strengthen the institutional capacity of WASH service providers and local communities in achieving climate-resilient inclusive WASH?

Knowledge product links

• Publication: Vulnerability and risk mapping at the municipality level in Dailekh and Sarlahi Districts of Nepal: visualization through an online dashboard and accompanying online dashboard
• Publication: Priority policy and actions of local government to promote climate-resilient and inclusive water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in Sarlahi and Dailekh districts in Nepal
• Videos: Building climate-resilient rural water supply: insights from Dailekh District and Sarlahi District, Nepal

What we did

We conducted a comprehensive Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment for the Dailekh and Sarlahi districts in Nepal. The assessment fed into an online dashboard with over 100 indicators relating to hazards, vulnerability, adaptive capacity, sensitivity, and exposure. We also mapped system-level vulnerability, risk, and resiliency of more than 200 WASH systems in 31 municipalities of both districts. Climate resiliency was based on five domains: Infrastructure, Environment, Institutional Capacity and Governance, Community Capital, and WASH Management systems. Assessment across these domains allowed us to determine the most and least climate resilient systems. In the most and least vulnerable municipalities, we also examined gendered and social vulnerabilities in WASH among marginalized groups, including women, Dalits, and persons with disabilities based on climatic and non- climatic indicators. This is the first time climate-resilient WASH systems have been mapped in Nepal and presented in an online dashboard, and we trained local government officials to use it.

We shared our findings at knowledge-sharing and validation workshops in both districts (11 municipalities in Dailekh and 20 in Sarlahi) with local government, provincial and federal representatives. Some municipalities noted that the resilience ranking would help prioritise budgeting for critical WASH systems improvements.

We also held endline GESI-SAT with our partners Everest Club and BWSN to evaluate the progress made in implementing the GESI Action Plans developed during initial GESI-SAT workshops.

Children from Child Club perform a powerful drama at the local School in the Dailekh district of western Nepal, raising awareness about climate change and inclusive WASH solutions through storytelling (Raj Bikram Shahi/ Everest Club)

What we found

The research generated evidence on vulnerability and risk at the municipal and WASH system levels, climate-resilient WASH mapping, gender equality, disability and social inclusion and policy gaps and barriers. This led to recommendations for creating inclusive and climate-resilient WASH systems We disseminated the research findings, tools, approach for inclusive and climate resilient WASH through workshops, conferences, publications, reports, and media.

We found that patriarchal systems and traditional norms continue to shape the roles and vulnerabilities of women, Dalits, and persons with disabilities in WASH. In Dailekh, menstruation taboos restrict women and girls from using toilets and drinking water taps during menstruation. Dalit women in both districts report discrimination when collecting water from public taps. Men dominate decision-making in households, communities, and policymaking, while women are primarily responsible for household WASH needs, hygiene, and toilet cleaning. Despite declared ‘open defecation-free’ status, some communities in both districts still practice it due to social norms and resource constraints.

Awareness of the need for universally designed WASH infrastructure was low among locals and institutions. Communal and school toilets are often unhygienic and inaccessible, especially for adolescent girls and persons with disabilities. Families and caretakers of persons with disabilities lack proper caretaking skills.

Research Uptake

Our research evidence and recommendations on inclusive, climate resilient WASH practices led to sensitisation of inclusive and climate-resilient WASH and influenced the three tiers of local, provincial and national government.

Local authorities and stakeholders gained a deeper understanding of WASH system vulnerabilities, risks, and social and gender issues. During the workshops, elected representatives aligned with the findings and supported integrating these practices into planning. Several municipalities in the Dailekh district plan  to make WASH systems inclusive and climate-resilient, with allotted annual program plans and budgets for FY2081/82. Local school children performed street dramas on challenges to inclusive and climate-resilient WASH and addressing cultural barriers within WASH systems.

After a provincial workshop, the Karnali Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy Development to commit to prioritising climate-resilient WASH, integrating it into the 2024-2025 provincial Policy and Program, and committing dedicated funding for climate-resilient WASH where previously the provincial government only funded general WASH programs.

At the national workshop, participants expressed their appreciation for the research outcomes. Several partners also noted that the climate-resilient mapping framework could be merged with others to create a unified framework.

After participating in the GEDSI-SAT, our partner Bagmati Welfare Society Nepal established a breastfeeding corner in the office. Everest Club replaced their GESI with a GEDSI policy and

Our efforts highlighted the lag in climate financing for the WASH sector. We also contributed to a Joint Sector Review (JSR) process. Together with other WASH development partners, we successfully advocated for the inclusion of a dedicated point on climate-resilient WASH in the 20-point declaration of the JSR.

Broader WASH sector contributions

The RES WASH team continuously advocated the issues in various national and international forums including COP28 (2023), World Water Week in Stockholm (2023) and COP29 (2024), World Water Forum Bali (2024).

Where to from here?

We are committed to advancing climate-resilient and inclusive WASH systems in Nepal that effectively address the diverse needs of vulnerable communities, including women, children, and individuals with disabilities. We want to sustain the discussion nationally, especially on the development partners platform co-chaired by UNICEF and ADB. We plan to scale up innovative practices from the RES WASH projects, such as implementing an online dashboard for vulnerability and risk assessment, conducting resilience mapping at the WASH systems level across additional districts, and developing guidelines for climate-resilient systems through various initiatives. Furthermore, we will strengthen our existing partnerships with government bodies, NGOs, and local organizations to enhance collaboration and leverage future opportunities.

In the future, we hope Nepal’s WASH plans integrate climate vulnerability and risk to ensure sustainable and resilient services, and that the sector prioritises inclusivity by addressing the needs of people with disabilities. We recognise the need for dedicated studies that specifically examine the social, institutional, psychological, and environmental barriers faced by people with disabilities in accessing WASH services. Additional climate finance in the WASH sector and applying the lessons learned, such as community engagement and prioritising marginalized groups to cross-sectoral applications are key pieces for climate-resilient inclusive WASH.  

Where we started

"We are excited about bridging a knowledge gap in Nepal by conducting a thorough assessment of climate risks and vulnerabilities in mid-hill (Dailekh) and plains (Sarlahi) districts in Nepal. Our focus will be on understanding how these factors are specifically related to resilient and inclusive WASH services.”

Santosh Nepal, International Water Management Institute project lead

Research Description

Nepal is highly vulnerable to climate change, with around 80% of the population identified as at risk from climate-related impacts. This research project aims to build climate resilience by addressing the impacts of climate change on Nepal's WASH sector and vulnerable populations. Climate-induced hazards, such as floods and landslides, disproportionately affect marginalised communities. Previous research identified knowledge gaps and limited understanding of integrating gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) in WASH planning and implementation.

The IWMI Water for Women project in Nepal (2018-2022) revealed a lack of capacity, agency, and resources among local authorities to plan, design and implement GEDSI-informed WASH interventions. Local stakeholders also lacked comprehension of the impact of climate change, water-related hazards, environmental degradation, and social/gender-related issues on WASH planning and decision-making.

The innovation significance of this research project lies in its focus on the interrelated challenges of climate change, WASH and gender, and using this evidence base to strengthen the capacity of key WASH sector actors at the local level, particularly local governments in Dailekh and Sarlahi districts.

This research recognises the climatic hazards, including temperature increase, intense precipitation, droughts, floods and landslides, and their impact on WASH and water security, access, and the health of vulnerable populations. By addressing these interconnected issues and developing insights, data and guidance, the research contributes to building climate resilience in Nepal's WASH sector and improving the health of rural communities.

Working in partnership with Bagmati Welfare Society Nepal in Sarlahi, Everest Club in Dailekh, The Global Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies and National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal, this project aims to improve local capacity and knowledge on climate-resilient, sustainable and inclusive WASH by producing scientific data, information and knowledge, and ensuring their outreach, accessibility and use by local stakeholders, especially local governments. This evidence and knowledge will guide efforts to strengthen local actors' capacity for climate-resilient and inclusive WASH approaches.

The research objectives are to:

1. Assess the vulnerability of WASH infrastructure and facilities to climatic and non-climatic hazards.
2. Identify the gendered and social vulnerabilities related to WASH and climate change experienced by diverse groups of women, girls, people with disabilities, and marginalised communities.
3. Improve knowledge and capacity for effective WASH systems, programs and institutional mechanisms that are more inclusive and climate resilient.

The research involves a comprehensive Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment, which includes key activities such as:

• existing data exploration and collection
• hazard identification
• assessment of future climate hazard and risk
• development of a composite multi-hazard map
• analysis of vulnerability and risk indexes, gendered and social vulnerabilities
• qualitative research
• climate and GEDSI reviews of WASH-related policies and interventions.

Based on these findings, partners and other stakeholders are using the research for policy advocacy and capacity-building. The research is influencing WASH policy and practice by generating evidence and proposing solutions to enhance climate-resilient WASH that address risk and vulnerabilities in gender and social inclusivity.

It is also improving local government, practitioners and stakeholders' expertise on sustainable, climate-resilient, inclusive WASH through dedicated capacity-building activities, research dissemination and awareness-building activities. This evidence-based knowledge informs planning, design, and implementation of approaches to strengthen the capacity of key local actors, who can positively influence the planning, design and delivery of more climate-resilient and inclusive WASH programs and services.

As well as contributions towards resilient and inclusive WASH, this research will inform and support a greater number of local governments and NGOs to consider climate-resilient WASH beyond the project cycle.

Pathways to impact

1. Improved climate change impacts database on the potential effects on water resources, infrastructure, and water supply in rural municipalities, and related GEDSI risks, challenges, inequities, and the responses of the government and CSOs to tackle these challenges.
2. Improved knowledge and understanding of policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and communities on WASH-climate-GEDSI links and intersections, and adaptation options.
3. Strengthened local government capacity for GEDSI responsive climate-resilient WASH planning and policies adhering to the national climate change policies.

Research partners bring broader experiences and mandates such as data science, policy advocacy and policy uptake, local coordination and capacity building and outreach activities, which contribute to achieving these research outcomes.

“It is critical to understand the vulnerability and risk at the local level, ensuring that this vital information is readily accessible to facilitate informed decision-making within the local community. By providing local authorities with our accessible vulnerability and risk assessment approach, we empower them to make context specific decisions that promote resilient WASH service delivery.”

Uttam Babu Shrestha, Director, Global Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, Nepal

Feature photo: An elderly man fills his bucket at the handpump, as others await their turn in Sarlahi district (Onion Films)