Nepal | Karnali Water Activity

Activity Description

USAID Karnali Water supports the Government of Nepal to create healthy, water-secure communities via sustainable drinking water access, fecal sludge management, agriculture water management, and conservation. At the watershed level, improved water resource management supports resilient, biodiverse ecosystems.

Activity Objectives

• Increase sustainable access to safe drinking water and water for productive uses
• Increase sustainable access to and use of safely managed sanitation through fecal sludge management
• Strengthen governance for sustainable resilient management of water resources
• Strengthen conservation of watersheds and biodiversity
• Provide supplemental assistance to link disaster response and recovery activities with support for sustained improvements in water and sanitation service delivery

Approach

This activity uses a OneWater approach that unites stakeholders (i.e., community, municipal, national, and watershed) to achieve water security goals. OneWater creates an integrated vision and drives collective action in the Karnali River Basin by mapping assets, risks, and attitudes; convening stakeholders to align interests; co-designing and co-implementing plans and interventions; and rigorously monitoring, learning, and adapting programming for impact and sustainability.

Illustrative Activities

• Strengthen water management systems for safe and sustainable water services, including climate-resilient water safety plans.
• Identify targeted social behavior change activities to enhance water safety and conservation at the household level and in agricultural practices.
• Conduct citywide sanitation planning exercises that include fecal sludge management, city drainage, and solid waste systems.
• Develop policies and regulations for improved watershed-level water resource management, including engaging local governments to develop and enact WASH legislation.
• Protect and ensure efficient, collective management of water catchment and spring sources by One Water Steering Committees.

Related Links 

• USAID Karnali Water Factsheet 
• DAI’s Activity page
• Karnali documents on USAID’s Development Experience Clearinghouse
• “Meet USAID’s 2023 Water Warriors” Global Waters blog featuring Pragya Shrestha from USAID/Nepal
• Predecessor Project: USAID Paani Program
• Nepal | Globalwaters.org