A.D.:
Nepal Samvat: 1146 SILLAGA EKADASHI - 26
Kathmandu:
With the objective of making Nepal’s safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) system sustainable, inclusive, and institutionally strengthened, a cooperation agreement has been signed between the National Water Supply and Sanitation Research, Innovation and Capacity Development Centre (NWSSRICDC) and Welthungerhilfe (WHH).
The cooperation agreement, effective from December 2025 to December 2027, was signed by Mr. Ram Kumar Shrestha, Executive Director of NWSSRICDC, and Mr. Shakeb Nabi, Country Director of Welthungerhilfe (WHH) Nepal. Witnessing the agreement on behalf of NWSSRICDC were Engineer Chetanarayan Shrestha and Engineer Mukunda Prasad Agasti, while on behalf of WHH, WASH Expert Biju Dangol and Programme Manager Tabea Seiz were present.
The National Water Supply and Sanitation Research, Innovation and Capacity Development Centre is an entity under the Ministry of Water Supply, Government of Nepal, whereas Welthungerhilfe (WHH) is a German non-profit organization.
Through this bilateral agreement, it is expected that the concept of WASH systems strengthening in Nepal will be institutionalized, elevating national-level capacity development, research, training, and innovation to a new level.
According to the agreement, a national-level WASH systems strengthening training manual will be piloted, revised, finalized, and integrated into the formal training curriculum of NWSSRICDC. This is expected to enhance the capacity of government institutions at the federal, provincial, and local levels, as well as implementing partners and technical personnel.
In particular, technical capacity development programs for local governments will be implemented with a focus on climate resilience and a systems-based approach. Training on the design and management of fecal sludge treatment plants, along with post-training monitoring, will also be a key component of the collaboration.
Under this cooperation, joint research will be conducted in areas such as drinking water safety, groundwater, spring sources, and other water supply and sanitation-related fields. The evidence, lessons learned, and case studies generated from the research will be documented in the national knowledge repository of the water supply, sanitation, and hygiene sector.
Similarly, the agreement includes collaboration in sharing research and innovation experiences and results with development partners, as well as organizing knowledge exchange programs.
The agreement also prioritizes the institutional sustainability of NWSSRICDC. It includes provisions for strategic support from WHH in the development or updating of a Business Plan, mobilization of resources for research, and coordination and dialogue with donor agencies.
The agreement further states that the international experience, tools, and expertise of Agenda for Change (A4C) member organizations will be utilized in training materials and implementation processes to make capacity development in the WASH sector more effective.
It is also mentioned that gender equality, social inclusion, and sustainability principles will be mandatorily integrated into all stages of training and program implementation. This aims to ensure access and participation of marginalized and disadvantaged communities.
Although this cooperation agreement is not legally binding, it will serve as a formal record of the shared vision, commitment, and collaboration between the two institutions. Any disputes will be resolved through mutual consultation and dialogue.
“This collaboration is expected to make a significant contribution to systemic reform, capacity development, and knowledge generation to ensure safe, inclusive, and sustainable water supply and sanitation services in Nepal,” said Mr. Ram Kumar Shrestha, Executive Director of the National Water Supply and Sanitation Research, Innovation and Capacity Development Centre.
