Existing Solutions

Nepal, Harmonization, Water, Sanitation, Management Plans

financial

Institutional, Community Involvement, Financial Scheme

Water and sanitation coverage is in the incremental process but there should be additional actions to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and universal access. In Nepal, the right to water and sanitation has been incorporated in the draft constitution but its translation into practice requires financial support.  This can be accelerated by the institutionalization of a global framework for action and master plans for sanitation and water.

A global framework for action creates a favourable environment for increasing global political commitment to address concerns of the sector and ensure the dignified lives of people. This will also motivate political leaders to promote water and sanitation issues at the national level, which will affect the financing dynamics of the sector.

Sector financing is the current trend and the absorption capacity of concerned stakeholders is increasing. However, some rural and remote districts do not benefit from available resources of water and sanitation. The global framework for action is envisioned to help develop mechanisms for a coordinated approach to ensure the equitable distribution of resources.

The National Planning Commission and Ministry of Physical Planning and Works are leading the process for Sector wide approach (SWAp). The approach should be targeted for promoting coordination, harmonization and monitoring and the global framework for action can support in institutionalizing this process of coordination and linking it with global coordination and monitoring mechanisms.

Lack of capacity and inadequate institutional operational mechanisms have also hindered the implementation of existing policies. The global framework for action is expected to provide support so that more actions are made to benefit the poor. 

Development initiatives are sustained only when there is active engagement of the community in all project phases. It is anticipated that the framework will provide guidance for empowering the community to ensure their active engagement.

The solution is being implemented in the whole of Nepal with a particular application focus in the Midwestern region of the country. 

Who had initiated the project? What were the stakeholders’ drivers?

The Ministry of Physical Planning and Works is leading the process of Sector wide Approach (SWAp) for promoting coordination and collaboration. The National Planning Commission has extended full support to this initiative. The SWAp learning from other countries has revealed that it had gained success in the countries where resources were guaranteed. In this scenario, it is envisioned that the global framework for action would help in attracting more funds for achieving accelerated pace in SWAp.

Which actors proved strategic in the implementation? At what stage were they brought in?

The Ministry of Physical Planning and Works is the key accountable institution for sanitation and water. Other responsibilities are divided across the Ministry of Local Development, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health and Population, and Ministry of Education.

The second tier of major government agencies involved in the sector are the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage (DWSS) under the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works, and the Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads (DoLIDAR) under the Ministry of Local Development.

Who has ensured follow-up of the solution at the local level?

At the local levels, the District WASH Coordinating Committee (D-WASH CCs) and Village WASH Coordinating Committee (V-WASH CCs) are responsible for ensuring that the solution is implemented.

Key question your solution aims to answer (i.e. if your Solution is the answer, then what is the question) and how does that fit with the target?

Approximately 20 percent of the population does not have access to safe drinking water and 16 million people (more than half the population) do not have toilets. The result is regular and massive outbreaks of water-related diseases that cause thousands of deaths annually.

The systematic effort for sanitation promotion in Nepal dates back to the1980s with the United Nations declaration of the International Decade of Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation. Since then, promotion of sanitation has been an integral component of water supply projects. In the recent years, sanitation has been recognized as the basis of health, dignity and development.

How does the solution contribute to the target’s effective implementation and attainment?

The government promoted the harmonization of policies and institutions at various levels and ensured community participation in the water access and sanitation process. The harmonized approach developed in the institutionalization of the global framework for action would enhance coordination at the national level. The global frameworks for coordination and monitoring would be contextualized for meeting national demands and requirements. It would ultimately support the meeting national targets as specified in plans and policies. It is anticipated that the global framework for action would also support in building capacity and institutional mechanisms required to translate plans and policies into action.

What are the solution’s key outputs and what impacts did the solution have given the investment level (not only financial)?*

Sanitation has become an important topic among political leaders, the media and community members. The District WASH Coordinating Committee (D-WASH CCs) and Village WASH Coordinating Committee (V-WASH CCs) take their responsibilities seriously and develop and implement their own strategies and action plans. Sanitation coverage is increasing each day and the number of deaths caused by diarrhea is decreasing steadily.

The government also incorporated the policy of “One House, One Toilet” for the first time in the history of country. There is also a central policy to accelerate social development by increasing investment in education, health and drinking water, and sanitation sectors.

Can the solution continue to deliver tangible impacts on the long term?

The major thrust of the Global Framework for Action is to improve water supply and sanitation to benefit the poor. Nepal uses pro-poor and gender sensitive budgeting to ensure marginalized sectors are part of the development process.

The Monitoring Unit, Ministry of Physical Planning and Works have initiated the development of monitoring frameworks and indicators with a pro-poor perspective to ensure equitable access to sanitation and water.  

Assessments of development models revealed that community engagement is crucial to sustainable development. Thus, engaging people, civil society, media and service providers in monitoring changes would be added value from the global framework for action.

In the process of effectively implementing this solution, what are some of the key qualitative and quantitative indicators of success over time (i.e. what would you expect to see change, where and when)?

The Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Policy 2004 and Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Policy 2009 are key guiding policy documents. The National Water Plan Nepal (2002-2027) and Fifteen Year Small Towns Development Plan (2000 and modified in 2009) are major planning documents for facilitating implementation of the policies. The country is also in the process of finalizing the National Hygiene and Sanitation Master Plan and Master Plan Implementation Guideline that serves as the visionary planning document for addressing blockages in the sanitation sector.

Given your experience, who would / should be most interested in this Solution and why? How will it help them?*

This solution would be more interesting for places or countries in the midst of a political transformation, where people are more eager to see actions than plans and policies. Therefore, the global framework for action would accelerate the engagement of people, government, civil society organizations, private sector, media and funding agencies in implementing these plans to meet the aspirations of the people.

In what context do you think this solution could / would work best and why?*

For the implementation of programs and activities, there should be practical flexibility in the adoption of approaches and selection of tools and resources at the local level. Creativity should be encouraged at every step of program design and implementation. Innovative actions should be taken into account during documentation and knowledge sharing processes.

Given your experience, what would be needed to upscale this solution, for example to a political or/and a regional level?

A National Hygiene and Sanitation Fund (NHSF) will be established to which all government and donor funds for hygiene and sanitation would be allocated under NSHSC especially for Open Defecation Free (ODF) campaigning at the district, municipality and VDC levels. The fund will also be required for research and development, dissemination of advocacy and Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials, and media mobilization. Multiple stakeholders at the national levels will support the fund. One important implication of establishing the NHSF would be that all agencies involved in hygiene and sanitation promotion would collectively contribute to help achieve universal coverage in sanitation in an accelerated and sustainable manner. This will help strengthen collaboration and resolve the problems of duplication and mutual incompatibilities in approaches that have been costly for the country.

What tips and guidance (dos and don’ts) would you give to others interested in applying this solution in their own context?*

Approaches in water access and sanitation were modified after gaining lessons from learning. Sanitation interventions were fundamentally governed by the child-to-child, child-to-parents, adult learning, school and community approaches to address increment toilet coverage.

Total sanitation approaches were introduced in Nepal to increase Open Defecation Free communities resulting in a shift from the conventional awareness raising approach to a behavior change approach.

What is the minimum investment necessary (in terms of human resources, time, energy, infrastructure, financial resources, political will, etc.) in order to effectively implement this solution?

The current budget allocation is Rs. 9.15 billion and there is a separate sanitation budget of Rs 70 million.

One is the unequal distribution of work and resources. Some districts with high coverage are over-financed and some low coverage districts are under-financed.

The water and sanitation sector is heavily dependent on external resources, which reaches about 71 percent. Major donors comprise 58 percent, while off-budget line is 11 percent. This shows the need for donor harmonization with funding organizations.

What are the main factors of success that you wish to emphasize?

Factors of success at the policy level include:

• Political commitment is necessary at all levels.

• Mainstreaming of local bodies accelerates hygiene and sanitation development.

• Ultra poor and disadvantaged groups need special consideration.

• Water supply and sanitation projects should have universal toilet coverage.

• The norms of approach and financing modality are essential to maintain standards.

• Maintenance of the standard of program approaches, modalities, and institutional arrangements is a key to success.

• Private corporations may finance sanitation promotion activities through social marketing approaches.

Factors of success at the implementation level include:

• Implementation of the local level joint plan of action on sanitation is imperative to sustainable sanitation.

• Mobilization of political parties, partner organizations and administrative branches of the bureaucracy is indispensable for better coordination and wider community mobilization.

• Inter and intra sectoral coordination is necessary to optimize resources and synergize efforts.

• ODF campaigning must mainstream household and community institutions.

• Mobilization of schools, children’s clubs, NGOs and CBOs is crucial.

• Children are the change agents for hygiene and sanitation promotion in schools and communities.

• Natural leaders and VDC level triggers are key elements to create ODF status and sustainable post ODF-level status.

• Mobilization of women’s groups and cooperatives is crucial to generate local level resources.

• Construction of permanent structure toilets strengthen the sustainability of the structure.

• Issues in urban sanitation include inadequate participation of the private sector, technology, financing, management, and poor enforcement of rules and regulations.

• The advocacy of media, civil society, and the Federation of Water Supply and Sanitation Nepal (FEDWASUN) is essential.

• Innovation and flexibility are essential in sanitation sector activities.

Have some organisations/institutions/committees already committed to implement or replicate this solution?

In 2008, Abadh K. Mishra became the Director of the Regional Monitoring and Supervision Office (RMSO) in the Midwestern Development Region of Nepal. There, he successfully mobilised all stakeholders – including the government, development agencies and the local communities – to support a coordinated approach to improve access to sanitation. In June 2011, he was transferred to the Western Development Region to begin the replication of the approach there.

Khuat Quang Hung

Regional PR/Communications Coordinator SNV Asia Region – Netherlands Development Organisation

6 F, Building B, Lathanh Hotel 218 Doi Can, Ba dinh, Hanoi, Vietnam T (+84 4) 3846 3791 (ext.174),

F (+84 4) 3846 3794 ; Mobile: 09 04 170 117 Email: HKhuatQuang@snvworld.org

Web: www.snvworld.org/Asia

Skype: khuat_quang_hung

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