Kathmandu: A national-level workshop focused on strengthening Nepal’s water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems concluded successfully on February 2, 2026, bringing together key actors from across the sector to review progress and chart a path toward more sustainable service delivery.
Organised by Agenda for Change (A4C) Nepal, the event gathered around 60 participants representing federal government agencies, development partners, donor organisations, international and national NGOs, the private sector, academia, and the media. The workshop served as a common platform to share lessons, discuss systemic challenges, and enhance coordination among institutions working in the WASH sector.
Agenda for Change is a collaboration of like-minded organisations promoting a systems-based approach to WASH services. In Nepal, the initiative began in 2015 with four organisations and has since expanded into a consortium of nine partners: WaterAid Nepal, FEDWASUN, Welthungerhilfe (WHH), Simavi, Helvetas, CARE Nepal, Terre des Hommes (Tdh), Oxfam Nepal, and WASH Khabar. The partnership works to support national and local governments in building stronger WASH systems that deliver sustainable, inclusive, and resilient services, aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 6.
Recognising the complexity of Nepal’s WASH governance under the federal system, A4C Nepal has focused on improving policies, strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing financing mechanisms, upgrading monitoring systems, and improving service delivery arrangements. These themes shaped the core discussions during the workshop.
Participants reviewed key achievements, lessons learned, and field experiences from years of engagement in WASH systems strengthening. Discussions highlighted that a systems approach, one that prioritises governance, accountability, financing, and institutional capacity, offers a more sustainable and equitable pathway than short-term, infrastructure-only interventions.
A major highlight of the event was the presentation and official dissemination of the A4C WASH Systems Strengthening Roadmap, along with supporting manuals and frameworks. These documents set out strategic priorities, roles, and recommended actions aimed at improving planning, coordination, and implementation of WASH services across federal, provincial, and local levels.
Interactive question-and-answer sessions and facilitated group discussions gave participants an opportunity to provide feedback on the roadmap and explore areas for joint action in line with national WASH priorities. Many stressed the need for stronger collaboration among government bodies, development partners, and other stakeholders to turn the roadmap into practical results on the ground.
The workshop concluded with a shared understanding that sustained progress in Nepal’s WASH sector will depend on continued government leadership, adequate and predictable financing, institutional strengthening, and a long-term commitment to systems-based approaches rather than isolated projects.
As Nepal moves toward universal access to safe water and sanitation, stakeholders described initiatives like the Agenda for Change national workshop as an important step in building resilient WASH systems capable of serving all communities, including those most vulnerable to social inequalities and climate-related risks.
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