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Active in Karnali Province

Water is Dignity. Hygiene is Health.

SUSWA is a human rights progressive bilateral project building on and continuing the long-term WASH sector cooperation of the Government of Finland and the Government of Nepal

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Our Impact

Impact That Matters

Measurable results and real-life improvements in health, dignity, and inclusion across rural Nepal.

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Population served by non-functional water supply systems made functional and safe

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Stakeholder Satisfaction

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Number of additional people with access to basic toilets

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Women using toilets during menstruation

Key Achievements

  • 19 municipalities being able to perform basic water quality tests.
  • 25 municipalities with gender responsive budgets.
  • 78287 people served by non-functional schemes made functional and safe.
  • 9230 people served by new water supply schemes.
  • 10103 households fulfilling total sanitation criteria.
  • 4582 people trained on MHM including sanitary pad making.

Beyond Numbers: Real Change

In Barahatal Rural Municipality, the construction of a piped water system means women no longer walk 2 hours daily for water. Children attend school regularly. Families have time for income generating activities.
In Gurbhakot, accessible public toilets ensure that persons with disabilities can participate in community life with dignity and independence.

Every data point represents a life improved, a community empowered, and a step toward lasting change.

More Than Just Taps & Toilets

In the rugged terrain of Karnali, infrastructure alone is not enough. SUSWA takes a human-rights based approach, ensuring that the most vulnerable women, girls, people with disabilities and marginalized groups are at the center of decision making.

  • Government-led implementation for sustainability
  • Focus on Dignified Menstruation Management
  • Climate-resilient water safety planning
  • Gender Equality, Disabilities and Social Inclusion (GEDSI)
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Community First

Local users committees manage every water scheme, ensuring ownership and longevity.

Governance Structure

Why Wash Matters

Water, sanitation, and hygiene are foundational to health, dignity, and development.Without them, communities cannot thrive.

Clean Water

Access to safe drinking water prevent waterborne diseases and saves lives, especially for children and vulnerable populations.

Proper Sanitation

Dignified sanitation facilities reduce open defecation, protect water sources, and provide safety, particularly for women and girls.

Good Hygiene

Handwashing with soap and menstrual hygiene practices are simple yet powerful tools to prevent disease and promote wellbeing.

Human Dignity

WASH is about more than infrastructure - it's about restoring dignity, privacy, and self-respect to every individual.

Public Health

Improved WASH reduces disease burden, improves nutrition, and strengthens community resilience against health crises.

These five pillars are interconnected. Progress in one area strengthens the others.

Together, they create lasting change.
In rural Nepal, lack of WASH infrastructure forces communities into cycles of disease, poverty, and inequality. SUSWA works to break these cycles.
Latest Updates

Updates & Stories

Real stories from the field showing the human impact of our work and the resilience of communities we serve.

Blog

Latest Insights

Real updates from the field, projects, and communities we serve.

Testimonials

Voices From The Field

– Sonam Chhirang Lama, Chairperson, Shree Budha Model Secondary School, Mangri, Mugu

“In our remote village of Mangri, school sanitation and menstrual hygiene were once major challenges. With support from SUSWA, we established our first self-sustaining school sanitation fund, which allows us to regularly purchase essential supplies like soap, towels, and toilet cleaners. The most encouraging part is that teachers, parents, and students now work together to maintain clean toilets and practice proper hygiene. SUSWA’s awareness programmes have truly changed our mindset, and this collective effort has created a lasting culture of sanitation and menstrual hygiene. I hope our initiative inspires other schools to strengthen community-led sanitation and hygiene awareness.”

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— Bhupesh Kumar Jyoti, WASH Mart, Jyoti Hardware, and orders suppliers

“The WASH Mart concept was something completely new to me, and perhaps for this area as well. Before, sanitation products were limited, and many essential items were not available locally. Now, thanks to SUSWA, we have a WASH Mart where people can find everything, from sanitation products to water supply materials, all in one place. I feel proud to be part of this initiative. Seeing people come from surrounding villages, happy to get everything they need in one visit, is truly rewarding. For a place like Jajarkot, where these materials were previously hard to access, this is a game-changer.”

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– Lalita Sunar, Ward No. 3, Budakphal, Dharma, Salyan

I grew up thinking women don’t do plumbing, but seeing my father-in-law work as a plumber after my marriage sparked my interest. Helping him in my free time, I gradually learned the skills. When SUSWA introduced the Village Maintenance Worker (VMW) concept, I realized it matched my interest and applied.
Being close to the RVT and having basic plumbing knowledge, the community selected me as a VMW. With SUSWA’s training, I turned my knowledge into practical skills. Today, I serve around 36 households, and people call me respectfully whenever a tap or pipe breaks.
Looking back, I feel proud to contribute to my community.

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In Collaboration with:

Government of Nepal

Government of Nepal

Co-funded by the European Union

Co-funded by the European Union

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Technical assistance by Niras

Technical assistance

This website was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Finland and the Government of Nepal. Its contents are the sole responsibility of SUSWA and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland or the Government of Nepal.

Copyright © 2022 Sustainable WASH for all