From Niras International Consulting LinkedIn:
Running from 2021-2025, NIRAS is implementing the project “Sustainable WASH for all” (SUSWA) project in Nepal which is funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland together with the Government of Nepal and delegated financing from the EU starting in 2022. 🚿
SUSWA works with and through municipalities in the Karnali Province to strengthen their capacity to provide Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) to all. More specifically, SUSWA works with the municipalities to support people in the project municipalities to have improved and equitable access to safe and sustainable drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities, dignified menstruation and improved hygiene practices, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls, persons with disabilities, and those in vulnerable situations. 💧🚰🧼🩸
For sustainable WASH for all to be a reality, it is crucial to ensure that the process is participatory from the start. For SUSWA, this means, for example, following the planning process of municipalities in Nepal 📆, meeting with water users’ committees of each community as part of the planning and decision-making process 🤝, promoting participation of women and socially excluded or disadvantaged groups (certain castes, persons with disabilities) 🗣, as well as supporting newly elected municipality officials to rethink 🧠 cost and organisation related to operation and maintenance of water schemes (over 50% of assessed water schemes in the SUSWA working area either have low functionality or are in complete need of reconstruction!).
To get an idea of what this participatory process has looked like in the first eight months of SUSWA, check out the pictures below (hint: a lot of meetings and a lot of walking, as SUSWA works to reach those unserved in the geographically challenging province)]. 👇
