Water management project in Far West Nepal adapts to coronavirus

Clean water and hand hygiene are key in efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The Rural Village Water Resources Management Project (RVWRMP) aims to improve availability of and access to clean water and sanitation in remote areas in Nepal – also during the pandemic. The project in Far West Nepal is supported by Finland and the European Union.

One of the main goals of Finland's development cooperation in Nepal is to improve access to clean drinking water and sanitation. Finland's support is directed to the most vulnerable people, addressing especially the needs of women, children and people with a disability.

Access to clean water improves village people’s health, food security and livelihoods. More than 350,000 Nepalese benefit from the water management project in Far West Nepal, which is supported by Finland and the EU. Photo: Pertti Anttinen/MFA.

Independent building and maintenance of water management systems

The Rural Village Water Resources Management Project in Nepal, which is supported by Finland and the EU, is carried out in remote areas where water supply and sanitation services are poorest and few other donors are present.

The ongoing third phase of the project (RVWRMP III) aims to improve the coverage of water supply and sanitation and livelihoods in ten districts in Nepal.

In addition, the project focuses on the development of planned use of water. The objective is that after the project has been completed, municipalities and village communities could build and maintain their water services independently.

Improved water services have many positive effects on the life of the village people. They use water to grow and irrigate their home gardens. Farmers also sell their produce, which gives them extra income. As a whole, access to water is a precondition for improved food safety and a better level of nutrition.

More than 350,000 Nepalese are estimated to benefit from the project.

In 2016–2022, Finland supports the third phase of the Rural Village Water Resources Management Project (RVWRMP III) by EUR 15 million. The European Union’s contribution to the project in 2016–2022 is EUR 20 million.

The achievements of the current phase include improved water services for 189,000, basic home gardens for 212,000 and irrigation systems for 27,000 Nepalese people.

In Nepal's Far West, the Rural Village Water Resources Management Project has brought improved water services for 189,000 people. The support is directed to remote areas in Nepal where the availability of water services is poorest.  Photo: Tuukka Ervasti/MFA.

“Adapting to the coronavirus situation has led to innovative solutions.”

The Water management project in Far West Nepal has had to adapt to the exceptional situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic. As part of the project, more such hygiene products as soap and hand sanitizers have been distributed and information has been given also on the radio. 

“Builders engaged in the projects have continued the work despite the restrictive measures concerning movement outdoors. Work is done taking into consideration safe distances and hand hygiene and using face masks. In addition, we have had to come up with creative solutions to be able to continue public audits,” says Sara Alanen, Programme Officer for Nepal at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

In accordance with the rules, building projects must include public consultations attended by the parties involved. Now that such gatherings have not been possible, audit papers have been put available in a public place where all stakeholders have in turn signed the papers showing that they have seen the figures.  For people who cannot read, there is a person who can explain the figures.

During the coronavirus pandemic, clean water and sanitation are more important than ever before

Access to clean water and sanitation are fundamental preconditions for a dignified life, and the coronavirus pandemic has not diminished the need for them – on the contrary.

Access to clean water and hygiene together with safe physical distancing are critical in the prevention of the spread of coronavirus.

Finnish expertise in the water sector is on a high level, and water plays an important role in Finland's development policy and development cooperation projects. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there is increasing demand for Finnish water sector expertise.

The Rural Village Water Resources Management Project, supported by Finland and the EU, has produced promising results and the project is particularly important and topical now.

Maisa Borg

The author worked as Communications Officer in the Department of Communications of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.