Monitoring Trip to Nepal 2024: WASH Model Village Project

1.2.2025 - Nepal (2023 -2025)

In November 2024, the WaterFinns conducted their annual monitoring trip aimed at assessing the progress of the WASH Model Village Project (MVP). This project, in partnership with the Center for Appropriate Technology Nepal (CATN), focuses on improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure in two of the most underdeveloped wards of Devchuli Municipality. The monitoring trip provided valuable insights into the field operations, helped identify potential improvements, and supported ongoing collaboration with local communities and the municipality.

The primary purpose of the trip was to assess the technical progress of the infrastructure developments, particularly water intake improvements and newly installed water supply schemes. Monitoring such activities is essential for ensuring the quality of the work and providing ongoing support to local teams. Beyond the technical monitoring, fostering strong relationships with local stakeholders—including CATN, Devchuli municipality, and the communities—was a central focus, as these relationships are critical to the success of the project.

The trip also aimed to continue monitoring the project’s alignment with local WASH plans, which is essential for ensuring that the activities are relevant and that local capacity is being built effectively. Furthermore, documenting the achievements in the field for communication purposes was key, as it contributes to both internal learning and external visibility for WaterFinns' social media and outreach.

As the 2024 fiscal year approached, the monitoring trip allowed the team to reflect on the project’s achievements and identify areas for further improvement. The technical observations highlighted the importance of climate-smart water infrastructure, particularly regarding water sources and reservoirs, which now include overflow pipes that support agricultural irrigation. It was recognized that awareness-raising efforts on climate change and sustainable water practices should be expanded, especially as water scarcity could become a future challenge in the region.

The Model Villages Are Located in Devchuli 

Upon arrival in Kathmandu on November 17, Waterfinns met with CATN management for a dinner to discuss the agenda and practicalities for the field visits. The next day the team hopped in a Jeep and drove all the way to Devchuli. The drive was bumpy and it lasted about 8 hours. 

Devchuli is a region of striking natural beauty, nestled in the hilly terrain of central Nepal. The area is a true hidden gem, where lush forests stretch across the hillsides, and the air is rich with the scent of pine and tropical fruits. Bananas, pineapples, and a variety of other fruits flourish in the fertile soil, providing a vibrant and abundant landscape.

The villages themselves are spread across these hills, often perched at the top of ridges or nestled into the slopes, offering stunning views of the surrounding valleys and distant mountain ranges. The terrain, while breathtaking, poses challenges for the people who live here. Roads are few and rudimentary, often impassable during the monsoon season, making access to markets and essential services difficult. 

Furthermore, the communities in these hills struggle with limited access to clean drinking water, which remains a key challenge addressed by the WASH Model Village Project.  The water that sustains the villages flows from small waterfalls and rivers that cut through the landscape, providing vital resources for the people living in these remote areas. The landscape is a blend of rugged hills, tranquil forests, and crystal-clear watercourses—a perfect backdrop for the WASH interventions aimed at improving living conditions here. 

Kyläläiset

Ratodada Water Supply Scheme Inauguration

The monitoring team began its fieldwork in Ratodada on November 19, where they witnessed the inauguration of a newly constructed water supply scheme. The water scheme included a pipeline network and multiple water taps, improving access to clean water for the community. One notable improvement was the enhanced reservoir tank, designed with a platform to prevent contamination from rainwater and a barbed wire fence to keep animals out. The tank's improvements significantly reduce the contamination risk, a key concern for the community. A vegetable garden has been planted next to the tank. The overflow water is used for watering the plants e.g. chilis.  

The project had also a chance to meet Jussi Kanner from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Finland, who joined the monitoring activities for one day.

Työryhmä rivissä

Inclusion of People with Disabilities

The monitoring team also visited a PWD household, where mobility aids had been provided. While these aids were helpful, further work on improving accessibility within the household was identified, including the construction of a ramp for easier access to the toilet. The project’s focus on accessibility for PWDs was another critical area of attention. While mobility aids were being provided, the physical infrastructure—such as paths to toilets—was still in need of further development to make these facilities fully accessible. The project is conducting household visits to find out what kind of solutions are already in use and what can be applied for example in public spaces. 

A New Incinerator for Menstrual Pads

The team then visited Kirtipur, where progress from previous visits was visible. Notable improvements included the installation of an incinerator for menstrual pads and ongoing construction of an accessible toilet for students with disabilities. Previously the school has had some difficulties disposing of menstrual waste. The incinerator helps with waste management and promotes awareness of menstrual hygiene. 

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and leadership training

The team met with the local mother group, which had recently received Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and leadership training. This meeting highlighted the progress in empowering women, with women now occupying leadership positions within the Water User and Sanitation Committees (WUSCs). The discussion also addressed the need for continued capacity building to ensure that the participation of women in WUSC meetings is not only symbolic but also influential.

GESI training was observed for the Ward 5 Water and Sanitation Coordination Committee (WASHCC). This training focused on gender equality in water management roles, addressing the disparity where women often hold nominal leadership positions without real decision-making power. The team stressed the importance of boosting confidence and providing further capacity-building opportunities to ensure genuine gender equality in the community’s WASH governance structures.

Meanwhile, in Bandipur, discussions focused on sanitation challenges, such as improper waste disposal and the need for better waste collection systems. Reusable sanitary pad production training, initiated under the project, was also highlighted as an important step toward addressing menstrual hygiene issues sustainably.

Further work is needed to address issues like waste management, particularly plastic waste and animal dung in public areas, which continue to affect community sanitation efforts. Additionally, while progress had been made in terms of GESI, there was a strong recommendation for more capacity-building initiatives to ensure equal participation in leadership roles, particularly in WUSCs.

A New Water Supply Scheme Provide Water to Several Households

In Patishora, the monitoring team observed the successful implementation of a new water supply scheme, providing clean water to six households. The community expressed its satisfaction with the scheme, which supports both drinking water and agricultural activities, contributing to greater self-sufficiency.

The team’s visit to Moulathumki highlighted the success of another water supply scheme, which serves nine households with access to a submersible pump system.  However, discussions around the long-term sustainability of such systems raised concerns regarding the ongoing costs of electricity for the pump, with communities being made aware of these costs and agreeing to contribute to them. 

The team also observed the spring intake system, which had been improved through the project’s support. A protective cover was added to prevent contamination, particularly during the monsoon season, reflecting the project’s emphasis on sustainable water management practices. 

A well-planned and constructed water supply network enables clean drinking and service water from a tap. Easy access to water is not only a basic human right but in the rural areas creates opportunities for cultivation and makes the villages more self-sufficient. 

mies kastelee viljelyksiä

Before households had their own taps, the village residents carried water from the village's common water point from the bottom of the hill.

New Laboratory Equipments

On November 22, the team visited a local water quality laboratory, which had been upgraded with support from the project. The new spectrophotometer was a notable improvement, enabling more accurate water testing. The laboratory’s technician, trained regularly in Kathmandu, shared plans to extend training to other labs and emphasized the importance of local capacity in monitoring water safety across Devchuli.

What’s next? 

The November 2024 monitoring trip underscored the success of the WASH Model Village Project’s infrastructure improvements and community engagement initiatives. As the project progresses into 2025, continued attention to local needs, technical sustainability, and gender equality will be key to ensuring lasting impacts on the communities of Devchuli Municipality.