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UNICEF NEPAL COUNTRY OFFICE
PROGRAMME STRATEGY NOTE
1
WATER, SANITATION & HYGIENE (WASH)
1. Introduction
In the last 25 years, Nepal has made significant progress in expanding the coverage of improved
water supply, and in improving sanitation and hygiene practices. However, although 93 per cent of
households report using improved sources of drinking water, drinking water functionality and quality pose
serious challenges, the time to collect water from a tap-stand continues to be a burden for women and
girls1, the coverage of separate toilets in schools for girls with menstruation hygiene facilities is low, and
unsafe hygiene practices remain widespread.
WASH interventions are critical to achieving improved outcomes in other sectors such as health,
nutrition, education and child protection. Inadequate and poor WASH services lead to recurring diseases
such as diarrhoea and cholera while improved services help create a cleaner environment leading to the
prevention of undernutrition and stunting. Promoting inter-sectoral convergence with health and nutrition
will therefore be important. Similarly, continued collaboration with education is critical to improve
sanitation, water and washing facilities in schools, especially for adolescent girls (whose menstrual
hygiene needs are not properly met) and for children with disabilities (for whom lack adequate and
appropriate services is a bottleneck to schooling). In addition, continued collaboration with cross-sectoral
areas such as communication for development (C4D) and early childhood development (ECD) will also be
crucial. In particular, strengthening linkages with C4D will be critical to bring about changes in existing
socio-cultural behaviours and practices and introducing new social norms to promote safe hygienic
practices.
Water, sanitation and hygiene are priority areas under the Fourteenth National Development Plan
(2016-2019) and fundamental right under the constitution of Nepal. UNICEF s WASH programme will
support the national priorities set out in the government s plan, which are in line with the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) in particular, SDG 6: ensure universal and equitable access to safe managed
sanitation services. The SDP, which is at the final stages of approval by the government, will be the guiding
document for UNICEF s contribution towards the availability and sustainable management of water and
sanitation for all.
UNICEF s WASH programme will work closely with the Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation
(MoWSS) and the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage (DWSS) under the MoWSS. Other
governmental partners will include the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of
Federal Affairs and Local Development and their relevant departments and line agencies at provincial and
local government (LG) levels. UNICEF will also continue its partnership with other key partners including
other United Nations agencies, multilateral partners, bilateral donors, international non-governmental
organizations (INGOs), academic/training institutions, community based organizations (CBOs) and the
private sector.
2. Prioritized issues and areas
Building on lessons learnt from UNICEF s past country cooperation, its comparative advantage and
after extensive consultations with national counterparts and other partners, the WASH programme will
focus on improving universal and equitable access to, and use of safe and sustainable drinking water (with
a focus on improving water quality and functionality of water schemes and on reaching the unreached
population), improving sanitation and hygiene practices (including improving WASH facilities in schools
1 Government of Nepal, National Planning Commission Secretariat, Central Bureau of Statistics and UNICEF. Nepal Multiple Indicator Survey, 2014
UNICEF NEPAL COUNTRY OFFICE
PROGRAMME STRATEGY NOTE
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and health care facilities) and supporting systems strengthening with emphasis on disaster risk reduction
as well as climate change. These proposed priorities are well in line with UNICEF s Global WASH Strategy
and will contribute to the achievement the SDGs as well as the results areas 4 under the UNICEF Strategic
Framework (2018-2022) ensuring that every child lives in a safe and clean environment. In addition these
priorities are also in line with the UNDAF (2018-2022) particularly concerning social inclusion which is well
embedded in sanitation social movement, the major thrust of the sanitation and hygiene interventions.
Accordingly, during the next country programme, UNICEF will work on the following priority areas:
Water supply
Sanitation and hygiene
Systems strengthening including for disaster risk reduction/climate change adaptation
2.1 Water Supply
Despite significant gains in national coverage for improved water supply (93 per cent of
households are using improved sources of drinking water)2, access (particularly among some unreached
population), water functionality and water quality continue to pose significant challenges. While the
coverage for urban water supply is high at 96 per cent3 but significant part of the urban areas are largely
semi-rural in nature with underdeveloped water supply and sanitation systems. Although only 7 per cent
of households, nationally, spent 30 minutes or longer fetching water, there is significant disparity by
region: for example, some 30 per cent of households in the mid-western hills and mountains, 29 per cent
in the far western hills and 19 per cent in the far western mountains spend more than 30 minutes
collecting water4. Inadequacy of water sources have health impacts on all household members as well as
an immense labour burden, particularly on women and girls (who are most often the responsible ones for
fetching water). Apart from access issues, drinking water functionality and quality remain priority
concerns. Only 25 per cent of the water supply systems are fully functioning and 40 per cent require either
major repairs or rehabilitation due to poor operations and maintenance as well as lack of governance and
because of recurring disasters while remaining 35 per cent require minor repairs5. The culture of raising
funds for operations and maintenance is virtually non-existent with only 4.5 per cent of water supply
schemes having mechanisms to generate funds6. Furthermore, while there is data available on access to
WASH services in schools and health facilities (for example, access to water supply in health facilities is 72
per cent in the hills and 94 per cent in the Terai), data on functionality of services is missing.
Water quality remains a priority concern given the vulnerability of existing systems to
contamination and poor water treatment practices. Seventy-one per cent of sources and 82 per cent of
household are contaminated (with E. coli), a major cause of diarrhoea 7. Similarly, water treatment
practices at household level remains low with only 14 per cent of household practising appropriate
household water treatment8. While contamination of water with E. coli is one of the major reasons for
poor water quality, there are also localized issues of chemical contamination such as arsenic. Continuous
monitoring, reporting and dissemination of information on water quality are important aspects of
ensuring water quality; however, despite the existence of the national drinking water quality standards
(which started in 2005), its implementation has been ineffective. Furthermore, the Water Quality
Surveillance Guidelines (2015), endorsed by the MOH is yet to be effectively implemented. In addition,
although there are policies for both rural (developed in 2004) and urban (developed in 2009) water
2 Government of Nepal, National Planning Commission Secretariat, Central Bureau of Statistics and UNICEF. Nepal Multiple Indicator Survey, 2014 3 Government of Nepal, National Planning Commission Secretariat, Central Bureau of Statistics and UNICEF. Nepal Multiple Indicator Survey, 2014 4 Government of Nepal, National Planning Commission Secretariat, Central Bureau of Statistics and UNICEF. Nepal Multiple Indicator Survey, 2014 5 Nepal Management Information Programme, 2014 6 Nepal Management Information Programme, 2014 7 Government of Nepal, National Planning Commission Secretariat, Central Bureau of Statistics and UNICEF. Nepal Multiple Indicator Survey, 2014 8 Nepal Management Information Programme
UNICEF NEPAL COUNTRY OFFICE
PROGRAMME STRATEGY NOTE
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supply, these need to be reviewed, especially with a view to make them compatible with the forthcoming
SDP and the SDGs.
2.2 Sanitation and Hygiene
Despite significant progress in improving overall sanitation in Nepal, achieving Open Defecation
Free (ODF) status (and sustaining it), and achieving total sanitation (hygienic use of the toilets; promotion
of hand washing at critical times; use of safe water options; use of hygienic food; ensuring toilets in
schools and health facilities and their hygienic use; and environmental sanitation including faecal sludge
management and liquid waste management (in both rural and urban)), continue to pose critical challenges
in Nepal.
Over the last five years, sanitation coverage has improved significantly from 62 per cent to 87 per
cent as a result of the ODF movement, although huge disparities remain in terms of coverage based on
ecological sub-regions. While sanitation coverage is 83 per cent in the mountains, and 96 per cent in the
hills, it is only 77 per cent in the Terai9. Similarly, there are huge differences with regards to ethnicity: 2
per cent of Newars practice OD as compared to 79 per cent of Terai Dalits (indicating that there is a high
prevalence of OD in the Terai and that the practice of OD is more prevalent among the Dalits than other
castes)10. Similarly, there are disparities by wealth quintiles as well, with those in the middle wealth
quintile having the lowest access to improved sanitation facilities (41 per cent) as compared to 74 per cent
for the richest wealth quintile and 73 per cent for the poorest quintile11 indicating that income is not
always a determinant for improved sanitation and there are other equally important ones such as existing
social norms and socio-cultural practices.
Even though 14 million12 people are currently living in an ODF environment where every
household, school and government facility has a toilet, there continues to be challenges related to the
operation, maintenance and use of toilets. More work is thus needed to ensure that households have
separate toilets (along with the management of faeces when pits are filled up). Even when there are
toilets, people have to defecate in the open due to restrictions such as daughters-in-law not being allowed
to use the same toilets as fathers-in-law, a practice, prevalent in some communities in central Terai,
putting an extra burden of building additional toilets. In addition, the practice of chhaupadi (keeping
women separate and not allowing them to use existing toilets during menstruation) is as high as 62 per
cent 13 in some districts of the mid and far-western hills and mountains. Such existing practices pose a
challenge in terms of improving overall sanitation and hygiene (as well as putting girls and women at
increased health and protection risks) and efforts must be strengthened to change these norms and
practices.
While attaining and sustaining ODF is an important component of achieving total sanitation, total
sanitation is much broader and includes safe disposal of faeces and faecal sludge management, use of safe
water, improved hygienic practices and the like. Currently, the government is in the process of finalizing
the total sanitation guidelines and support will be needed to implement these, mobilize resources,
develop capacity and monitor progress. Achieving total sanitation will be particularly challenging in urban
areas and slums (with urbanization being an important and rapidly emerging reality) due to the complexity
of the issues related to faecal sludge management, waste disposal and water quality. However, UNICEF
focus will be on ending open defecation.
9 Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Annual Report, 2016 10 Government of Nepal, National Planning Commission Secretariat, Central Bureau of Statistics and UNICEF. Nepal Multiple Indicator Survey, 2014 11 Government of Nepal, National Planning Commission Secretariat, Central Bureau of Statistics and UNICEF. Nepal Multiple Indicator Survey, 2014 12 One WASH Report, UNICEF, 2015 13 Bottleneck Analysis Report, 2013
UNICEF NEPAL COUNTRY OFFICE
PROGRAMME STRATEGY NOTE
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Every year 1,650 children under five die in Nepal from diarrhoea which is caused by unsafe water
and poor sanitation14. The simple act of washing hands with soap and water at critical times can reduce
diarrhoea by one third15 and yet, only 73 per cent of households have a specific place available for hand
washing with water and soap16 – the figure is lowest in the far western mountains (41 per cent) and
highest in eastern Terai (81 per cent) region. Similarly, handwashing with soap during critical times such as
before breast feeding or feeding a child and after changing nappies continues to be very low at 9 per
cent17. In addition, the practice of managing child faeces still remains inadequate with only 17 per cent of
children under two having their faeces disposed-of safely18. Unless knowledge and practices are improved,
there will be little improvement in health and nutrition outcomes for children and women. Even though water and sanitation coverage in schools has been improving, critical bottlenecks remain
particularly as they relate to girls and children with disabilities. While 80 per cent of the government
schools have water and sanitation facilities, 15 per cent of them lack separate toilets and menstruation
hygiene management (MHM) facilities for girls19. Children with disabilities also face similar bottlenecks
due to lack of and/or inadequate WASH facilities in schools.
82 per cent of health care facilities are reported to have water supply and toilet facilities, WASH in
health facilities remains a significant challenge due to inadequate coverage (access to toilets is 78 per cent
in the hills and 84 per cent in the mountains20) and poor hygienic use of existing toilets, leading to water
borne diseases and infections. While there is data available on access to services in schools and health
facilities, data on functionality of WASH services is missing. Thus, generating evidence on the functionality
of existing services as well as identifying critical gaps in the provision of WASH services in institutions such
as schools and health care facilities is crucial to improving services.
2.3 Systems Strengthening including DRR/CCA
During the last few years, Nepal has made considerable progress in strengthening the enabling
environment to improve WASH interventions. The government has drafted the WASH SDP which lays out
the aspirations for the WASH sector ( in the context of achieving the SDG goals) however the challenge lies
in its systematic implementation and regular monitoring within the context of the roll-out of the new
federal model. To this end, more needs to be done to strengthen WASH sector capacity (both in terms of
human and financial resources) along with improving coordination and management. Similarly, the
current and only monitoring system for the WASH sector at the national level is the National Management
Information Programme (NMIP) which needs to be strengthened. While originally intended to produce a
comprehensive biennial sector status report, it currently covers access to water supply, functionality of
water and access to sanitation and does not include other important aspects like water quality, urban
WASH, hygiene, and report on damages after natural disasters, and is often not completed on time.
Similarly, Nepal is highly prone to disasters and the effects of climate change which affect everyone but
they have the biggest impact on the poor and marginalized people, women and girls. Most rural water
supplies in hill districts depend on small surface and shallow sources which are vulnerable to climate and
human influences. Climate related changes in rainfall, draining of water sources as well as ground water
quality will have a direct impact on the health and wellbeing of children, human settlements with poor or
non-existing sanitation can also contaminate water supply catchments21. Nepal is amongst the top five
14 World Health Organization, 2015; Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, 2011 15 UN, (2005), Health, Dignity, and Development: What Will It Take? United Nations Millennium Project, Task force on water and sanitation 16 Government of Nepal, National Planning Commission Secretariat, Central Bureau of Statistics and UNICEF. Nepal Multiple Indicator Survey, 2014 17 UNICEF and University of Buffalo, 2015, Nepal PPPHW Program Evaluation – Report on Midline Assessment 18 Government of Nepal, National Planning Commission Secretariat, Central Bureau of Statistics and UNICEF. Nepal Multiple Indicator Survey, 2014 19 Education Management Information System, DOE, 2014/15 20 Nepal Health facility Survey, 2015
21 MoUD, 2014. National Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Policy 2014, Kathmandu: Government of Nepal.
UNICEF NEPAL COUNTRY OFFICE
PROGRAMME STRATEGY NOTE
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countries at most high risk of climate change impacts (such as changes in rainfall pattern leading to flash
floods and drying of sources). More needs to be done to address these issues and to strengthen WASH
institutions to ensure disaster and climate-resilient water and sanitation infrastructures and sustainable
WASH services.
3. Theory of Change for Programme Components
Outcome:
By 2022, children and their families have improved and equitable access to and use of safe and
sustainable drinking water and sanitation services, and improved hygiene practices
Specifically, UNICEF will contribute to this outcome through the following three outputs:
1. Increased capacity to improve water quality and functionality and to deliver and sustain safe water
(especially schools and health care facilities)
2. Improved sanitation and hygiene behaviours and sector stakeholders have enhanced capacity to
provide access to safe and sustainable sanitation and hygiene facilities in homes and institutions
3. Increased capacity to legislate, plan and budget to improve WASH systems, including
mainstreaming disaster risk management
Investing in a combination of water, sanitation and hygiene interventions will provide the
maximum health and nutrition benefits to children, adolescents and women. At the same time, strong
systems is a pre-requisite for the delivery of quality, sustainable WASH services and thus addressing WASH
systems strengthening will also be very important . Given that WASH interventions are an immediate
priority in responding to disasters, and that WASH as a sector is most affected by climate change,
addressing disaster risk management and climate change adaptation will be an important part of WASH
systems strengthening.
3.1 Water Supply
During the next country programme, UNICEF will focus on working with the government and
sector stakeholders to reach unreached populations with safe water supply. To this end and with a view to
strengthening the enabling environment, UNICEF will support the government and stakeholders to
develop a clear strategy and accompanying plans (including the promotion of innovative and alternative
technology) to reach these groups of people while seeking to address the increasing per capita costs to
reach them. Similarly, with regards to improving water functionality, UNICEF will support efforts to
strengthen the enabling environment through advocacy with stakeholders to develop and implement
plans to improve functionality and sustainability (with particular emphasis on resilience) in selected
villages and municipalities. In those locations UNICEF will support capacity development efforts of
partners including user communities to implement these plans. UNICEF will also continue to focus its
efforts on improving access and functionality of drinking water supply in schools including ECD centres,
and health care facilities. To this end, UNICEF will advocate for the implementation of the WASH in School
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component of the School Sector Development Plan (2016-23). Similarly, in collaboration with the health
and nutrition sector stakeholders, UNICEF will advocate and leverage resources with partners to improve
access to drinking water supply in health care facilities.
Under the current country programme, more focus was given on creating awareness on water
quality issues, and development of water safety plans in a few communities. Based on the learnings,
UNICEF will advocate for the strengthening of the water regulatory body for the proper implementation of
the water quality standards introduced in 2005 and for public financing to improve water quality. UNICEF
will also advocate for and support the implementation of water/sanitation safety plans (WSPs) plans
through capacity building of sector stakeholders as well as the communities themselves. With an emphasis
on inter-sectoral convergence, UNICEF will work in collaboration with the health sector to improve water
quality surveillance. In order to address supply side bottlenecks, UNICEF will work with partners to
improve access to information on household level water treatments and safe options through enhanced
information and knowledge.
Promoting resilience will be an integral part of all WASH interventions, and to this end, UNICEF will
advocate for and support government and partner efforts to integrate disaster risk management and
climate change adaptation into existing sector policies, strategies, plans and interventions. For example,
UNICEF will support capacity building efforts at different levels including at the community level on
mitigation measures such as improved and reinforced water tanks that can withstand earthquakes,
protection of water sources, rainwater harvesting, and ground water recharge, amongst others. UNICEF
will also continue its support for provision of WASH facilities in prefab and transitional learning centres
under the reconstruction activities in the earthquake affected areas for the first year of the new country
programme. UNICEF will also support the government in assessing changes (such as drying of sources and
emergence of new sources) in ground water sources which may have occurred due to the 2015
earthquake to facilitate proper planning and effective use of water sources,
3.2 Sanitation and Hygiene
During the next country programme, UNICEF will support efforts to strengthen the enabling
environment for the ODF sanitation social movement through capacity development of the WASH
community committees (CCs) to plan, implement and monitor ODF status. UNICEF will also support efforts
to create new social norms around OD and ODF sustainability through social mobilization efforts and social
consensus. Similarly, UNICEF will focus on bringing about positive changes in children and the
communities they live in and address negative social norms and harmful practices such as restricting toilet
use for women during menstruation. Evidence generation will be important, and UNICEF will support such
efforts. In addition, UNICEF will also continue its work with existing child clubs (in close coordination with
the education sector stakeholders) as a means to address social norm change.
Similarly, UNICEF will support the dissemination and roll out of the total sanitation guidelines,
with an emphasis on gender mainstreaming (including representation of women in leadership positions in
community based water and sanitation structures). In selected districts, UNICEF will support capacity
development efforts for the development, implementation and monitoring of total sanitation plans based
on the guidelines mentioned above. As part of generating evidence on total sanitation in urban and peri-
urban areas, UNICEF will assist in the undertaking rapid assessment(s) to understand both issues and
opportunities around total sanitation in these areas.
In order to address supply side bottlenecks, UNICEF will continue to support and strengthen the
supply chain for safe sanitation. Efforts will focus on promoting alternative technology and innovation for
affordable, low cost and resilient sanitation facilities. Similarly, in order to create local markets for
sanitation, UNICEF will promote partnerships (especially with the private sector) and will explore
opportunities to partner with local financing mechanisms to reach the most marginalized people with
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improved sanitation. With a view to address ODF sustainability, UNICEF will assist in the capacity
development of WASH CCs and communities for the proper management of faecal sludge as well as
upgrading of sanitation facilities to comply with SDG requirements once ODF status achieved. UNICEF will
also support efforts to improve community practice of safe disposal of child faeces through capacity
building of front line workers, mothers and care takers of their children. UNICEF will also continue to
explore innovative approaches, such as reward and recognition of early adopters of toilets.
Improving access to child, gender and disability friendly sanitation facilities in schools including
ECD centres and MHM will be a priority for the WASH programme. It is also an important priority for the
education sector s Child Friendly School Initiative. To this end, UNICEF will advocate for the
implementation of the WASH in School component under the School Sector Development Plan (SSDP)
(2016-2023) and will provide technical support for effective monitoring of the SSDP. Similarly, UNICEF will
continue its advocacy for and support to the promotion of healthy behaviour using school children as
agents of change, based on the school-led total sanitation (SLTS) approach which has been one of the
major strategies in the ODF social movement. In addition, UNICEF will also support efforts to
establish/institutionalise a monitoring mechanism to verify/certify the star approach as well to scale-it up
nationally. The star approach is designed to improve hygiene behaviour change programmes for children
(where all students wash their hands with soap and water, where all students have access to drinking
water, where students are provided with gender segregated toilet, and schools have operation and
maintenance funds to sustain WASH facilities at school).
Creating demand for sustained use of toilets will be equally important and to this end, UNICEF will
for example, support efforts for demand creation by the triggering of communities, and school children,
through mass media, and social media. Through partnerships with national and multi-national private
sectors, UNICEF will promote improved hygiene practices among children and communities including
handwashing with soap, household water treatment and safe storage. Promotion of handwashing with
soap and its integration as a core component in education, and nutrition interventions will be particularly
important - to this end, UNICEF will, for example, continue to advocate for group hand washing in school
based hygiene education, and for its integration in nutrition specific and sensitive interventions (including
the Golden 1000 Days Initiative). Similarly, in collaboration with the health sector stakeholders, UNICEF
will advocate for and collaborate with partners to leverage resources to improve sanitation and hygiene in
health care facilities. In addition, evaluation of the sanitation programme will be conducted for
programme improvement. Advocacy, strong behavioural change communication, and capacity building at
community and Local Governments (LGs) levels will be the major strategies focussing on creating new
social norms around open defecation and other related practices to bring sustainable change. Under the
sanitation social movement, support will be provided to reduce the total number of people practicing
open defecation from 3.7 million people to 1 million through direct support to selected LGs as well as
provincial level interventions.
3.3 Systems Strengthening including DRR/CCA
During the next country programme, UNICEF will continue to support efforts to strengthen the
enabling environment through capacity development, partnerships as well as promotion of inter-sectoral
linkages including support to best transition to the new federal model while avoiding disruptions. One of
the key areas of work will involve the operationalization of the WASH SDP, including efforts to develop the
SDP implementation guidelines and provincial and LGs level costed plans, child friendly WASH governance,
capacity building plans, financing strategies, and monitoring mechanism. UNICEF will also support the
government to finalize and operationalize a new WASH Act and revise existing WASH policies (including
with a view to effectively address gender inequality and social inclusion in WASH). Similarly, UNICEF will
also support the strengthening of the current the NMIP in order to improve regular and more extensive
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reporting on the sector through provision of technical support. UNICEF will also assist with the roll-out the
WASH in Schools guidelines (currently being drafted). Technical support will also be provided to integrate
additional WASH related indicators (especially with a view to capture software aspects of WASH in
Schools) into the Education Management Information System (EMIS) fulfilling SDG reporting
requirements. Similarly, UNICEF will advocate for the development and roll out of a WASH in Health Care
Facilities guidelines. Since climate change will continue to exacerbate disaster risk in Nepal, UNICEF will
continue to build a stronger evidence base that is needed in terms of understanding the current impact of
climate change to WASH facilities and services vis a vis their impact on children.
Furthermore, UNICEF will also seek to address the gaps in evidence in the WASH sector by
supporting efforts on evidence generation on aspects such as arsenic contamination in water, WASH and
the emerging issues of urbanization, resilience in WASH, and WASH and children. In addition to evidence
generation on WASH and resilience, given Nepal s vulnerability to disasters and impacts of climate change,
integration of disaster risk management and climate change adaptation into existing policies, strategies
and plan will be of utmost importance. UNICEF will support efforts to enhance the LG s and community
capacities to cope with and manage disasters including the impact(s) of climate change through multi-
hazard risk analyses and risk-informed programming approaches for the conservation and protection of
water resources, adaptation to increasing water scarcity, for addressing deteriorating water quality and
for improving disaster-resilient water and sanitation technologies and systems as part of integrated
programming. In partnership with the health sector, UNICEF will support efforts to reduce public health
risks (such as the recurring cholera outbreaks) related to inadequate WASH services through government
capacity development. As the WASH cluster co-lead, UNICEF will also support government and other
partners on emergency preparedness and response in line with the Core Commitment for Children (CCCs).
3.4 Major assumptions, key risks associated and mitigation measures
A number of assumptions underline the above. The first and foremost is that WASH sector
improvement (with an emphasis of disaster risk management as well as climate change adaptation)
continues to be high on the government agenda and that the government capacity, including financial and
human resources and political commitment are adequate to sustain WASH interventions. In particular, it is
assumed that delivering services to the most disadvantaged is given priority. Secondly, it is assumed that
natural disasters do not overwhelm government and UNICEF resources. Thirdly, it is assumed that the
establishment of a federal state structure with substantial devolution of power to the provinces as part of
the implementation of Nepal s new constitution in the coming years will proceed smoothly. In particular, it
is assumed that the functional distribution of the different tiers of government will happen soon, including
civil service restructuring. Fourthly, it is assumed that the enabling environment provides the necessary
conditions for both public and private providers to deliver cost-effective WASH services. Finally, it is
assumed that communities are open to receiving information and behaviour change messages and that
there is receptiveness amongst stakeholders to the new focus on water safety planning.
Some of the associated risks include natural disasters and the risk of disease outbreaks. Nepal is
highly prone to natural disasters which may dramatically increase the need for WASH services and existing
human and financial capacities become insufficient. Key mitigation measures will include continued
advocacy on the importance of WASH and systems strengthening for preparedness and response. There is
a risk that prolonged disputes over the implementation of the constitution and federalization could lead to
political instability, protests and strikes that could turn violent, and paralyze policy implementation. Key
mitigation measures will include supporting and strengthening ongoing participative processes (including
UN coherence) and political dialogues. Another major risk includes the current lack of government
capacity and the frequent transfer of government staff which may lead to delay in programme
implementation or failure to achieve results. Key mitigation measures will include rapid orientation of
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transferred staff as well facilitation of knowledge sharing and leaning across provinces and Local
Governments. In addition, government bureaucracy as well as budget (delay in planning and budget
allocations) and cash management practices may pose risk as well. Key mitigation measures include
mechanisms that have already been put in place to reduce risks related to high cash transfer including a
monitoring system of payment to partners as well as providing support to national budget planning
process and harmonizing UNICEF s annual and multi-year planning process with the government s
framework.
Schematic Illustration of the Theory of Change
WASH
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IMPACT
Realizing the right to water, sanitation and hygiene by all children, especially the most disadvantaged
OUTCOME
By 2022, children and their families have improved and equitable access to and use of safe and
sustainable drinking water and sanitation services, and improved hygiene practices
Assumptions:
X Government capacity and
political commitment remain
high and are adequate
X Budget allocation and
expenditure is adequate and
are prioritized for reaching the
unreached population
X Disasters do not overwhelm
resources
Assumptions:
X Communities are receptive
to receiving information and
behaviour change messages
X There is no disasters and
other political crises
X Government planning and
budgeting are timely
X Government and other
sector partners as well as
communities have capacity
which can be supported
X Gover e t a d part ers accord disaster risk
management and climate
change adaptation
importance
X There is adequate
collaboration with and
understanding on importance
of mainstreaming gender,
disability and ECD in WASH
interventions
Strategic Interventions (illustrative)
Capacity development
Strengthen national and sub-national capacity for water quality monitoring & surveillance mechanism
Develop national and sub-national capacity for scaling up total sanitation and hygiene promotion with focus on social
norms
Provide support to improve sector performance monitoring
Develop national and sub-national capacity for disaster risk management and climate change adaptation
Support the development and implementation of water safety plans (WSPs)
Evidence generation, policy dialogue, and advocacy
Advocate for provision of monitoring of WASH services in schools, health care facilities and unreached communities
Support research on urban WASH issues (total sanitation, water quality etc.)
Research on water quantity, quality and functionality in the context of climate change and disasters
Advocate for and support government and partner efforts to integrate disaster risk management and climate change
adaptation into existing sector policies, strategies and plans
Partnerships
Support partnership with the private sector for strengthening supply chains, innovation on sanitation
Explore and promote appropriate technology for resilient WASH services
Support partnerships with the private sector (national and multi-nationals) to promote improved hygiene practices
among children and communities
Support to integration and cross-sectoral linkages
Collaborate with the health sector on water quality surveillance, emerging public health issues and WASH in health care
facilities.
Collaborate with the education sector on implementation of the WASH component under the School Sector
Development Plan and WASH in Schools
Collaborate with nutrition and C4D for the implementation of the WASH component in the MSNP and G1000 Days
Initiative
Service delivery
Provide WASH services as part of the earthquake reconstruction efforts
Provide WASH services during emergencies
Assumptions:
X Humanitarian crises do not
overwhelm human and
financial capacity overall
X Political support for
addressing inequity and
reaching the unreached
population with WASH services
main strong
X There is progress on other
OUTPUT 1
Increased capacity to improve water quality and functionality and to deliver and sustain safe water
(especially schools and health care facilities)
OUTPUT 2
Improved sanitation and hygiene behaviours and sector stakeholders have enhanced capacity to provide
access to safe and sustainable sanitation and hygiene facilities in homes and institutions
OUTPUT 3
Increased capacity to legislate, plan and budget to improve WASH systems, including mainstreaming
disaster risk management
Imp
act
Ind
ica
tors
Ou
tco
me
Ind
ica
tors
Ou
tpu
t
Ind
ica
tors
UNICEF NEPAL COUNTRY OFFICE
PROGRAMME STRATEGY NOTE
11
4. Results Structure and Framework
Hierarchy of Results Structure
National Development Plan Priority:
Social and human development
WASH Programme Outcome
By 2022, children and their families have improved and equitable access to and use of safe and
sustainable drinking water and sanitation services, and improved hygiene practices
Output 1
Increased capacity to improve
water quality and functionality
and to deliver and sustain safe
water (especially schools and
health care facilities)
Inputs: Staff, financial resources (RR/OR), equipment, good practice examples, consultants/technical assistance
Output 2
Improved sanitation and hygiene
behaviours and sector
stakeholders have enhanced
capacity to provide access to safe
and sustainable sanitation and
hygiene facilities in homes and
institutions
Output 3
Increased capacity to legislate,
plan and budget to improve
WASH systems, including
mainstreaming disaster risk
management
ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITIES
ST
RA
TE
GIE
S
ST
RA
TE
GIE
S
ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITIES
ST
RA
TE
GIE
S
UNDAF Result/s Outcome 2: By 2022, there is improved, equitable access, availability and utilization of quality basic social services for all
people, particularly for vulnerable people Outcome3: By 2022, environmental management, sustainable recovery and reconstruction, and resilience to climate change
and natural disaster are strengthened at all levels
UNICEF NEPAL COUNTRY OFFICE
PROGRAMME STRATEGY NOTE
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5. Results Framework
Key results Progress indicators Baseline Target Means of
verifications
Key partners
Sustainable development Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
National development Plan Priority – Universal access to basic WASH services; improved service levels; functionality and sustainability
improvements (WASH Sector Development Plan)
UNDAF Outcome 2: By 2022, there is improved, equitable access, availability and utilization of quality basic social services for all people,
particularly for vulnerable people.
UNDAF Outcome 3: By 2022, environmental management, sustainable recovery and reconstruction, and resilience to climate change and
natural disaster are strengthened at all levels.
UNICEF WASH Programme Outcome
By 2022, children
and their families
have improved and
equitable access to
and use of safe and
sustainable
drinking water and
sanitation services,
and improved
hygiene practices
Proportion of population
using basic water service
93 per cent (26.7
million people)
97 per cent (29.8
million people)
National
household
surveys
Government and
non- government
org
Proportion of the
population using a safely
managed drinking water
service at community level
27 per cent (7.7
million people)
40 per cent (12.2
million people)
Joint Monitoring
Programme for
Water Supply &
Sanitation
Government and
non- government
org
Proportion of the people
practicing open defecation
10 per cent
(2.8 million
people)
1 per cent (300,000
people)
DWSS Government and
non- government
org
Proportion of population
using safely managed
sanitation services.
TBD 30% increase from
baseline value
National
household
surveys
Government and
non- government
org
Per cent of households
with a specific place for
handwashing where water
and soap and other
cleansing are present
72.5 per cent (20.8
million)
80 per cent (24.6
million)
MICS report DoHS
DWSS
UNICEF WASH Programme Outputs
Output 1
Increased capacity
to improve water
quality and
functionality and to
deliver and sustain
safe water
(especially schools
and health care
facilities)
# of water supply schemes
with water safety plans
operationalized
500 1,500 Partners Report
and UNICEF
M & E Report
DWSS
Non-
government
org
# of local bodies (Gaupalika
& Nagarpalika) with water
quality surveillance
mechanism operationalized
0 50 local bodies MoWSS/ DWSS
report
DWSS
DoHS
WHO
# of local bodies (Gaupalika
& Nagarpalika) with action
plan developed, and
operationalized for
improving functionality of
water supply system.
0 60 local bodies DWSS report DWSS
Non-
government
org
Existence of a national plan
with target to provide
access to drinking water to
unserved populations
none 1 plan at national
level
MoWSS/ DWSS
report
MoWSS/ DWSS
DP group
Output 2
Improved
sanitation and
hygiene behaviours
and sector
stakeholders have
Number of additional
people with access to basic
toilet
0 500,000 people UNICEF Internal
Report
DoHS
DWSS
Proportion of mothers and
care givers with knowledge
48 per cent 60 per cent MICS report DoHS
DWSS
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PROGRAMME STRATEGY NOTE
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Key results Progress indicators Baseline Target Means of
verifications
Key partners
enhanced capacity
to provide access to
safe and
sustainable
sanitation and
hygiene facilities in
homes and
institutions
on safe disposal of child
faeces
# of local bodies (Gaupalika
& Nagarpalika) with action
plan developed, and
implemented for achieving
total sanitation status.
0 60 local bodies DWSS reports
WSSDO reports
DWSS
WSSDOs
Sector
stakeholders
# of local bodies (Gaupalika
& Nagarpalika) capacitated
on Three Star Approach to
WASH in Schools
0 60 local bodies MoE/ DoE
reports
DoE
DEOs
Output 3
Increased capacity
to legislate, plan
and budget to
improve WASH
systems, including
mainstreaming
disaster risk
management
Capacity development
master plan developed and
rolled out at provincial and
Local Governments levels.
0 1 national,
2 provincial and 60
LGs plans
DWSS reports DWSS
Sector
stakeholders
Sector performance
monitoring system in place.
0 1 Sector status
Reports
DWSS
MoWSS
WASH plans integrating
climate resilient
development and/or risk
management strategies
available at national and
sub-national level.
0 National and 60 local
bodies
DWSS reports
WSSDO reports
DWSS
WASH Sector Development
Plan operationalized at
national and sub-national
level.
0 National and 60 local
bodies
DWSS reports
WSSDO reports
DWSS
WASH in School and WASH
in Health Care facilities
guidelines developed,
endorsed and
operationalized
nationwide.
0 1 WASH in School
and 1 in WASH in
Health Care Facilities
guidelines
Guidelines
DoE and DoHS
reports
Sector reviews
DoE
DoHS
Existence of functioning
cluster coordination
mechanism for water,
sanitation and hygiene in
humanitarian situations at
national and sub-national
level.
initiating Established (as per
standard RAM
indicators)
WASH Cluster
reports
WASH Cluster
members
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PROGRAMME STRATEGY NOTE
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6. Aligning Results, Strategies and Required Resources
The key inputs for the WASH programme components for the next country programme include
financial resources, core staff, technical assistance, including TAs and consultants, and supplies. It is
estimated that the full implementation of the proposed WASH programme will require a total of US$18
million dollars for the programme period (about US$ 3.6 million dollars per year). Of this total amount, it is
estimated that up to 20 per cent will go towards human resources and technical assistance, about 10 per
cent for supplies and the remaining 70 per cent is expected to be used for cash assistance.
14.5% per cent of the total budget (US$2.6 million) is expected to be funded from Regular
Resources (RR), and will be available for the duration of the programme period. RR will be used for core
staff cost as well as programming. The remaining 85.5 per cent of the budgeted amount (US$15.4 million)
is expected to be funded from Other Resources (OR) and will need to be mobilized during the programme
period. To this end, fundraising efforts will be undertaken with existing strategic partners of the WASH
programme including donors such as DFID, the Government of Finland, the EU and the private sector.
Intense efforts will be made to consolidate existing partnerships and to raise funds from other national
committees and private sector actors.
The section will continue to be led by an international P4 Section Chief, who will guide and
supervise 3 NOC level WASH Specialists (for the three broad areas of Policy/Institutional, WASH Services,
and DRR/Emergency), one M&E Officer at NOB level and one Program Assistant at GS6 level. The national
team will provide required technical support to all the 7 provinces especially in the strategic areas of
policy formulation; development of costed plans, guidelines and framework; capacity development and
system strengthening under the new federal structures. Depending on the UNICEF field office locations, 6
WASH Officers (three at NOB level and three at NOA level) will provide support for policy formulation,
development of WASH plans at provincial and Local Government (LG) levels as well as implementation and
monitoring of specific projects at LG level. Any additional technical support arrangements will be made
based on the emerging needs of the section.
Output 1: Communities, and government structures at national and sub-national levels have
increased capacity to improve water quality and functionality and to deliver and sustain safe
water (especially to the unreached populations and in schools and health care facilities)
Total 5 years
RR OR/ORE
Staff and Technical Assistance UNICEF personnel, TA
555,667 651,000
Strategies Grouping of related activities
Service delivery Procurement/distribution of supplies and equipment;
logistics/transportation, warehousing, infrastructure, direct
assistance/cash grants, monitoring, innovations
1,200,000
Capacity development
communities
Development of materials/training aids, IEC materials,
workshops, social mobilization/community empowerment,
C4D, networks
300,000 1,200,000
Institutional building
(organizational)
Development of plans/micro-plans, institutional
mechanisms/tools, guidelines, protocols/standards,
coordination; oversight strengthening, management
information systems, resourcing and budgeting, governance
1,500,000
Evidence generation Situation Analysis, research, studies, surveys, evaluation,
assessments, generation of profiles, knowledge management,
innovative approaches
800,000
Policy dialogue and advocacy Strategy/Policy formulation, convening meetings, organizing
workshops, study tours, south/south cooperation,
partnership building, media communication, resource
mobilization, budget exercises, legal framework
Total Output 1 6,206,667 855,667 5,351,000
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PROGRAMME STRATEGY NOTE
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Output 2: Households and communities (including school children) in selected areas have
improved sanitation and hygiene behaviours and sector stakeholders have enhanced capacity
to provide access to safe and sustainable sanitation and hygiene facilities in homes and
institutions
Total 5 years
RR OR/ORE
Staff and Technical Assistance UNICEF personnel, TA
555,667 651,000
Strategies Grouping of related activities
Service delivery Procurement/distribution of supplies and equipment;
logistics/transportation, warehousing, infrastructure, direct
assistance/cash grants, monitoring, innovations
1,000,000
Capacity development
communities
Development of materials/training aids, IEC materials,
workshops, social mobilization/community empowerment,
C4D, networks
300,000 2,089,000
Institutional building
(organizational)
Development of plans/micro-plans, institutional
mechanisms/tools, guidelines, protocols/standards,
coordination; oversight strengthening, management
information systems, resourcing and budgeting, governance
1,000,000
Evidence generation Situation Analysis, research, studies, surveys, evaluation,
assessments, generation of profiles, knowledge management,
innovative approaches
1,000,000
Policy dialogue and advocacy Strategy/Policy formulation, convening meetings, organizing
workshops, study tours, south/south cooperation,
partnership building, media communication, resource
mobilization, budget exercises, legal framework
500,000
Total Output 2 6,095,667 855,667 6,240,000
Output 3: Government structures at national and sub-national levels have increased capacity to
legislate, plan and budget to improve WASH systems, including mainstreaming disaster risk
management to plan for, respond to and mitigate the effects of disasters and climate change
Total 5 years
RR OR/ORE
Staff and Technical Assistance UNICEF personnel, TA
555,666 651,000
Strategies Grouping of related activities
Service delivery Procurement/distribution of supplies and equipment;
logistics/transportation, warehousing, infrastructure, direct
assistance/cash grants, monitoring, innovations
333,000 500,000
Capacity development
communities
Development of materials/training aids, IEC materials,
workshops, social mobilization/community empowerment,
C4D, networks
900,000
Institutional building
(organizational)
Development of plans/micro-plans, institutional
mechanisms/tools, guidelines, protocols/standards,
coordination; oversight strengthening, management
information systems, resourcing and budgeting, governance
800,000
Evidence generation Situation Analysis, research, studies, surveys, evaluation,
assessments, generation of profiles, knowledge management,
innovative approaches
458,000
Policy dialogue and advocacy Strategy/Policy formulation, convening meetings, organizing
workshops, study tours, south/south cooperation,
partnership building, media communication, resource
mobilization, budget exercises, legal framework
500,000
Total Output 3 4,697,666 888,666 3,809,000
Grand Total 17,000,000 2,600,000 15,400,000
7. Monitoring Outputs and Demonstrating UNICEF’s Contribution to Outcomes
The results structure mentioned in section 4 above will serve as a basis for monitoring and
reporting progress and evaluating results. Programme outcomes and outputs will be measured and
captured through a series of coverage and quality indicators set out in the structure, and which are
aligned with Results Assessment Module (RAM). To ensure the credibility and transparency in
measurement and analysis, UNICEF will draw on various sources of data such as national surveys and data
collected through other sources such as the EMIS and the NMIP.
UNICEF NEPAL COUNTRY OFFICE
PROGRAMME STRATEGY NOTE
16
UNICEF s contribution to outcomes will be measured primarily through national surveys with
standardized measures and protocols, such as the Demographic and Health Survey, and the Multiple
Indicator Cluster Survey and a Rapid Survey for WASH to establish baseline values for SDG indicators
especially sanitation to be completed by 2018. UNICEF s contribution in specific communities will be
assessed with disaggregated data by geographical area. Data disaggregated by social determinants, such
as wealth, education level and ethnicity, wherever available, will also provide insights into trends in
disparities in WASH and outcomes.
The results at output level will be measured using an Excel based monitoring and evaluation
system, which was developed in 2014 and has been practiced since then in the Nepal Country Office.
Results achieved against targets will be monitored periodically (every trimester). Sustainability monitoring
of water supply schemes will be done by using a standard checklist developed and practised by UNICEF
since 2015. In addition, the EMIS, and NMIP will used to measure some of indicators at output level.
During emergencies, the Humanitarian Performance Monitoring (HPM) will be used to ensure a clear
alignment of results with UNICEF s Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) and to track the numbers of
people reached with interventions, use for improving programme quality, and contribute toward cluster
monitoring.
As per the harmonised action on cash transfer (HACT) requirements, programmatic field visits,
financial spot checks, and micro-assessments will be carried out. Training and in the field support will be
provided to implementing partners to meet the HACT requirements.
UNICEF will hold mid and end-year reviews of the country programme with government and
development partners to learn about progress, achievements, issues and challenges. The annual WASH
sector monitoring and review events will provide opportunities to track progress toward achieving the
intended outcomes and outputs and to triangulate the results. Results, lessons learned and best practices
will be analysed, documented, and disseminated for policy dialogue and replication in other areas of Nepal
as well as within the region and around the world.
During the next country programme, the WASH sector will carry out some surveys and
evaluations. Baseline, midline and endline surveys will be carried out to both measure baselines and as
well as track progress. This will also enable UNICEF to comply with specific donor reporting requirements.
Accelerating Sanitation and Water for All (ASWA) Programme and global and regional accountability
mechanisms such as SWA and SACOSAN. Indicators that are not included in national surveys such as the
MICS and DHS will be covered by these surveys. In addition, an evaluation of the sanitation programme
will be conducted during the course of the country programme.