Nepal

Nepal is endowed with abundant water resources. However, much of the population struggles to access safe and reliable water for drinking, sanitation and agriculture. Population growth, land degradation, inequitable landownership and weak institutional capacity are major challenges for water resources management, as are the norms surrounding gender, ethnicity, caste, class, region, and disability. An estimate shows that less than 8% of the country’s water potential is used for irrigation. Nepal is extremely vulnerable to climate change, and this has radically changed seasonal water availability, causing droughts during the dry season and increased flooding during the monsoon season.

In 2015, Nepal became a Federal Democratic Republic, ceding significant powers to 753 local governments, including exclusive and concurrent rights to develop, manage and use water resources and watersheds within their jurisdiction. The government aims to triple per capita income to $12,000 by 2044. Achieving this will require a substantial improvement to management and governance of water resources.

IWMI in Nepal

IWMI has been working in Nepal since 1986, focusing on sustainable water management, climate resilience, and rural development. The institute collaborates with government bodies, research institutions, NGOs, and local communities to tackle water challenges through evidence-based policies and inclusive solutions. Key projects include solar-powered irrigation systems to boost agricultural resilience, especially for smallholder and women farmers, and watershed resilience initiatives to enhance water availability in vulnerable areas. IWMI also plays a role in advancing gender equality and social inclusion by supporting women’s access to agricultural inputs and decision-making power.

IWMI’s research extends to climate change adaptation, with projects like Digo Jal Bikas analyzing water allocations under future climate scenarios to guide national policy. The institute is also focused on improving disaster resilience in water-related crises by developing strategies to support vulnerable communities. Through its interdisciplinary approach, IWMI aims to foster inclusive growth, improve water security, and enhance agricultural productivity in Nepal’s rural areas.

Country representative

Manohara Khadka

Manohara Khadka

Country Representative – Nepal (Rotational CR)

Projects in Nepal

Latest Nepal news

Water entrepreneurship can drive solar irrigation and climate mitigation in Nepal 

Small solar pumps help individual farmers, but larger systems that serve collective fields could drive uptake and lift rural incomes across Nepal’s breadbasket, as lessons from its neighbor Indian state …

Water-energy-food-ecosystem nexus approach presents a solution for transboundary resources management in Nepal 

Stakeholders in the Rangun watershed in Nepal’s Mahakali-Karnali River Basin illustrate how a holistic approach across the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus can offer scalability for broader cross-border challenges …

Stakeholders in Nepal work together to enhance collective action for municipal groundwater management

The Barahathawa Municipality in southern Nepal has been creating a model for effective groundwater management to ensure prosperity, social equity and environmental sustainability. This example highlights how local leadership and …

Building climate-resilient rural water supply: insights from Dailekh District, Nepal

In the rural municipalities of Mahabu and Dungeshwor in Dailekh district IWMI works to enhance inclusive, climate-resilient rural WASH services …

Latest Nepal publications

Displaying 4 publications
Cereal yield and water requirements in response to irrigation and soil fertility management in a changing climate: a case of Tulsipur, western Nepal (04/02/2025)
Cereal yield and water requirements in response to irrigation and soil fertility management in a changing climate: a case of Tulsipur, western Nepal
Journal of Water and Climate Change, 2025
More... [DOI] | Fulltext (1.24 MB)
Hydro-climatic extremes in a medium range river basin in western Nepal: learning from analysis of observed data (10/25/2023)
Hydro-climatic extremes in a medium range river basin in western Nepal: learning from analysis of observed data
Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment, 2024
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Flood susceptibility and risk mapping of Kathmandu Valley Watershed, Nepal (09/30/2024)
Flood susceptibility and risk mapping of Kathmandu Valley Watershed, Nepal
Sustainability, 2024
More... [DOI] | Fulltext (37.8 MB)