Planning Workshop with local stakeholders on Water Use Master Plans

Since 2014, ICIMOD Koshi Basin Programme (KBP) and HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal have been involved in collaborative action research to develop Water Use Master Plans (WUMP) at VDC level in three selected districts of Nepal namely  Sindhupalchowk, Sindhuli and Saptari. These districts represent three of Nepal’s ecological zones including the Himalayas, Midhills and the Terai.

Based on the socio-economic and technical survey of the selected VDCs, draft report of WUMP of all piloted VDCs of Saptari have been prepared and shared among ICIMOD, HELVETAS, four WUMP VDCs and DDC, Saptari. The DDC of Saptari is one of the first DDCs in Koshi basin which has acknowledged WUMP approach and indicated in their long-term plan named “Periodic District Development Plan, Saptari- 2015/16-2019/20.”

A two-week long workshop is being organised in four different VDCs of Saptari district by KBP partner Mahuli Community Development Committee (MCDC). The relevant experts from ICIMOD and HELVETAS; representatives from DDC, district level line agencies and VDCs are expected to participate and contribute in the workshop. This workshop is designed in local setting and facilitated by our local partner. This workshop is slotted into four parts and organized in each WUMP VDC of three days duration.

The objectives of the workshop

Comprehensively discuss the draft report with the local stakeholders of Saptari district including representatives of the VDCs and DDC as well as other district level governmental line agencies, local political leaders, civil society and I/NGOs.

Expected outcomes

• Provide support in updating WUMP report in the context of local scenarios and incorporating inputs from local stakeholders.
• Support in disseminating the messages of WUMP implementation to the wider audience.
• Help in preparing the ‘stakeholders engagement plan’ at local level for WUMP implementation. Engaging stakeholders from the very beginning of the project helps to improve the ownership of the project which is one of the important steps in Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM).