Water

Country Water Action: Nepal
Building Gender-Responsive Water user Associations in Nepal

A pilot project proved its success by improving the participation of women in water users associations in Nepal, where poverty is widespread and affects 42% of the population.

Women's roles vary among the poor in Nepal, depending on the crops they grow, their ethnic origin and caste, and their geographical location.

The project involved an irrigation canal and 17 settlements. The project was designed to test and document ways in which women could better contribute to irrigation management and improved agricultural production.

The pilot discovered that women were interested in learning to manage the technical aspects of irrigation canal maintenance and operation as well as water distribution and management. Through a Women's Facilitator Group, the skills of women were improved and the pilot was successful in involving women in decision-making.