Federation of Drinking Water and Sanitation Users Nepal

Citizens’ Action Program

Since April 2005, FEDWASUN in coordination with WaterAid Nepal has been implementing Citizens’ Action Program in Ilam, Makawanpur, Dhading, Baglung Pyuthan and Baitadi districts of Nepal. It has already developed multi-year plan for citizens’ action program and by 2011, FEDWASUN has strategy to expand this program to Gulmi, Dang, Dhankuta, Dadeldhura, Sindhuli, Ramechap and Darchula districts. The main objective of this program is to improve water and sanitation governance (responsiveness, equity, accountability and transparency) by citizens’ action and budget tracking that helps to make service providers accountable, responsive and provide services in sustainable and equitable manner. Through effective advocacy, the program aims to identify, analyze water and sanitation issues and advocate for appropriate actions at all levels (VDCs, DDCs and national). The program encourages communities to take ownership of their own development work through active participation in identifying issues, planning, implementing, evaluating and monitoring their projects in transparent and accountable ways (Figure 7). Thus, the program helps to encourage meaningful participation from all, including marginalized communities in decision-making processes. This engagement helps bridge the gap between service providers and beneficiaries.

Major Activities:

Status review of water and sanitation situation through interaction and orientation training to district branch members on legal aspect and water and sanitation governance
Collection of the issues through direct interaction with users’ groups in different parts of the district
Last five years budget analysis and fund utilization monitoring
Monitoring of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Policy’s implementation
Participatory analysis and prioritization of issues
Presentation of the users' evidence based issues to the district level service providers through interactive workshop
Participatory action plan preparing with representatives of water and sanitation users' committees and service providers
Implementation of action plan in close coordination with FEDWASUN district branch
Monitoring of implemented plans through periodical/annual review. meetings and field visits

Users’ Empowerment and Support Program:

With UNICEF’s support, FEDWASUN has been implementing Users’ Empowerment and Support Programs in Panchthar, Udayapur, Tanahun, Nawalparasi and Kavre districts since August 2006. The main objective of this program is to support the expansion of the district branch in Panchthar and the registration and empowerment of users’ committees in all five districts.

Major Activities:

Selection of 10 VDCs for the program and legitimization of users groups as per Water Supply and Sanitation policy
Formation of FEDWASUN district branch in Panchthar district
Baseline data collection and reporting to identify activities to enhance the capacity of users’ groups
Classification, prioritization planning and proposing activities to stakeholders for the implementation in coming year
Water user’s committee management training to 40 different users’ groups, 8 each in the five districts
Facilitate the formation, activation and registration of 500 users’ groups, 100 in each district under the District Resource Act.

Expansion and Empowerment of WATSAN User’s Committee Program:

Oxfam GB has been supporting FEDWASUN in implementing Expansion and Empowerment of WATSAN User’s Committee Program in Surkhet, Dailekh, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur districts of Nepal since March 2007. The program aims to “create awareness on drinking water and sanitation issues through FEDWASUN district branches by encouraging a maximum number of women’s participation”. With the existence of patriarchal ideology in the country, as women are facing more problems in water and sanitation sector than men, the focus of the program is on women’s empowerment. Moreover, the program assumes that single woman’s empowerment in a family can create multiplier effect within the family and society in terms of creating awareness and handling the water and sanitation problems efficiently. The program also disseminates information on water and sanitation issues, problems and possible solutions.

Major Activities:

Mobilize and gather district water and sanitation users’ groups to be the member of FEDWASUN district chapter
Coordinate stakeholders meeting to discuss water and sanitation plans and issues
Providing advocacy trainings that focus on institutional development, gender, leadership, capacity building advocacy, resource management, governance and FEDWASUN’s introduction to the district branch committee members.
Disseminate information to the users’ groups on drinking water and sanitation issues, and solutions
Encourage water and sanitation users’ groups to conduct situation analysis/case study
Provide orientation on different aspects of water and sanitation to the users’ groups
Conduct national level workshops (example: role of the stakeholders in operation and maintenance) by gathering district level representatives.

District Federation Improvement Program:

FEDWASUN has been working to improve the federation in Dhankuta, Khotang, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Partbat, Myagdi, Gulmi, Rupandehi, Kaski, Lamjung, Dang, Dadeldhura, Darchula and Doti districts of Nepal by building their institutions and expanding users’ groups. Even though these districts do not have regular programs, district federations are involved in celebrating sanitation week, participating in the General Assembly and National Council, trainings, workshops and other activities related to water and sanitation.