Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH): Overview

SEBAC-Nepal is dedicated to serving marginalized, disadvantaged, and poor communities by ensuring access to essential basic services. In alignment with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030, SEBAC-Nepal prioritizes equitable access to WASH services.

Specifically targeting SDG 6.1 and 6.2, which emphasize universal access to safe and affordable drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, SEBAC-Nepal implements a range of initiatives, including the construction of WASH infrastructure, public awareness campaigns, and behavior change activities. These efforts are also aligned with the Government of Nepal’s 16^th Five-Year Plan, which seeks to increase access to improved drinking water facilities from 28.5% in 2022/23 to 95% by 2043/44.

In addition to WASH services and capacity development, SEBAC-Nepal has implemented various WASH awareness raising and advocacy campaigns to support the voices of women, young girls, and vulnerable populations, ensuring their equitable access to WASH services. These efforts contribute directly to SDG target 6.2, which emphasizes access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all while ending open defecation, with special attention to the needs of women, girls, and marginalized communities.

To date, the organization has successfully implemented 19 projects under this thematic area, and has made significant progress in improving water and sanitation services, promoting hygiene, and advocating for inclusive and sustainable WASH practices.

Areas of Expertise

✅Feasibility study, vulnerability assessment, detailed project reports, baseline and end line surveys;
✅Design and quality construction and sustainable operation of rural water supply schemes (gravity-based drinking water supply schemes, shallow and deep tube wells, and rain water harvesting);
✅Facilitation for community-led governance and management;
✅Technical support for developing climate-resilient water safety plans and WASH plans;
✅Sustainable behavioral change for sanitation;
✅Sanitation and hygiene promotion in community and institutions (healthcare facilities, schools and government offices); and
✅Organizing Open Defecation Free (ODF) campaigns through a Community-Led Total Sanitation approach, and monitoring the ODF status.

Key Interventions and achievements of SEBAC-Nepal

WASH Construction
✅Drinking Water Supply Schemes: 620 water supply schemes constructed benefitting 450,000 population
✅Handwashing Facilities: 5,550 Hand washing facilities installed
✅Toilets: 410,000 safe and hygienic gender- and child-friendly toilets (health posts, schools, public places and households)constructed

WASH Awareness Raising, Advocacy, &Campaigns
✅School WASH: 700 schools included with WASH awareness raising
✅Community Awareness Raising: Awareness raising and training to 359,000 community households on sanitation and hygiene
✅Water Safety Plans: 222 water safety plans developed
✅ODF Status: Facilitated 7 districts to achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) status
✅Users Committees: Established, trained, & mobilized 616 new Water Users and Sanitation Committee

 

Key Projects Implemented by SEBAC-Nepal in WASH (Total 19 Projects)

S.N.	Project Name	Funding Agency	Project Duration	Project districts
1	USAID Karnali Water Activities Project	USAID/DAI	February to November 2023	Achham
2	WASH Udhhyami	Made Blue Foundation/Simavi, the Netherlands	June 2022 to May 2025	Sindhupalchowk
3	Access to Sanitation and Hygiene for All (ASHA)	Dopper/Simavi, the Netherlands	January 2020 to December 2022	Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha
4	Improving Health and Hygiene through WASH Intervention (IHHWI)	SIMAVI Netherlands	December 2016 to November 2019	Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha
5	Safe Practices on Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (Safe WASH I & II)	USAID	January 2011 to June 2019	Darchula, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Achham
6	Rural Village Water Resources Management Project (RVWRMP)	DDC Achham/ FINNIDA	January 2008 to June 2010	Achham
7	Community Based Water Supply and Sanitation Project: Darchula	District Water Supply and Sanitation Office, Darchula	January 2008 to June 2020	Darchula
8	Water Supply and Sanitation (WATSAN) Program: Achham	ECHO/ Care Nepal	July 2008 to June 2009	Achham
9	Community-Based Water Supply and Sanitation Project: Achham	District Development Committee Achham/ Community Water Supply and Sanitation Office, Achham	July 2007 to June 2010	Achham
10	Water Supply and Sanitation Program: Doti	ECHO/Care Nepal	July 2007 to June 2008	Doti
11	Community-Based Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project: Bajhang	Department of Water Supply and Sewerage/ Community Water Supply and Sanitation Office, Bajhang	September 2006 to June 2010	Bajhang
12	Water Supply and Sanitation Activities: Achham	District Drinking Water Supply Office, Achham	February to June 2000	Achham
13	Open Defecation Free Campaign: Dolakha	GSF/UN-Habitat	April 2014 to April 2016	Dolakha
14	Open Defecation Free Campaign and Sanitation and Hygiene Behavioural Promotion	GSF/UN-Habitat	April 2012 to June 2015	Sindhupalchowk
15	Open Defecation Free Campaign and Sanitation and Hygiene Behavioural Promotion/Promotion of Sector Coordination (WASH-Bajura): Bajura	GSF/UN-Habitat	December 2011 to December 2014	Bajura