ONE WASH
ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Highlights
This is the third One WASH Annual Report produced by WASH Section, UNICEF Nepal. It captures progress, challenges and lessons learnt during 2016 during implementation of WASH Programme. Significant progress was achieved by the UNICEF-assisted WASH Programme at both the upstream and downstream levels, as well as under the earthquake reconstruction and recovery works. With support from UNICEF, the Government of Nepal produced the final draft of the WASH Sector Development Plan (2016- 2030) through a wide consultative process. The final draft is due for approval by the Cabinet in 2017. Similarly, the development of WASH Act was also initiated in 2016 with support from UNICEF. Under the leadership of the Minister for Water Supply and Sanitation, Nepal actively participated in SWA High Level Meeting held in March 2016 in Ethiopia. In addition, Nepal had a strong presence at SACOSAN in January 2016 in Bangladesh with almost 50 high-level delegates. The event provided a great opportunity for Nepal to showcase its tremendous achievement in sanitation. UNICEF provided support both for SWA High Level Meeting and SACOSAN.
Under the UNICEF WASH Development Programme, the major focus remained once again on supporting the government agenda to eliminate open defecation by the end of 2017. With UNICEF support, a total of five districts, 111 VDCs and 10 municipalities were declared free of open defecation. This benefitted 487,250 people with access to improved sanitation and a total of 991,858 people are living under an ODF environment. A total of 13,395 marginalized people gained access to improved water sources through 21 water supply schemes and 319 water safety plans were implemented in collaboration with DWSS FEDWASUN. UNICEF also supported 977 schools with software and small scale hardware services through District Education Offices, Water Supply Sanitation (Sub) Division Offices and civil society organizations, benefiting 237,809 children. A total of 59,700 mothers and caretakers of under-five children were reached with hygiene education including hand washing with soap facilities.
