Highlights of Semi-annual Progress Report

RWSSP-WN II reports its progress based on the project indicators every six-months´ time. The latest progress report covers the period from mid-July 2014 to mid-January 2015. The Government of Nepal reporting cycle differs from that of the Government of Finland: the Project Coordination Office reports to Government of Nepal on trimester basis.  

Since the beginning of the Phase II in September 2013, altogether 38,542 people have benefitted from access to improved water supply as a result of the project support. The number of completed drinking water schemes is 62. 

The progress has been steady in the last 6 months period, with 24 completed drinking water supply schemes benefiting a population of 13,876. Half of the new water supply schemes are gravity type. There is a high number of schemes under preparation and implementation: 79 new schemes are in the pipeline, with 35,272 beneficiaries. 

Given that the schemes currently under implementation are completed within this fiscal year, the project will stay on track in terms of meeting the target of providing access to water for 100,000 people. 

Planning for water safety and confirming the institutional capacity of the water user groups are key issues in the coming year, once the schemes proceed to the post-construction phase.  

With regard to progress in sanitation sector, one project district, Argakhanchi, declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) during this reporting period. This brings the number of ODF districts to seven out of 14 districts. Four districts are planning to declare ODF within the calendar year 2015, namely Nawalparasi, Syangja, Rolpa and Gulmi.  

Progress towards Total Sanitation that concerns personal, household-level and environmental sanitation and hygiene shows less prominent progress, with 14 wards declared as Total Sanitation wards within this reporting period. The movement is picking up in new districts, but systematic monitoring and confirmation by the V-WASH-Coordination Committees (and D-WASH-CC) is yet to be established. 

Institutional development is of critical importance for the sustainability of water and sanitation services and facilities. Within this reporting period, altogether 10,016 people have benefited from various training events organized by the project. This brings the total number of beneficiaries since the beginning of the Phase II to 20,116. 

Updating of old VDC-wide WASH Plans (V-WASH Plans) and District Strategic WASH Plans (DSWASHP) is ongoing. One of the main events was the District Planning and Coordination Meeting in Pokhara organized for all Local Development Officers (LDOs) and District Technical Office (DTO) Chiefs of the working districts. This meeting gave fruitful outcome in terms of various issues including the future of DWASH Units, District Management Committee (DMC) and the overall district WASH structure. 

The total RWSSP-WN Phase II budget is EUR 21,900,000. Of this, the GoF contribution is 63%, GoN 27%, DDCs and VDCs 4% and the users, mostly in kind, 7%. The total investment budget as given in the GoN Red Book for FY2071/72 (FY02) is NPR 299,940,000. This covers scheme investments, capacity building and governance funded through District Development Funds (DDFs).

Semi-annual Progress Report FY2071/72 (FY02) is now available at RWSSP-WN II Publications pages.