Background

1. Background:
   The National Water Supply and Sanitation Research, Innovation, and Capacity Development Centre (NWSSRICDC), formerly under the Water Supply and Sewerage Management Department of the Government of Nepal, had been conducting various training and development programs since 1983 through the Human Resource Development Program Branch to enhance the capacities of stakeholders involved in water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). The centre has played a significant role in human resource development for stakeholders in the water supply and sanitation sector, including government, non-government, private sector, consumer committees, volunteers, technicians, and social workers. The centre currently operates as an ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System certified training centre.

In this context, according to the decision of the Government of Nepal's Council of Ministers on Chaitra 11, 2081 BS, following an organizational and management survey (O&M Survey) of the Ministry of Water Supply and the Water Supply and Sewerage Management Department, the Human Resource Development Branch under the department was strengthened. Its activities related to training and capacity development were further integrated with research and innovation to establish a new institutional form under the Ministry of Water Supply — the "National Water Supply and Sanitation Research, Innovation, and Capacity Development Centre (NWSSRICDC)" — with its office established at Nagarkot from 2082/01/03 BS.

Institutionally, the centre currently has 27 approved staff positions, including permanent, temporary, and contractual employees. The training centre campus at Nagarkot includes hostel facilities, office buildings, a library, training halls, a canteen, vehicles, security guards, administrators, and supporting staff, enabling the smooth conduct of training and programs.

Geographically, the centre is located in Nagarkot, Bhaktapur District, approximately one hour from Kathmandu. Spread over about 20 ropani of land, the centre is situated in a naturally beautiful and peaceful environment. The Himalayan mountain range is visible to the north, and lush green forests surround the area, providing a conducive learning environment.

2. Strategy:
   According to the strategy of NWSSRICDC, the following key outcomes are expected:

• Contribution to evidence-based policy and planning:
  Research in the WASH sector will provide location-specific, evidence-based, and solution-oriented insights to strengthen policy, planning, and implementation. Research in resource assessment, quality testing, appropriate technology selection, and service sustainability will guide policy formulation.

• Promotion of innovation and service improvement through laboratory testing:
  Location-specific technologies, materials, and service models (e.g., Eco-San, composting toilets, greywater reuse, arsenic filters, digital billing systems) will be developed and tested. Innovation based on research will contribute to resource conservation, service access, and environmental sustainability.

• Production of study reports, technical design methods, and materials:
  Practical and research-based study reports, guidelines, training materials, MIS system usage guidance, and policy recommendations will be produced to support effective decision-making from federal to local levels.

• Human resource empowerment and enhanced decision-making:
  Through trainings, workshops, and programs, the capacity of technical and social workers at federal, provincial, and local levels will be strengthened, improving decision-making, service operations, and monitoring.

• Support for innovative local-level interventions:
  Research and technology will help solve local issues in municipalities and rural municipalities through practices like Drinking Water Safety Plans, CR-WASH, FSM, MIS, Smart Metering, and Climate-resilient WASH plans.

• Strengthening knowledge management and shared learning:
  By combining best practices, local innovations, successful models, and international experiences, a knowledge management system will be developed to promote regional/international collaboration, learning exchanges, and the development of exemplary models in Nepal.

• Contribution to institutional strategy and policy strengthening:
  Research-based recommendations will support updates and improvements in frameworks like Drinking Water Policy, Sanitation Strategy, Regulations, Tariff Guidelines, and PPP Guidelines.

• Promotion of environmental and social sustainability:
  Research will contribute to sustainability through climate-adapted technologies, safe waste management, and the construction of cost-effective, accessible, and durable infrastructure considering geographic and social diversity.

• Integration of digital technology and service transparency:
  The effectiveness of MIS, SCADA, Smart Meters, Water ATMs, e-Billing, and Mobile Monitoring Tools will be tested to improve transparency, efficiency, and consumer satisfaction.

• Strengthening regional and international leadership:
  Nepal-based success stories, municipal sanitation plans, and decentralized water governance experiences will be showcased internationally, establishing NWSSRICDC as a South Asian human resource development hub.

• Inclusive and empowered service delivery:
  Capacity building of federal, provincial, and local bodies, service providers, and public and private stakeholders in the WASH sector will make service delivery more inclusive, quality-focused, and effective.

• Development of self-reliant and accountable institutions:
  Tailor-made trainings and networking programs will enable local governments, consumer committees, service providers, health institutions, and schools to become self-reliant and accountable.

• Strong linkages between policy coordination and local implementation:
  Effective coordination from policy formulation to implementation, along with practice-based planning and innovation, will be established.

• Enhanced decision-making through training and research:
  Training, workshops, and research will improve institutional and employee decision-making capacities and service quality.

3. Key Outcome Areas:

• Partnership development and awareness enhancement: Encourages collaboration among stakeholders and contributes to overall sector improvement.

• Local ownership and sustainability: Engages consumers in project planning, implementation, and maintenance, creating ownership and cost-recovery-based sustainability.

• Skill enhancement and income generation: Development of technical and managerial skills increases income opportunities and social responsibility.

• Group dynamics and innovation: HRD programs promote innovative, creative, and collaborative work culture.

• Utilization of local resources: Empowers communities to use underutilized local resources, reducing resource scarcity.

• Inclusive prosperity and gender empowerment: Human resource development fosters inclusive prosperity through employment, skill, and opportunity creation.

• Private sector empowerment: Trains entrepreneurs to reduce dependency on government services while contributing to partnership development.