Please find the Water Air Food Awards (WAFA)press release - Nepal's Community Water Crisis Innovation Reaches The 2026 International Water, Air,...
Published on by Trudi Schifter, CEO and Founder AquaSPE
Dr Datta Bahadur Rawa, representing Partnership for Sustainable Development Nepal , and Tina Lindgren, WAFA CEO, are available for exclusive media interviews for in-depth insights on the project. its inception, impact, and plans. Please write back to us, and we'd be happy to facilitate the same at your convenience.
For Immediate Release
Nepal's Community Water Crisis Innovation Reaches The 2026 International Water, Air, Food Awards Finals
Partnership for Sustainable Development Represents Nepal on the World Stage
Ending a Silent Water Crisis in Nepal's Most Vulnerable Communities
Winner To Be Announced at Generation Green, Cairo, Egypt in Summer 2026
Voting lines are open till 30 April 2026
Copenhagen, Denmark, April 09, 2026: Nepal has earned a proud place on the world stage for community-led environmental innovations. The Partnership for Sustainable Development Nepal, led by Dr Datta Bahadur Rawal, has been selected as a 2026 finalist for the Water Air Food Awards (WAFA) in the Water category. The Water Air Food Awards is a global platform that recognizes community-led solutions addressing the world's most pressing environmental challenges.
In Dang, Jumla, and Nawalparasi communities, The Partnership for Sustainable Development Nepal developed an integrated WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) solution combining infrastructure, education, environmental restoration, and community leadership. Treatment systems were installed in schools and communities, 5 shallow tube wells were improved, 70 household toilets were upgraded, and 2 new school toilet blocks were constructed, delivering safe and private sanitation to children for the first time.
Public voting is open now until April 30, 2026. Nepal’s votes can help carry Partnership for Sustainable Development to the winner's stage in the Generation Green Forum, hosted at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo, Egypt, Summer 2026.
VOTE NOW: https://www.judgify.me/public-voting/wafawards26/submissions/848858?lan=en
The Crisis: A Community Left Without Safe Water
In Nepal, only 13% of the population has access to safely managed drinking water. For deprived communities in Dang, Jumla, and Nawalparasi, this gap was not just a statistic; it was a daily crisis. Contaminated water sources caused preventable illness, kept children out of school, and deprived families of basic dignity. Schoolchildren walked up to an hour during school hours simply to fill a water bottle. Open defecation along roadsides, dry streams, and farming areas was common. Without intervention, this cycle was set to continue for generations
Infrastructure, Education, and Community Ownership
Working in coordination with EWB-USA Florida Chapter to secure financial support, the initiative began with a comprehensive needs assessment and water quality testing to identify the most critical gaps. Families were trained in household water purification, building long-term self-reliance within the community.Water User Committees and an Operation and Maintenance Committee, with women comprising half the membership, now manage and oversee the systems independently. Families contribute monthly to a maintenance fund, ensuring the solution endures long after installation.
Impact
20,820 cubic metres of safe water supplied annually
170 households and approximately 650 residents with access to safe drinking water
450 schoolchildren with access to clean water and improved sanitation
1,100 people benefiting directly, with indirect benefits to neighbouring communities
100% of schoolchildren using improved toilets, eliminating open defecation entirely
70% of the broader community practises proper toilet usage
School attendance increased significantly, including girls attending regularly during menstruation
Waterborne diseases dramatically decreased
13,000 trees planted, sequestering
286 approximately metric tonnes of CO2 annually
A Blueprint for Nepal and Beyond
The initiative is being developed as a model community aligned with Nepal's national WASH standards, replicable by the Government of Nepal across regions facing similar challenges. With proven community ownership, financial sustainability, and strong governance already in place, it offers a practical and scalable pathway to water security across South Asia and beyond.
Why WAFA Recognition Matters for Nepal
WAFA has recognized 18 Silent Heroes since 2008, reaching 84 million people across 82 countries. For an initiative built on community strength and limited resources, being named a 2026 WAFA Finalist opens doors to the global network, funding, and visibility that can take Nepal's community-led water solution from one district to an entire nation and beyond across South Asia.
"These are real people creating extraordinary impact from the ground up. They are often unseen, often unheard, and the world needs to recognize these silent heroes, and the nature‑based initiatives they are leading." - Tina Lindgreen, CEO & Executive Chairperson, WAFA
LEARN MORE: https://www.wafaward.org/articles/ending-a-silent-water-crisis-in-nepals-most-vulnerable-communities/">https://www.wafaward.org/articles/ending-a-silent-water-crisis-in-nepals-most-vulnerable-communities/
The Generation Green Event - Cairo 2026
This year's award ceremony marks a milestone in WAFA's evolution. Generation Green is WAFA's bold new flagship event, moving beyond recognition to scaling impact. The event will be held at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, Cairo, Egypt, in the summer of 2026.
MORE ABOUT OTHER FINALISTS: https://www.wafaward.org/voting-page/
About WAFA
Water Air Food Awards (WAFA) is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to recognizing and amplifying local solutions that protect and restore access to clean water, air, and food, and a healthy climate. Established in 2008 as a Danish philanthropic association, WAFA has grown to reach 84 million people across 82 countries. WAFA honors community-based innovators known as Silent Heroes, whose nature-based approaches deliver measurable, long-term impact. Through awards, storytelling, and global partnerships, WAFA helps local solutions scale globally and inspires action for the benefit of humanity (people and the planet)
MORE ABOUT WAFA https://www.wafaward.org/articles/ending-a-silent-water-crisis-in-nepals-most-vulnerable-communities/">https://www.wafaward.org/articles/ending-a-silent-water-crisis-in-nepals-most-vulnerable-communities/
Taxonomy
- Crisis
- Communication
- Community Supply
- Water Security
- Water from Air
- Sustainable water purification
- Nepal