Bridging gaps in groundwater: a woman leader led multistakeholder platform experience from Nepal

The presentation titled “Bridging Gaps in Groundwater: A Woman Leader-Led Multistakeholder Platform in Barahathawa Municipality, Nepal” by Ms. Sumitra KC and Dr. Manohara Khadka highlights the challenges and solutions related to groundwater governance in Barahatthawa Municipality, Nepal. Groundwater is vital for agri-food system transformation, but its governance is complex due to the three-tiered federal structure in Nepal. There is a gap in evidence and knowledge on sustainable extraction thresholds and equitable access. We presented our action research on strengthening groundwater governance using multi-stakeholder platform as a solution for coordinated planning for managing and using groundwater sustainably and equitably.

The presentation emphasizes the need for integrated planning and collaboration among natural resources stakeholders. The Multistakeholder Platform (MSP), co-designed with Barahatthawa Municipality and led by a woman leader, aims to strengthen collaboration and cooperation between actors in water, agriculture, energy, and environment sectors 1. The MSP guides decision-making and ensures coherence in policies and programs for sustainable and equitable management of natural resources. The presentation also highlights the importance of inclusive and collaborative approaches to groundwater governance to ensure sustainable and equitable access to this vital resource. Women, smallholders, marginal and tenant farmers are disproportionately impacted in groundwater access. Overall, the MSP aims to bridge groundwater governance gaps by bringing diverse stakeholders together for integrated planning and inclusive decision-making.

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