Introduction

Based in Kathmandu, Nepal Water Conservation Foundation (NWCF) is a nonpartisan institution dedicated to interdisciplinary research on issues affecting the use and management of water and related natural resources, with a primary focus on the Himalaya-Ganga region. NWCF's mission is to improve understanding of water and its intrinsic function to human society and nature through interdisciplinary research (often field-based), sharing and dissemination, as well as capacity building of younger professionals. It aims to develop research capacity able to analyze water issues at local, national, regional and international scales. [...]

What We Do

Since its beginning in 1990, NWCF is engaged in studies on sustainable water management at local, regional, and international levels. Over the last decade many changes, some of which are of transformational nature, impinge on management of natural resources. Existing institutions face increasing stress, and are not effective in responding to emerging challenges due to pollution, degradation and depletion of resource base. Conventional wisdom suggests a mix of regulatory, economic incentive and common property management frame work to respond to the challenges. While these efforts have shown locale specific success, replication remains problematic as the question of scale is unaddressed. New approaches of resource management are needed including the enhancing role of social auditors and catalysts for incubating institutional innovations.[...]

Activities We Conduct

NWCF conducts following activities.

Research

NWCF’s study of water issues critically explores the underlying stresses of and challenges to management in diverse geo-physical and social context. The organization adopts a framework that encourages space for dialogue among the state, the market and critical civic movement. The framework suits the diversity of the region and will be useful in addressing emerging disputes. A key feature of this type of analysis is the synthesis of natural and social aspects of disasters. A major focus of NWCF’s research is understanding vulnerability in the face of the recurrent monsoon floods in the Himalaya -Ganga region. Natural hazards and extreme hydro-climate events occur with the particular social context of communities, and research is guided by the need to enhance the ability of these communities to adapt to these events.[...]