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Dhankuta: "Participatory Watershed Governance in the Nibuwa–Tankhuwa Catchment"

Avatar: Official proposal Official proposal

Participatory Watershed Governance in the Nibuwa–Tankhuwa Catchment consisted of designing and implementing a citizen-led, inter-municipal governance model to address water scarcity, climate risks, and livelihood vulnerability in the mid-hills of eastern Nepal. Led by Dhankuta Municipality in partnership with other Municipality, and supported by ICIMOD and other stakeholders, the practice has been implemented since 2021.

Dhakuta

The practice treated the watershed as both an ecological and democratic unit. Rather than applying sector-based or top-down solutions, communities were placed at the center of decision-making. Through participatory mapping, public forums, household surveys, and multi-stakeholder planning workshops, citizens—especially women, smallholder farmers, and marginalized groups—identified priorities such as drying springs, land degradation, landslides, and water conflicts. These deliberative processes directly informed municipal planning and budget decisions.

The initiative integrates six components: sustainable water conservation, sustainable land-use management, livelihood diversification, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, institutional strengthening, and interdisciplinary action research. Community-managed interventions, including spring recharge systems, ponds, bio-engineering measures, and climate-resilient land practices, were co-designed using local knowledge and scientific evidence. Watershed and spring-source management committees ensure continuous citizen participation in implementation, monitoring, and maintenance.

A key innovation of the practice is the institutionalization of participatory watershed governance within local government systems. Formal coordination mechanisms between the two municipalities, shared responsibilities, and structured citizen feedback loops strengthened accountability and transparency. Gender and social inclusion were mainstreamed by ensuring representation of women and vulnerable groups in decision-making bodies and by prioritizing equitable access to water and livelihoods. 

The practice has strengthened trust between citizens and local governments, improved inter-institutional coordination, and increased community awareness of climate-resilient resource management. It has contributed to improved water security, reduced local resource-related conflicts, and enhanced adaptive capacity.

For more information, visit: https://covenantofmayors-southasia.eu/uploads/resources/2649C7AB-27A3-47B3-90A6-8F6EBC19FCAE.pdf 

https://www.oidp.net/docs/repo/doc1828.pdf 

https://www.oidp.net/docs/repo/doc1829.pdf 

Dhakuta 3

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Dhankuta: "Participatory Watershed Governance in the Nibuwa–Tankhuwa Catchment"

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