critical socio-economic issues for livelihood and water security in nepal

CRITICAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC ISSUES FOR

LIVELIHOOD AND WATER SECURITY IN NEPAL

Photo: Fraser Sugden / IWMI

1. Water security and equity

• Water security in Nepal is intricately connected to one’s position in the social structure.

• Vulnerability to water induced disasters can depend on the capacity of households to protect their crops or homesteads

• With regards to water for climate change adaptation, access is as big a problem as availability.

Water access for groundwater and land tenure


Spatial geography of inequality and water security


2. Convergence of climatic and economic stress

• Too much focus on climate as a singular driver of change

• Climate induced water stress combines with economic pressures such as price rises for inputs – unique pattern of vulnerability.

• Different groups follow varied strategies to ‘adapt’ - with long term consequences for agrarian development and wellbeing.

Monetisation, debt, and irrigation costs eastern

Tarai-Madhesh: Two patterns of ‘disinvestment’ Photo: Fraser Sugden / IWMI

3. Migration, gender and water

• Male out- migration is critical part of livelihoods at a time of agrarian stress and climate change

• This is paving the way for an unprecedented range of new water access challenges

• Gendered water access has taken on a new dimension

Women’s work burden and constraints to take up new crops - even with access to water


4. Migration and collective action

• Migration has resulted in a new set of social constraints to collective action

• Farmer and agency managed irrigation systems are under stress

• Women have failed to take on formerly ‘male roles’ in public sphere, despite their newfound on farm responsibilities

Breakdown of indigenous irrigation institutions in Bajhang


5. Combining institutional and technical solutions

• In the context of the stresses outlined thus far, a key priority is to build resilience to agrarian stress through both technical and socio-economic solutions

• Important component is engaging with government and non-government partners in ‘action research’ partnerships

Energy solutions for marginal farmers


MUS: a promising approach for food security

and gender equalityPhoto: Floriane Clement / IWMI

Rethinking the agricultural collective – labour, land and technology pooling for tenant farmers


Working with water user committees in earthquake affected zones


• Sustainable development of Nepal’s hydrological resources for energy generation is critical for both climate change resilience and economic growth

• Persisting energy crisis in irrigation (dependence on diesel)

• Water storage to manage seasonal scarcity –significant irrigation potential

• Yet, there are equity trade offs

6. Contested hydropower development

Fishing communities in the Koshi floodplainsPhoto: Fraser Sugden / IWMI

Conclusion

• What are the critical challenges for water management and water security in Nepal in an era of climatic, economic and demographic stress and the post-earthquake context?

• What are the solutions and what investment and management decisions are needed?

• How can IWMI’s work in Nepal contribute to national priorities in the water sector


Thank you


critical socio-economic issues for livelihood and water security in nepal

Environment