The paper highlights the urgent need for a watershed-based approach to ensure equitable access and climate-resilient water resource management in Nepal. It emphasizes the limitations of managing water resources based on administrative boundaries and calls for stronger collaboration across federal, provincial, and local governments, as well as various sectors. Drawing from Nepal’s history of Watershed Management and key policies, it underscores the importance of data-driven decision making and inclusive governance. 

Findings from a 2022 study in Rangoon Watershed reveal critical gaps in governance structures, upstream-downstream coordination, and benefit-sharing mechanisms. Oxfam, in partnership with the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS), is working to strengthen watershed governance, promote conflict resolution, and drive sustainable water management solutions.