Integrating springshed management into local plans and policies 

About the event

We are organising a sub-national policy workshop to bring together government representatives, policymakers, and technical experts to collectively advance the integration of springshed management into municipal planning and governance. The workshop is being organised under ICIMOD’s Himalayan Resilience Enabling Action Programme (HI-REAP) and Building Capabilities for Green, Climate Resilient and Inclusive Development in the Lower Koshi River Basin (HI-GRID).

The workshop is supported by the United Kingdom International Development and the Australian Government.

Objectives

The specific objectives are to:

• Review existing knowledge, successful cases, and lessons learned from springshed restoration efforts in different municipalities in Nepal.
• Explore opportunities, challenges and practical ways to embed GESI springshed management into local planning frameworks, ensuring alignment with Nepal’s federal governance structure.
• Facilitate collaborative discussions with municipal leaders to design scalable implementation models and institutional mechanisms for long-term sustainability.

Expected outcome

• A co-developed roadmap outlining common principles for GESI responsive springshed management at the subnational level.

Background

Springshed management plays a vital role in ensuring sustainable water security, maintaining ecological balance, and enhancing climate resilience particularly in Nepal’s mountainous regions where springs serve as the primary water source for both communities and ecosystems. As the key implementing bodies of local water governance, municipalities and rural municipalities bear the responsibility of managing these critical water resources. However, many lack the necessary frameworks to effectively integrate springshed interventions with existing policies or to leverage governance structures for long-term impact. This disconnect often results in isolated projects, short-term solutions, and a failure to institutionalise best practices. Overcoming these challenges requires addressing gaps in technical capacity, policy coherence, and multi-stakeholder coordination.