[{"bbox": [83, 106, 1145, 158], "category": "Text", "text": "result areas. Moreover, by promoting good hygiene and sanitation behaviours, the action will promote health and overall well-being, free from discrimination."}, {"bbox": [83, 171, 1145, 330], "category": "Text", "text": "The action promotes European Green Deal principles of ecosystem protection and disaster risk reduction through rural WASH services. It will consolidate EU's leadership in multilateral promotion of gender equality and social inclusion, in full alignment with the European Consensus for Development and the transformative approach of the Gender Action Plan III (GAP III), which is central to conflict prevention in Nepal. The action will contribute mainly to SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) but also significantly to SDGs 1 (no poverty), 3 (good health and well-being), 5 (gender equality), 6 (clean water and sanitation), and 10 (reduced inequalities)."}, {"bbox": [83, 342, 1145, 514], "category": "Text", "text": "The action is part of the TEI \"Green Recovery\", with agreed co-funding from Finland and from the Government of Nepal. It will contribute to the inclusive green growth priority area of the MIP. The commitment of the EU's contribution to the Team Europe Initiatives foreseen under this annual action plan will be complemented by other contributions from Team Europe partners. It is subject to the formal confirmation of each respective partners' meaningful contribution as early as possible. In the event that the TEIs and/or these contributions do not materialise the EU action may continue outside a TEI framework."}, {"bbox": [72, 569, 301, 600], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2. RATIONALE"}, {"bbox": [87, 632, 219, 658], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### 2.1. Context"}, {"bbox": [83, 675, 1145, 808], "category": "Text", "text": "Nepal is a Least Developed Country (LDC) and one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Nepal aspires to graduate to a developing country by 2026. Following the promulgation of the 2015 constitution and the 2017 general elections, transition to federalism and graduation from LDC are the main challenges Nepal is facing. Regional disparities are increasing between urban and rural areas, with remote provinces falling back in human development indicators. Social and gender inequalities are rising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic."}, {"bbox": [83, 820, 1145, 1005], "category": "Text", "text": "Development partners, with the government, have agreed to the Green, Resilient, and Inclusive Development (GRID) framework as part of the COVID-19 response. This action would contribute to it, while supporting the European Green Deal and the Team Europe Initiative on Green recovery, and in full alignment with the European Consensus for Development, the Biodiversity strategy and the Farm to Fork strategy, the Council Conclusions on Water diplomacy, the EU Human Rights Guidelines on Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation and the transformative approach of the GAP III. It will contribute to SDGs 1 (no poverty), 3 (good health and well-being), 5 (gender equality), 6 (clean water and sanitation), and 10 (reduced inequalities)."}, {"bbox": [83, 1018, 1145, 1230], "category": "Text", "text": "The Government of Nepal has prioritised water supply service upgrading and is committed to achieving SDGs 6.1 and 6.2. Improved public health and living standard of people through safe, sufficient, accessible, acceptable, and affordable water, sanitation and hygiene services, is a major development goal for the government. Nepal's main policies related to water supply and sanitation sector include the Constitution of Nepal 2015 (and in particular the shift to federalism); Sustainable Development Goals (SDG); the 15th National Development Plan; the National Water Supply and Sanitation Policy 2014 (an updated policy is under preparation); The National Health Policy (2019); the Draft WASH Sector Development Plan (SDP 2016 for the period 2016-2030); the Sanitation and Hygiene Master Plan (2011); and the School Sector Development Plan (2016-2023) which includes a school WASH strategy."}, {"bbox": [83, 1243, 1145, 1481], "category": "Text", "text": "The specific water and sanitation policy framework is in a transition phase, largely because of the shift to the federal system, which has rendered some policies obsolete. Provision of basic services is now the responsibility of the local governments. Updated policies and plans at national level are still in development or in draft form to include this new implementation modality. At local level, each provincial and local government is responsible to formulate policies and plans without clear guidance from the federal government. The action will thus capitalise on the previous experience and continue to support municipalities to draft their own Water Use Master Plans (WUMP); which has been a successful model in the municipalities supported by RVWRMP and is a solid framework. Regulations and standards are better established, with several recently updated, such as total sanitation guidelines of 2017, national standards for WASH in health care facilities of 2020, WASH in school mode of operation of 2018."}, {"bbox": [83, 1494, 1145, 1601], "category": "Text", "text": "In mid-2020, 91% of the population had access to basic water supply⁵. However, only 49.6% of the households have access to a piped system and only 25% of the population has access to safe drinking water⁶. This has implications for the enjoyment of basic human rights, such as the right to health, the right to food, the right to have a life free from violence, and right to education, especially for women and girls."}, {"bbox": [72, 1644, 618, 1670], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁵ Quarterly report of Ministry of Water Supply (MoWS), 2019/20"}, {"bbox": [72, 1669, 894, 1694], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁶ National Review of Sustainable Development Goals 2020, National Planning Commission (NPC)"}, {"bbox": [1051, 1694, 1157, 1719], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 4 of 17"}]