Nepal, home to the mighty Himalayas, is rich in water resources; its rivers discharge about 225 billion m3 of water annually. Major rivers emerge from the snowfields and glaciers, cascade through gorges and valleys, and emerge into the flat lands of Terai. Despite the abundance of water and great potential for hydropower generation, these rivers are yet to deliver on the hope it offers in terms of being a means of prosperity for the nation.

The report presents a comprehensive review of the policies, strategies, plans, and legislations related to the water resources sector in Nepal carried and their gaps and needs. The study carried out under CARE for South Asia project reveales that water policies in Nepal, underpinning the concept of integrated water resources management (IWRM), are evolving and are attempting to conform to the recently adopted federal structure: the three tiers of governance in Nepal at the federal, provincial, and local levels. The report concludes with recommendations that the nation, in all of its governance systems, proactively plan and adapt to the challenges imposed by climate change by adopting a science-based decision-making approach in its policies. Though the country’s policies appear responsive overall, they need to be translated with proper action plans to be more sustainable and climate-resilient and fulfill the nation’s obligations to future generations.