Kathmandu, 15 April. IWMI and the Department of Irrigation (DoI) of the Government of Nepal renewed their long-standing partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The latest MoU, which is valid for five years, would allow IWMI to run its research and uptake programs in Nepal. Senior government officials, and national and international water professionals attended the MoU signing ceremony at DoI office.
At the ceremony, IWMI Director General Jeremy Bird recalled how the Nepal program had helped develop water management strategy and policy for government agencies such as the National Planning Commission and for various irrigation projects since the mid-1980s in the country. More recently, IWMI has contributed to drafting the 2013 National Irrigation Policy.
“I hope our partnership with DoI would continue for many years,” he said.
Director General of DoI, Shiv Kumar Sharma commended the contributions of IWMI to strengthening the capacity of water professionals in Nepal. “Many institutions remain shy and are reluctant to share information with us. With IWMI, it is different. The openness with which they share information with us is remarkable. This approach has helped us learn and grow,” he said.
Luna Bharati, Head of IWMI-Nepal Office, thanked DoI for providing its unstinting support for IWMI’s research in Nepal. “IWMI’s Nepal programme expanded in the last few years. And it is continuing to grow. All this would not have been possible without DoI’s tremendous support and acceptance of our work,” she said.
By Beena Kharel, IWMI-Nepal