Australia Awards South and West Asia

On 5 September 2024, fifteen Nepali water experts gathered at an official ceremony where they were awarded certificates acknowledging their completion of the Australia Awards Capacity Building Program in Integrated River Basin Management Short Course.

Participants in the course included officials from several departments of the Government of Nepal’s Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation. Three Sri Lankan experts also participated in the course through the South Asia Regional Infrastructure Connectivity (SARIC) program—another initiative funded by the Australian Government. Their participation fostered helpful networks between Nepal and regional energy experts and demonstrated beneficial cross-program fertilisation across Australian investments.

The Short Course, delivered by Griffith University in Australia, aimed to empower Nepali officials through capacity building, focusing on integrated river basin management skills, water and land management reforms, and strategic organisational strengthening. It offered insights into planning and implementing river basin strategies, enhanced leadership abilities, and fostered a knowledge-sharing community. The course aligned with Nepal’s National Water Plan and supports its Green, Resilient and Inclusive Development policy, while addressing relevant Sustainable Development Goals, leveraging Australian expertise to boost Nepal’s river basin management capabilities.

The Short Course consisted of three components, all delivered in 2024: online Preliminary Learning Activities (6–8 May), in-Australia Core Learning Elements (27 May – 7 June) and online Applied Learning Activities (23–25 July).

When meeting with the participants during the Preliminary Learning Activities, Kavitha Kasynathan, Head of Development at the Australian Embassy in Nepal, said, “We see you as a change-maker in your respective workplaces, and each person here has an important role in taking forward respective governments’ ambitions and aspirations to sustainability [and to] conserve and manage water resources, and we hope that the combination of this course and the networks [you build] will support your efforts. We hope you will be champions for integrated river basin management, because a holistic approach to managing river basins is vital to effectively address complex challenges in water resource planning at the river basin level.”

Participants meeting with Kavitha Kasynathan (middle), Head of Development at the Australian Embassy in Nepal during their pre-departure briefing.

The in-Australia program of the Short Course covered Brisbane, Canberra, Albury and Melbourne, delivering varied insights into Australian water management through lectures, workshops, panel discussions and field visits. This component of the Short Course focused on examples of integrated river basin management practices, including the Murray-Darling Basin’s planning and implementation. Participants also explored Australia’s involvement in international basin planning, such as projects in Nepal. They visited significant locations like the Snowy Mountains hydroelectricity scheme, enhancing their understanding of large-scale water management.

Short Course participants during a field visit in Australia.

One of the participants, Dr Kapil Gnawali (Senior Divisional Hydrologist/Engineer, Water Resources Division, Water and Energy Commission Secretariat) said, “The course offered deep insights into the understanding of the idea of integrated river basin management and its importance in the management of water resources. It also allowed us to interact with managers and experts in the field of water from various backgrounds, including the Australian Government, non-governmental organisations, researchers and professors. It allowed us to network with other pertinent parties and various organisations, such as the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and CSIRO [Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation]. This experience will undoubtedly assist us in implementing the recently prepared river basin plans for Nepal’s establishment of river basin offices.”

Another participant, Zinky Bhusal (Hydrologist Engineer, Department of Hydrology and Meteorology), said, “The course provided practical insights into Australia’s innovative approach to integrated river basin management. I learnt the importance of including gender equality, disability and social inclusion in every plan, explored the Community of Practice, and gained valuable knowledge through interactive panel discussions on how Australia’s solutions can be adapted to Nepal’s river basin management challenge.”

Short Course participants and experts from Griffith University pose during field visits in Australia.

During the Short Course, participants developed research and development projects as part of their Return-to-Work Plans. These plans involve projects that apply the knowledge and skills gained from the Short Course experience.

After returning from Australia, participants engaged in Applied Learning Activities online, including sessions on stakeholder engagement, basin planning and leadership in water resource management. They shared updates on their Return-to-Work Plans and celebrated their progress.

The participants are currently implementing the projects outlined in their Return-to-Work Plans, which are designed to contribute significantly to organisational policies and, in some cases, influence national policies in Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Most recently, the Nepali participants attended the Experience Sharing and Certificate Distribution ceremony in Kathmandu on 5 September, where they received their certificates and discussed their Short Course learnings with Australian Embassy officials.