A stakeholder consultation meeting was conducted on 4 January 2026 at the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS), Singha Durbar, Kathmandu to prepare for the Nepal National Glacier, Water and Weather Week (NNGWWW) 2026.
NNGWWW is a week-long program organized every year since 2009 from 17-23 March under the Chairmanship of WECS, with The Small Earth Nepal (SEN) as the Secretariat for its coordination and organization. This event includes three important international days: World Day for Glacier (21 March), World Water Day (22 March) and World Meteorological Day (23 March), and the program activities are planned and celebrated in alignment with their respective themes of the year.
The theme for World Water Day this year is “Water and Gender”, which highlights the critical role of gender equality in water governance, access, and management, and emphasizes the need for inclusive and equitable participation in water-related decision-making processes. Likewise, the theme for World Meteorological Day, “Observing Today, Protecting Tomorrow”, underscores the importance of meteorological observations and early warning systems in protecting lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems from climate-related hazards.
NNGWWW brings together diverse stakeholders to foster awareness, advocacy, research, and policy discussions related to water resources, climate change, and sustainable development. With representation from government agencies, non-governmental and international organizations, academic institutions, the private sector, youth, and civil society, the platform supports knowledge sharing and coordinated actions toward sustainable solutions.
Dr. Kapil Gnawali, Senior Divisional Engineer at WECS, formally greeted the attendees and emphasized the primary objective of the meeting to discuss the planning for NNGWWW. Based on the consultation meeting, SEN will consolidate the suggested activities and share them with all participants for further inputs and suggestions.
The participating organizations (in alphabetical order) were Ministry of Water Supply (MoWS), Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS), Jalsrot Vikas Sanstha (JVS) Nepal, Karnali Integrated Rural Development and Research Centre (KIRDARC), Kathmandu University (KU), Himalayan Cryosphere, Climate and Disaster Research Center (HiCCDRC), Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Management Board (KVWSMB), National Federation of Irrigation and Water Users Association Nepal (NFIWUAN), Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Nepal Development Research Institute (NDRI), Smart Paani Pvt. Ltd., Society of Hydrologists and Meteorologists (SOHAM)-Nepal, South Asia Institute of Advanced Studies (SIAS), Sustainability and Environmental Studies Endeavor (SENSE) and The Small Earth Nepal (SEN).
All the participant representatives expressed their interest in participating in the NNGWWW 2026 and suggested organizing an inter-ministerial meeting to create a common platform for celebrating it. The meeting also highlighted that the programs and activities to be coordinated with the local governments and engage nationwide stakeholders. A second stakeholder meeting will be held in three weeks, with participation from additional organizations.
