Background

The urban population in the cities of Nepal started to increase rapidly since the last decade. Migration to cities was triggered mainly by poverty, political instability, emerging municipalities and armed revolution in the country. The Central Bureau of Statistics has estimated that 27 percent of the total population of Nepal will be living in cities by 2021.

Urban infrastructures and facilities were not increased to meet the rapidly growing urban population. Kathmandu Valley suffered a significant portion of the country's urban growth thus water and sanitation situation in the Valley deteriorated fast. In early 2001, a small group of NGOs started informal discussions with all the interested parties about water supply reforms, policy analysis of water, environment and sanitation and to talk about other relevant issues. In the process, a core group emerged out and registered itself as the NGO Forum for Urban Water & Sanitation in July 2005.