FANSA Regional

15/05/2026

Grassroot Assembly 2026: Be seen. Be heard. Lead Change

Across our region, grassroots communities have been quietly leading solutions—mobilizing action, demanding accountability, innovating locally, and ensuring that the voices of the most marginalized are not left behind. They continue to demonstrate extraordinary resilience and innovation in addressing persistent WASH challenges. Yet, despite their contributions, their lived realities and voices often remain insufficiently represented in planning, decision-making, and policy processes.

The Grassroot Assembly is envisioned as a regional platform to acknowledge these efforts and bridge this gap by standing together. The two-day Grassroot Assembly is envisioned as a shared regional space to celebrate community leadership, listen and amplify grassroots voices, and strengthen solidarity for a more inclusive future in WASH and beyond.

Bringing together community leaders, civil society actors, government representatives, development partners, and sector professionals from across South Asia, the Assembly seeks to recognize the transformative efforts of communities that continue to drive change for equitable, inclusive, and sustainable services in South Asia under often difficult circumstances.

The Assembly is centered around themes of Community Engagement, Inclusion, Financing, Accountability, and Community Innovation. From storytelling sessions to policy dialogues and from shared learning to creative expressions & exhibitions, the Assembly will highlight the power of community-led innovation and accountability for equitable, inclusive, and climate resilient services.

📅 Date: 12–13 June 2026
📍Venue: Hotel Malla, Kathmandu, Nepal

We welcome professionals, partners, practitioners, and allies who believe in community-centered development to join this regional movement.

👉 Should your esteemed organization is interested in collaboration, participation, or partnership, kindly reach out at [email protected]

11/05/2026

11/05/2026

Freshwater Action Network South Asia - Pakistan– KP Chapter, through its Women WASH Network (WASHNetWork) initiative formed in 2023, has been steadily strengthening women-led engagement in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) governance, accountability, and advocacy. Over the past three years, the network has not only received structured capacity-building training but has also been actively engaged in district, provincial, and national-level learning and policy dialogue workshops. This sustained engagement has enabled women leaders from the network to represent Pakistan at prominent international platforms such as the Egypt Urban Forum and the International Water Association (IWA) event in Bangkok, reflecting the growing recognition of community-based women leadership in the WASH sector.
In continuation of this learning process, FANSA recently organized a capacity-building and exposure visit to one of the most successful community-based organizations (CBOs) managing a rural water supply scheme since 2005. The selected site, Noonawala, serves as a strong demonstration of how community ownership, when combined with consistent leadership, transparency, and accountability mechanisms, can deliver sustainable service delivery over the long term. The objective of this visit was not only observation, but experiential learning—allowing members of the WashNetWork to understand how effective community-led systems are designed, operated, and sustained in real-life conditions.
The delegation was led by FANSA Regional Coordinator and Advocacy Coordinator Muhammad Ismail, along with WashNetWork focal person Mrs. Gul Naz. The visiting team included committed members such as Mrs. Kausar Waseem, Mrs. Fayaz Kausar, Mrs. Nosheen Sardar, Mrs. Kiran, Mrs. Harinder Devi, Mrs. Razia, Mr. Pervaiz Khan, Mr. Fayaz ul Islam, and Mr. Javaid Hussain.
Key learning outcomes from the exposure visit
The visit provided several critical insights that go beyond classroom or workshop-based learning:
1. Learning through real systems, not theory alone
Participants observed firsthand how a community-managed water supply scheme functions on a daily basis—financial collection systems, operation and maintenance routines, grievance handling, and decision-making processes. This helped bridge the gap between theoretical training and practical implementation realities.
2. Importance of governance, transparency, and accountability
A major takeaway was that sustainable community systems depend on openness in financial records, regular community meetings, and clear accountability structures. Trust is not automatic—it is continuously built through transparent management and consistent communication.
3. Community confidence is the backbone of sustainability
The success of the Noonawala model demonstrated that when communities trust their management structures, they willingly contribute, participate, and take ownership. Without this confidence, even well-designed infrastructure fails over time.
4. Women’s participation strengthens system performance
A key lesson strongly reinforced during the visit was that women’s involvement is not symbolic—it is functional and transformative. Where women participate actively in decision-making, monitoring, and community mobilization, service delivery becomes more inclusive, responsive, and accountable.
5. Leadership and collective action create long-term impact
The case study highlighted that no system survives on infrastructure alone; it survives on leadership continuity, shared responsibility, and community cohesion over time.
Value of exposure visits in capacity building
This exposure visit clearly demonstrated why field-based learning is a powerful tool in WASH capacity development. Unlike classroom training, exposure visits allow participants to see “living examples” of success and failure, making abstract concepts tangible and easier to apply in their own contexts.
Such learning experiences:
strengthen analytical thinking by comparing different operational models
improve decision-making through real-life observation
build confidence among practitioners and community leaders
inspire replication of successful practices in local settings
and most importantly, create peer learning and motivation through interaction with successful communities
In this case, Noonawala served as a “learning laboratory,” showing that community-led systems, when properly governed and inclusively managed, can sustain services for decades. For the WashNetWork members, this visit was not just an activity—it was a transformative experience that strengthened their understanding of accountability, inclusiveness, and the central role of women in achieving safely managed and sustainable WASH services.

22/03/2026

2026.03.22: On this World Water Day, we highlight that equitable access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is fundamental to achieving dignity, public health, and social justice. Where water flows, equality grows.

Across South Asia, women, persons with disabilities, transgender people, and other marginalized communities continue to face disproportionate burdens of water insecurity and inadequate sanitation. Women and girls, in particular, bear the responsibility of water collection, household sanitation, and family health, often at the cost of their safety, time, and opportunities. Yet, they remain underrepresented in decision-making processes that shape WASH systems.

Addressing these inequities requires more than service delivery. It demands inclusive policies, sustained public investment, and accountable governance that prioritize the needs and leadership of marginalized communities. Evidence shows that when women and excluded groups meaningfully participate in planning, monitoring, and decision-making, WASH systems become more equitable, resilient, and sustainable.

At Freshwater Action Network South Asia (FANSA), we call on governments, development partners, and civil society to:
- Institutionalize inclusive and gender-responsive WASH policies
- Strengthen community-led monitoring and accountability mechanisms
- Invest in climate-resilient and equitable service delivery
- Ensure meaningful participation of marginalized groups in governance

This World Water Day, we reaffirm that equitable water access is not only a development goal, it is a matter of rights and justice. When water flows for all, equality grows for all.

13/03/2026

✨ Strengthening Safety • Honoring Invisible Heroes • Inspiring CSR ✨
On 12 March 2026, a proud moment extended for our manual de-sludger community!

20 sanitation workers received a complete PPE safety set, along with a practical orientation session conducted by ENPHO and FANSA Nepal Chapter, in collaboration with WaterAid.
This achievement was made possible through the generous Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contribution from the Nepal Remitters Association, who stepped forward to address the urgent safety needs of workers who keep our communities clean, healthy, and functioning—yet often remain unnoticed.
“This PPE set was our long-standing demand. Every day we enter septic tanks, and now I feel safer and more confident,”— Man Bahadur Deula, Sanitation Worker

FANSA Nepal is proud to collaborate with the private sector to channel CSR funds for the most marginalized communities safety and dignity that have been unheard for years despite their essential contributions. This support sets an inspiring example of how CSR can bridge long-standing gaps and uplift those at the frontline of sanitation.
A heartfelt thanks to Nepal Remitters Association for prioritizing dignity, safety, and recognition for sanitation workers. Your support is a powerful reminder that private-sector CSR can transform lives and spark real social impact.
💙 Let’s encourage more organizations to champion the rights and needs of marginalized groups.
💙 Together, we can build a safer, more dignified future for all sanitation workers.
💙 Your CSR today can change someone’s tomorrow.

07/03/2026

inclusive, equitable, and climate-resilient WASH Services

On this International Women’s Day, let's celebrate the strength, leadership, and resilience of grassroot women, socially excluded and marginalized communities across South Asia who are transforming their communities by advocating inclusive, equitable, and climate-resilient Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services.

Access to safe water, sanitation, hygiene, and dignified public services is not only a development priority but also a matter of rights and justice. Across communities, nations, regions and generations, women continue to shape societies, drive innovation, nurture families, lead institutions, and build peace.

Yet, too many women and girls still face barriers that limit their full participation in social, economic, and political life and face risks to their safety and dignity; inequality is reinforced. Women and girls in South Asia continue to bear the greatest burden of water insecurity, inadequate sanitation, and poor hygiene. They walk long distances to fetch water, manage household sanitation, safeguard family health, and often face disproportionate risks when services fail. Still, they are not just beneficiaries of WASH services; they are powerful agents of change.

When women, persons with disabilities, transgender people, and other socially excluded groups access to safe water, dignified sanitation, menstrual hygiene management, leadership opportunities, and decision-making power, healthier families, stronger communities, and more accountable systems.

When space for the voices of women and marginalised communities' voices in governance and policy processes, we gain inclusive policies and sustainable solutions.
When we give investment in women and community-led initiatives, innovation, equity, and lasting impact.

At Freshwater Action Network South Asia (FANSA), we believe community empowerment begins with recognising women not only as caregivers but as leaders, advocates, and decision-makers. Across the region, women in our network are mobilising communities, conducting participatory monitoring of services, and advocating for equitable WASH access for the most marginalised.

is not just a slogan; it is a call to action. Governments, development partners, civil society, and communities must invest in women’s leadership and ensure meaningful participation of persons with disabilities, transgender people, and other excluded groups.

This Women’s Day, FANSA reaffirms its commitment:
leadership, voice, and opportunity so that inclusive, accountable, and climate-resilient WASH systems across South Asia.

24/02/2026

Every year, we pause during our PRA Workshop to do something important — we celebrate the milestones of our national chapters.

At the 2026 FANSA Awards Ceremony in Maldives, we recognised the collective strength of our network across South Asia. Each chapter has shaped inclusive WASH governance in its own way, grounded in community voices and accountability.

Here’s what we celebrated:

🔹 FANSA Bangladesh – Championing Inclusive Governance & Budget Accountability
Through open budget ceremonies, community-led monitoring, and CWIS advocacy, they supported women, youth, and marginalized communities to directly influence local planning and sanitation budgets. The result: stronger trust and increased allocations for inclusive services.

🔹 FANSA Bhutan – Advancing Evidence-Based Urban Sanitation Reform
By building monitoring frameworks, joint action plans, and high-level advocacy spaces, they strengthened the evidence base for Safely Managed Sanitation Services and reinforced political commitment for reform.

🔹 FANSA India – Regional Knowledge Leadership & Capacity Strengthening
From developing the Community-Led Participatory Monitoring module to mentoring across chapters, they strengthened institutional capacity and contributed to sanitation financing and governance debates at national and regional levels.

🔹 FANSA Maldives – Building Cross-Sector Coalitions & Policy Engagement
By connecting WASH and non-WASH actors, facilitating CSO forums, and engaging in national policy dialogue, they expanded civic space and strengthened participation in shaping the Draft National WASH Policy.

🔹 FANSA Nepal – Driving Rights-Based Policy Advocacy & Community Accountability
From national WASH summits to city-level CWIS assessments, they linked community evidence with policy dialogue and advanced accountability in marginalized settlements.

🔹 FANSA Pakistan – Strengthening Community-Led Accountability & Social Audits
They empowered community leaders and sanitation workers to conduct social audits and engage government institutions, turning grassroots evidence into meaningful policy dialogue.

🔹 FANSA Sri Lanka – Amplifying Voices through Media & Crisis Response
By bringing media to the ground, strengthening public social audits, and activating WASH Monitoring Centers during emergencies, they showed the power of decentralized, community-led accountability.

We also extend heartfelt appreciation to FANSA Maldives for hosting the PRA Workshop — from months of preparation to coordinating participants, field visits, and social events. Your commitment made the gathering truly meaningful.

24/02/2026

"From Reflection to Renewed Commitment"
FANSA recently concluded Pause Reflect and Advance (PRA) Workshop and the formal closing of the Rising for Rights (R4R) Project during a three-day gathering held in Hulhumalé, Maldives from 10–12 February 2026.

The workshop brought together national chapters to pause and look back at the R4R journey. We reflected on what changed, what challenged us, and what truly mattered across countries. The discussions highlighted progress on community-led monitoring, rights-based advocacy, and inclusive sanitation, while also surfacing honest lessons and gaps that will shape our work ahead.

Beyond reflection, the space was equally about looking forward. Through strategic planning sessions, country-level priorities, and collective dialogue, we outlined a clear way forward for 2026, aligned with our regional strategy and grounded in learning from the field.

We extend our sincere appreciation to all participants who made this gathering meaningful and energising.

27/01/2026

Ms. Lajana Manandhar, Regional Convenor, FANSA, contributed as the Lead Facilitator in the development of a Think Piece during the One-Day Stakeholder Meeting held on 25 January in Dakar, linked to the 2026 UN Water Conference process.

Following this, she is participating in the ongoing High-Level Preparatory Meeting, where she is engaging with global stakeholders to help shape priorities for the upcoming UN Water Conference.

Her role in facilitating dialogue and bringing South Asian civil society perspectives into global water discussions reflects FANSA’s ongoing commitment to inclusive, rights-based, and people-centred water governance.

22/01/2026

📣 Interactive Dialogue on Water for People | Happening Today

We are pleased to share that Freshwater Action Network South Asia (FANSA) is contributing to the One-Day Stakeholder Meeting linked to the Dakar High-Level Preparatory Meeting for the 2026 UN Water Conference, through its leadership role in the Interactive Dialogue on Water for People.

This dialogue focuses on advancing the human rights to water and sanitation, with particular attention to people in vulnerable situations, and their role in building healthy societies and economies.

🗓 Thursday, 22 January 2026
⏰ 3:00 PM Nepal Time (UTC +5:45)
💻 Virtual Session: https://bit.ly/49M0T8i

Today’s discussion brings together stakeholders from different regions to share perspectives, shape key messages, and contribute to collective thinking ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference. FANSA is honored to help facilitate this space and to bring community-rooted voices into global water policy discussions.