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Committee

The Program Committee brings together experts, practitioners, and thought leaders from across regions to shape a technically rigorous, inclusive, and action-oriented agenda.

Structure

  • Convenors
  • Advisory Committee
  • Steering Committee
  • Program Committee (International)
  • Program Committee (National)
  • Preparation & Coordination Committee

CONVENORS

Mr. Sharad Adhikary

Chairperson, SOPHEN

Mr. Suman Prasad Sharma

Chairperson, WAFON

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Ms. Pramila Devi Bajrachayra Shakya

Secretary – Ministry of Water Supply, Nepal

Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha

Deputy Director – Gates Foundation, Seattle, USA

Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi

Secretary General – United Cities and Local Governments Asia Pacific (UCLG-ASPAC)

Prof. Dinesh Mehta

Senior Advisor, CWAS – CEPT University, India

najib-bateganya-profile

Najib Bateganya

Deputy Director, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene, Gates Foundation

STEERING COMMITTEE

Ms. Meena Shrestha

Joint Secretary – Ministry of Water Supply, Nepal

Dr. Sanjeev Bickram Rana

WASH Expert, WAFON Nepal

Mr. Suman Dhun Shrestha

Conference Lead

Aniessa Delima Sari

Strategic Services and Programme Manager, UCLG ASPAC, Indonesia

Isha Bashyal

GWSC – AIT, Thailand

PROGRAM COMMITTEE (INTERNATIONAL)

Prof. Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

BUET, Bangladesh/ Thailand

S.M Tariqul Islam

Griffith University, Australia

Gyanendra Gongol

WHO SEARO SouthEast Asia Regional Office

PROGRAM COMMITTEE (NATIONAL)

Dr. Sudan Raj Panthi

NPO, Environmental Health, WHO Nepal

Dr. Rajit Ojha

Senior Divisional Engineer, DWSSM – Govt. of Nepal

Mr. Rajendra Shrestha

Program Director, ENPHO

Ms. Nadira Khawaja

WASH Sector Leader, SNV

Mr. Yogendra Chitrakar

General Secretary, SOPHEN
rajesh

Mr. Rajesh Manandhar

Water and Sanitation Coordinator, UN HABITAT

Mr. Dandiram Bishwokarma

WASH Specialist, UNICEF

Dr. Chiranjibi Bhattarai

Executive Member, WAFON

Ms. Seema Rajouria

Head of Policy and Advocacy, Water Aid Nepal

PREPARATION & COORDINATION COMMITTEE

kamal

Kamal Raj Shrestha

Director General, DWSSM
amit

Amit Ranjit

Treasurer, SOPHEN
prajan

Prajan Hada

Executive Member, SOPHEN
Tripti

Tripti Kharel

Executive Member, WAFON
richa

Richa Kaphle

Executive Member, SOPHEN
sanjaya

Sanjaya Adhikari

Executive Member, WAFON
rajiv

Rajiv Joshi

Chief Technical Advisor, SOPHEN/ ENPHO Chairperson
anil

Anil Bhadra Khanal

Advisor, SOPHEN
dinesh

Dinesh Raj Manandhar Ph.D.

WASH Expert
sabi

Sabi Rai

Communication and Marketing Officer, SOPHEN

Key Message

We are delighted to welcome you to the Global South Conference on WASH Financing & Sustainability 2026, to be held on April 1–3, 2026, in Kathmandu, Nepal, under the theme “Financing the Future for Innovation, Climate Resiliency, and Equity.”

Across the Global South, millions still lack access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services. While progress has been made, the financing gap estimated at $140 billion annually remains a major barrier. At the same time, limited institutional capacity meaning a significant share of available resources going unspent. These challenges threaten not only the sustainability of WASH systems but also achieving the broader goals of equity, climate resilience, and inclusive development.

This conference is a response to such urgent call. It brings together leaders from governments, funding agencies, the private sector, academia, and civil society to design practical and innovative financing pathways. Over three days, participants will share lessons, explore solutions, and forge partnerships that can unlock the investment needs to scale up sustainable WASH services across the Global South. Together, we can accelerate progress toward universal WASH access and ensure that systems are built to last, even at the face of climate and economic challenges.

On behalf of organizing committee working in collaboration with the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Water Supply (MoWS) we warmly invite you to join us in Kathmandu. With your participation and commitment, this conference will serve as a milestone in reshaping how WASH financing drives to build resilience, equity, and lasting impact for generations to come.

– CONVENORS