Combining online learning, hands-on technical training, and real-world field observation to strengthen sanitation professionals in Nepal.
Training Facilitation by the Expert
As Nepal moves toward achieving safely managed sanitation, there is a growing need for skilled professionals who can plan, design, and operate faecal sludge management systems. Poorly managed faecal sludge can contaminate water sources, harm the environment, and pose serious public health risks. Although municipalities are investing in Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants and related systems, infrastructure alone is not enough to ensure safe and sustainable services. Addressing this need, the Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO), with support from Eawag and the Global Sanitation Graduate School (GSGS), organized a blended Faecal Sludge Management Training Program. The program combined three phases: online learning, in-person technical sessions, and a field visit, with expert mentoring throughout to strengthen participants’ technical knowledge and practical skills.
The program brought together 20 participants, including students from Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu University, and Pokhara University, development partners from Ratauli Yuwa Club and Habitat for Humanity Nepal, and private sector representatives from Clean Vision Nepal. By bringing together future sanitation professionals and practitioners, the program created a collaborative learning environment that encouraged knowledge exchange, practical discussion, and diverse perspectives on urban sanitation challenges.
Phase One: Online Learning
The first phase of the learning journey began on 4 May 2026 as a four-week online self-paced course delivered through the Eawag Coursera platform. This phase combined flexible self-paced learning with four live Zoom sessions to support interactive engagement and deeper understanding. The live sessions were delivered by national and international experts, including Mr. Rajendra Shrestha, Dr. Bikash Adhikari, Prof. Dr. Tanveer Ahmed, and Dr. Linda Strande, and were facilitated by ENPHO team members Mr. Ash Kumar Khaitu, Mr. Subash KC, and Ms. Yogita Rajchal.
While the course covered a broad range of topics related to faecal sludge management, the major highlights of this phase included the Integrated Approach to FSM, Treatment Technologies, and Innovations in FSM. Through the Coursera course and live expert sessions, participants enhanced their knowledge, clarified technical concepts, interacted directly with experts, and discussed practical challenges related to faecal sludge management.
Online session on FSM
Phase Two: In-Person Training
Building on the knowledge gained during the online phase, participants moved into the second phase of the learning journey: an intensive two-day in-person training at ENPHO on 22 and 23 June 2026. This phase was designed to help participants translate their online learning into practical application through interactive lectures, design exercises, group discussions, and problem-solving activities.
During the training, participants further explored the connection between FSM and City-Wide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS), along with practical design and planning aspects of faecal sludge management. The major focus areas included standard septic tank design, faecal sludge quantification and characterization, sludge drying bed design, anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) and anaerobic filter (AF) design, and constructed wetland systems.
The in-person sessions encouraged participants to move beyond theoretical understanding and apply engineering principles to realistic sanitation scenarios. Through hands-on exercises and group work, they discussed implementation challenges, technology selection, design verification, and practical considerations faced by municipalities in improving sanitation services. Participants also interacted with experts, clarified technical questions, and connected their learning with the realities of planning, designing, and operating sanitation systems in Nepal.
Group Work by the participants’
Phase Three: Field Visit
Building on the knowledge gained during the online course and the technical skills developed during the in-person training, participants moved into the third phase of the learning journey: a field visit on 24 June 2026. This phase provided participants with the opportunity to observe how the concepts, technologies, and design principles discussed in the earlier phases are applied in real-world sanitation systems.
The field visit began at Dhulikhel Hospital, where participants observed a Decentralized Wastewater Treatment System (DEWATS). The visit helped them understand the design and treatment processes of decentralized systems and how nature-based treatment technologies can be applied in institutional settings. Participants then visited a Sintex prefabricated septic tank installation in Changunarayan Municipality to learn about space-efficient containment options suitable for households and public institutions, particularly in areas where land availability is limited. The final visit was to the Guheshwori Wastewater Treatment Plant, Nepal’s largest wastewater treatment facility. At the site, participants observed large-scale wastewater treatment processes and discussed operational management, treatment efficiency, and opportunities for resource recovery. Through these visits, participants were able to connect classroom learning and design exercises with practical field applications, strengthening their understanding of how sanitation systems function in real scenarios.
Field visit in Changunarayan Municipality_ Sintex Septic Tank
After completing all three phases of the program, including the online self-paced course, in-person technical training, and field visit, participants were provided with certificates in recognition of their successful completion of the training. The program concluded with reflections from participants and remarks from partner organizations, highlighting the importance of continued capacity building in Nepal’s sanitation sector.
Certificate distribution to participants
Speaking during the closing session, Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha, sanitation expert, highlighted that sanitation is an essential sector that directly contributes to public health, environmental protection, and overall quality of life. He appreciated young professionals for choosing sanitation as a subject of study and future career path, noting that their interest and commitment are encouraging for the sector. He also expressed his willingness to support participants by sharing his knowledge and experience as they continue learning and working in the sanitation field.
Likewise, Prof. Dr. Tanveer Ahmed, Regional Director from GSGS, emphasized the importance of connecting technical knowledge with practical field experience in faecal sludge management. He highlighted that skilled professionals are essential for designing, operating, and sustaining sanitation systems, and encouraged participants to apply the learning from the training in real contexts.
“The online course was insightful, and the interactive quizzes helped keep the learning engaging and focused. The in-person training added great value by allowing us to explore the technical design components more deeply, build connections, and relate theory to practical applications. Overall, it was a meaningful experience that connected learning, practice, and professional exchange.” — Asmita Upadhyay, GSGS Student, Kathmandu University
“This was my first experience with a blended training program that combined online learning, in-person sessions, and field observation. The approach made the learning more practical and engaging. The training not only helped me strengthen my knowledge of faecal sludge management but also gave me the opportunity to connect with sanitation experts, professionals, and fellow participants. I believe this network and experience will be valuable for my future work in the sanitation sector.” — Ramin Ghimire, GSGS Student, Pokhara University
“Before joining the training, I used to understand FSM mainly as the treatment of sludge. During the online phase, I often wondered whether the knowledge I was gaining could really be applied in practical scenarios as a WASH designer. After completing the full training, including the technical sessions and field visit, I now feel more confident that I can apply this learning in real projects. The training helped me understand FSM as a complete service chain that requires proper planning, design, operation, and practical decision-making.”
–Binod Shah, WASH Engineer, Clear Vision Nepal
Overall, the three-phase blended training proved to be a valuable learning platform for connecting knowledge, practice, and field experience in faecal sludge management. By combining online learning, expert-led technical sessions, hands-on design exercises, and field exposure, the program helped participants strengthen their practical understanding and confidence to contribute to improved sanitation planning, design, and implementation. Recognizing the value of such capacity-building initiatives, ENPHO, together with its partners, will continue to promote similar learning opportunities that support young professionals, practitioners, and institutions in advancing safely managed sanitation and sustainable FSM services in Nepal.
