Kathmandu, September 13, 2026 – The Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO) marked an important milestone with its 35th Annual General Assembly, bringing together Board Members, members, staff, development partners, and distinguished guests to celebrate achievements, recognize outstanding contributions, and reflect on the organization’s future direction.
Held at Carnival Restro & Meetings in Thapagaun, Kathmandu, the Assembly highlighted ENPHO’s continued commitment to advancing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), environmental health, innovation, partnerships, and emergency response across Nepal.
The program was chaired by Mr. Rajiv Joshi, Chairperson of ENPHO, with Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha, Chairman of the World Toilet Organization, attending as Chief Guest. Ms. Urmila Joshi, Executive Member of ENPHO, and Mr. Surendra Neupane, Country Director of WaterAid Nepal, joined as distinguished guests.
The event commenced with the national anthem, followed by welcome remarks from Ms. Rosha Raut, Member Secretary of ENPHO, who welcomed guests, Board members, staff, members, and newly joined members. Symbolizing ENPHO’s longstanding commitment to environmental sustainability, Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha formally inaugurated the Assembly by adding compost and watering a plant.
Before proceeding with the formal agenda, participants observed a one-minute silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the recent floods in Nepal, expressing solidarity with affected families and communities.
Reflecting on Progress and Preparing for the Future
Presenting annual progress report for Fiscal Year 2082/83, ENPHO’s Executive Director Mr. Rajendra Shrestha highlighted the organization’s major projects, achievements, milestones, and contributions during the year.
Looking ahead, he also introduced ENPHO’s upcoming Strategic Plan 2027–2031, outlining key priorities, emerging challenges, and the organization’s evolving role, including its commitment to strengthening disaster preparedness and emergency response.
Treasurer Mr. Pratap Kumar Acharya subsequently presented the financial audit report for the fiscal year, providing members with an overview of ENPHO’s financial performance and accountability.
Recognizing Leadership, Innovation and Environmental Action
A key highlight of the Assembly was the recognition of individuals and institutions contributing to WASH, environmental protection, and social change.
The Raju Memorial Youth Award 2026 was presented to Mr. Rahul Bisunkhe in recognition of his contribution to waste management, plastic waste recovery, the circular economy, and environmental conservation, particularly in Nepal’s high-altitude and rural communities. The award was jointly presented by Mr. Rajiv Joshi and Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha.
This year, remaining four established awards – the Huttaram Environment Award, Bigyan Memorial Award, Bhairav Rijal Award, and Prakash Chandra Amatya Award – were decided to be presented to deserving master’s-level students in collaboration with academic institutions. Under the initiative, the Huttaram Environment Award will be associated with Nepal Engineering College, the Bigyan Memorial Award with the School of Engineering, Pokhara University, the Bhairav Rijal Award with Tribhuvan University, and the Prakash Chandra Amatya Award with Kathmandu University.
The initiative aims to encourage research aligned with ENPHO’s objectives, strengthen collaboration with academic institutions, and provide master’s-level students with opportunities for research support and co-supervision.
ENPHO Tara 2026 Honors Outstanding Employees
The Assembly also celebrated the dedication and performance of ENPHO staff through the “ENPHO Tara – Best Employee of the Year 2026” recognition. Mr. Subash K.C., Lead Trainer at ENPHO, was named ENPHO Tara 2026. Ms. Bivor Maharjan, Project Officer, was recognized as first runner-up, while Ms. Ambika Khanal, Marketing Officer, was named second runner-up.
Honoring Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha’s Enduring Contribution
During the Assembly, Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha was specially felicitated for his exceptional wisdom, tireless dedication, and unwavering commitment to advancing the water and sanitation sector nationally and globally. The recognition honored his visionary leadership and his enduring contribution to the founding and growth of ENPHO over the years.
Celebrating 35 Years of Partnership, Innovation and Resilience
Ms. Urmila Joshi recalled ENPHO’s early years and the dedication that shaped its growth, highlighting the organization’s culture of innovation and its ability to respond during emergencies, including the 2015 earthquake.
Mr. Surendra Neupane described ENPHO’s 35-year journey as a remarkable milestone, emphasizing the sustained commitment required to build such an institutional legacy. He also reaffirmed WaterAid Nepal’s continued partnership with ENPHO.
Reflecting on ENPHO’s development, Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha said the organization should take pride in what it has built over the past three and a half decades. He recalled the longstanding partnership between WaterAid and ENPHO, describing it as a relationship extending far beyond traditional donor support. He highlighted collaborative work on rainwater harvesting and the Melamchi Water Supply Project and emphasized that organizational impact should not be measured only by the number of people reached, but also by an institution’s ability to respond when the country and its communities need support most.
Drawing on ENPHO’s history of emergency engagement, Dr. Shrestha referred to responses to the 1993 and 2008 Jajarkot cholera outbreaks, the 2015 earthquake, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and recent flood emergencies. He stressed the importance of immediate action, strong partnerships, and institutional commitment in emergency situations. Referring to “Nepal Rising” as an example of mobilizing networks and resources for flood response, he noted that timely action and effective partnerships can often be more decisive than the amount of funding available.
Moving Forward with Stronger Partnerships and a New Strategic Vision
Concluding the Assembly, Chairperson Mr. Rajiv Joshi expressed gratitude to Mr. Surendra Neupane and WaterAid Nepal for their continued support and acknowledged Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha for his longstanding contribution of time, resources, leadership, and guidance to ENPHO. Reflecting on ENPHO’s journey, Mr. Joshi emphasized the organization’s core values and the importance of partnerships developed over decades with NGOs, INGOs, development partners, academic institutions, and different levels of government.
Looking to the future, he highlighted the importance of strengthening internal revenue generation, ENPHO’s products and technical assistance service, institutional sustainability, and implementation of the upcoming Five-Year Strategic Plan. He also emphasized expanding collaboration with colleges, universities, development partners, government agencies, and other stakeholders to further strengthen WASH and environmental initiatives.
Mr. Joshi concluded the Assembly thanking Paschim Paaila for its contribution to flood response and acknowledged ENPHO’s Executive Director, staff members, and Board for their continued efforts. He congratulated the ENPHO Tara awardees and the recipient of the Raju Memorial Youth Award and reaffirmed ENPHO’s commitment to continuing its award initiatives in partnership with academic institutions. He emphasized stronger collaboration with academia, development partners, and different tiers of government to further advance ENPHO’s WASH initiatives.