Nexus governance in practice: a stakeholder-driven framework for groundwater sustainability in Barahathawa Municipality, Madhesh Province

Saurav Kc (), Sumitra Kc (), Ayushmita Pokhrel (), Subodh Paudel (), Anuj Mishra (), Marlene Buchy (), Manohara Khadka () and Anil Aryal ()
Additional contact information
Saurav Kc: Center of Research for Environment, Energy, and Water
Sumitra Kc: International Water Management Institute
Ayushmita Pokhrel: Center of Research for Environment, Energy, and Water
Subodh Paudel: Center of Research for Environment, Energy, and Water
Anuj Mishra: International Water Management Institute
Marlene Buchy: International Water Management Institute
Manohara Khadka: International Water Management Institute
Anil Aryal: International Water Management Institute

Sustainability Nexus Forum, 2025, vol. 33, issue 1, No 20, 18 pages

Abstract: Abstract Groundwater, a critical resource in the water-food-energy-ecosystem (WEFE) nexus, underpins food security and livelihoods globally and regionally. This study applies a contextualized framework – co-developed with local stakeholders – to assess groundwater governance in Barahathawa Municipality, Madhesh Province of Nepal, where 85% of irrigation and domestic needs rely on this resource. The framework evaluates 32 indicators across technical, legal and institutional, cross-sector policy, and operational dimensions, synthesizing findings into a Groundwater Governance Index (GGI). Results reveal a transitional governance system (GGI: 1.03, “early acceptable” stage) with fragmented technical capacity (midway between non-existent and basic) due to unmonitored extraction, unmapped recharge zones, and sparse hydrogeological data. Legal and institutional gaps such as absence of permitting systems, unenforced pollution controls, and inequitable access highlight systemic risks to sustainability. Cross-sector coordination (“acceptable” state) and operational transparency (initial “acceptable” state) reflect growing synergies between agriculture, urban planning, and community actors, yet marginalized groups remain underrepresented. Lens-based analysis underscores lagging “state” governance relative to the “community” and “market” lens, necessitating prioritized investments in participatory hydrogeological mapping, localized regulations, and inclusive decision-making. The framework guides the management of competing needs by offering practical solutions such as better irrigation practices, gender-sensitive budgeting, and partnerships with local drillers. By bridging technical, legal, and social gaps, this approach offers a replicable model for agrarian-urbanizing regions in the western Terai belt of the country, emphasizing adaptive governance, stakeholder synergy, and data-driven policies to balance socio-economic development with groundwater resilience in the face of climate and demographic pressures.

Keywords: Groundwater governance index; Sustainable management; Water governance; Water security; WEFE nexus (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00550-025-00579-9 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sumafo:v:33:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s00550-025-00579-9

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.springer ... onmental/journal/550

DOI: 10.1007/s00550-025-00579-9

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability Nexus Forum is currently edited by Prof. Dr. Edeltraud Günther, Prof. Dr. Mario Schmidt and Prof. Dr. Uwe Schneidewind

More articles in Sustainability Nexus Forum from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().