Nepal has called for urgent and scaled-up global financing to strengthen resilient water infrastructure in Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), stressing that water security is central to sustainable development, climate resilience, and human dignity.
Speaking as the keynote speaker at the High-Level Panel on “Mobilizing Finance for Water Infrastructure in LLDCs,” organized by the Government of Tajikistan and the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), Ambassador H.E. Lok Bahadur Thapa underscored the growing challenges faced by vulnerable nations in accessing adequate financing for water infrastructure.
Ambassador Thapa stated that water is fundamental to dignity, food security, energy, health, and climate resilience. He noted that for LLDCs and LDCs, the core challenge is not the absence of global capital, but the inability to channel financing at the scale and urgency required to build resilient and sustainable water systems.
Reflecting on Nepal’s experience, he highlighted the paradox of the country being rich in water resources and largely powered by hydropower, while millions of people still lack access to safely managed drinking water and remain increasingly vulnerable to climate-induced water stress.
He stressed the need to accelerate the mobilization of private sector investment and strengthen public-private partnerships to bridge financing gaps in critical water infrastructure. He also called for expanded blended finance mechanisms and the adoption of innovative financing instruments, including green bonds and climate-resilient financing models.
Ambassador Thapa further urged greater international cooperation and support under frameworks such as the Awaza Programme of Action and the Sevilla Commitment, emphasizing that resilient infrastructure investment can serve as a powerful driver of sustainable development, economic transformation, and climate adaptation in vulnerable countries.
The panel brought together policymakers, development partners, and international stakeholders to discuss strategies for mobilizing sustainable financing solutions to address water-related challenges facing LLDCs.
