Many researchers and commentators on sanitation have recognised that relevant and effective policies play an important
role in ensuring sanitation is addressed at sufficient scale that progress is made towards national sanitation targets in
support of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). With this in mind, the Environmental Health Programme (EHP)
of USAID developed a written ‘Guidelines for the Assessment of National Sanitation Policies’ in 2002, to help countries
assess the effectiveness of policy in enabling an environment that encourages effective programmes and strategies. Nepal
was selected as one of two countries for field-testing the EHP Guidelines as part of DFID-funded research carried out by
WEDC in collaboration with Development Network, a national consulting research firm in Nepal. This paper highlights
key findings based on the research process, with implications for challenges facing Nepal in effectively implementing
sanitation policy