To India partners

Dear India Partners and Friends,

I hope you have a wonderful Diwali celebration and feel energized!

After thirteen immensely rewarding years at the Gates Foundation—and nearly twenty-five years before that in the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector—I have decided to step back and transition into a new phase of life. I will retire from the Foundation at the end of this year and return to Nepal to spend more time with my family, especially my elderly mother.

When I joined the Foundation in 2012, sanitation was often viewed simply as toilet construction. Together, we have transformed that narrative into one centered on inclusive, sustainable, and safely managed sanitation for all. Today, governments are investing at scale, the private sector is engaged, and development banks are financing inclusive sanitation, which we also call CWIS. I am proud that India has emerged as a global leader in sanitation—thanks and congratulations to the dedication and vision of partners like you.

Working in India was not new to me; I had already developed strong professional ties with colleagues in the sector since 2005 during my time with UN-Habitat. I feel deeply fortunate to have continued and strengthened those relationships over the years.

I want to highlight our early collaborations since 2013, which laid the groundwork for achieving our FSSM and CWIS goals:

• ASCI – Warangal became our model city for PPP approaches and FSM innovations. My sincere thanks to Prof. Chary for his outstanding leadership in capacity-building programs and the success of the SaniTour with ADBI, which trained over 600 professionals from India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Snehalatha, Raj Mohan, Rajshree, and Dr. Banerjee played critical roles in driving the training and SaniTour event. I must also acknowledge the contributions of ADBI—especially Dr. Seetharam and Hashimoto-san—whose partnership was instrumental in structuring the capacity-building program and advancing policy and regulatory interventions in Telangana.
• BORDA and CDD – It was a privilege to work with Stanzin, Stefan, Rajesh, Sushmita, and Manas in the early days. Our goal was to establish strong institutions to drive the non-sewered sanitation agenda. The Devanahalli FSTP established by BORDA-CDD—often called the “Sanitation Tirtha Sthal”—became a global inspiration. I appreciate the leadership of Sasanka, Praveen, and later Harsh, Krishna, and Sandhya for taking CDD to new heights.
• CDD-BORDA also played a pivotal role in shaping ADB’s FSM projects in Bangladesh and Nepal. I fondly remember the dedication of Rajesh, Parveen, Sushmita, Ram Paul, and Santosh GS. This project transformed ADB’s investment in FSM in Bangladesh.
• CEPT – Our partnership began with the Performance Assessment System (PAS) program and the City Partnership Program, establishing Wai and Sinnar in Maharashtra as learning grounds for inclusive sanitation planning, including scheduled desludging and thermal treatment. I remain grateful to leaders like Dinesh ji and Meera ji, who mentored young professionals like Aasim, Arwa, Aditi, Jigisha, and many others, and created institutions like CWAS. I am confident that CWAS, established after decades of experience, will remain a major resource center in India and the region. I am also glad to work with Prof. Mona and Sidh at CEPT, who are leading the Global Sanitation Graduate School in India, which integrates best sanitation practices into academic programs. I am grateful to all partner universities of the GSGS in India.
• CFAR taught me invaluable lessons on mobilizing underprivileged communities—Akhila Madam, you continue to inspire me.
• CSE, led by Sunita Narain, joined our network around 2016. Working with Suresh, Aditya, Depinder, and Subrato was enriching. I was amazed to see how CSE transformed UP. The 2023 Policy and Practice Forum at CSE remains one of the largest and most vibrant sector gatherings I’ve attended—still alive through an active WhatsApp group connecting government and civil society partners.
• I am deeply impressed by the intellectual capacity of Dr. V.K. Chaurasiya and Mr. Rohit Kakkar from CPHEEO. Their insights into public debate on sanitation have been invaluable. Their guidance was instrumental in evaluating small-scale sanitation systems and the performance of the DRDO toilet. Their leadership continues to drive substantial progress in the sector.
• CPR’s SCI-FI initiative strengthened our policy work. My deep appreciation to Subhagato, Kimberly, Anindita, and Anju for their dedication. I recall how the CPR team helped establish our partnership with the Government of India during the launch of SBM in 2015.
• Our research collaboration with Eawag, IIT-M, and CDD generated vital evidence on the limitations of DEWATS systems in India and the region, later endorsed by CPHEEO. I am grateful to Prof. Ligy (IIT-M), Christoph, Lukas, and Rohit from Eawag for their efforts and engagement. This collaboration produced numerous policy briefs advocating for decentralized sanitation systems in the Global South.
• IIHS, under Kavita, Som, Santhosh, and Niladri, led our initiatives in Tamil Nadu. Though we faced challenges in Trichy in establishment of FSTP, perseverance led to success in Perinaickenpalayam, resulting in institutional change, large-scale investments by the GoTN for FSM, and the creation of learning models for inclusive sanitation. IIHS’s contribution to transforming sanitation in Tamil Nadu is commendable. Similarly, I would also like to acknowledge my dear colleague Sai Damdaran and Elangovan from Gramalay, Trichy, for their strong partnership in the early days of working in Tamil Nadu.
• In later years, I was privileged to partner with IIT Palakkad to establish the Global Sanitation Center of Excellence (GSCOE)—a milestone for advancing standards, biosolids management, and transformative sanitation technologies in India. My sincere appreciation to Prof. Praveena, Prof. Sunitha, and Devasena for their leadership and commitment. Support from Dr. Mohanty at the PSA office was invaluable during the process.
• NIUA – Our engagement began with the Regional K-Hub (ADB program) and evolved into a strong national capacity-building platform. My thanks to Jagan Shah and Promita Dey for their leadership, and later to Depinder, Jyoti Das, and Ankita for implementing SCBP, now under the capable leadership of Mahreen Matto. This is an excellent partnership model for building the capacity of public officials and sector professionals—one the Global South can learn from.
• The transformation of Odisha State became an example for the Global South. I feel fortunate to know leaders like G. Mathi Vathan. It’s great to have the Odisha Urban Academy now, led by Shantanu Rath and Mohapatra, who will be instrumental in replicating the model globally. I must also acknowledge Dorai Narayan from Malaysia, who helped organize a learning event with Indah Water as well as mentoring the officials, who helped a lot to bring the FSM agenda, including regulation and institutional mechanisms in Odisha, beyond.
• Practical Action faced immense challenges implementing FSM in Dhenkanal and Angul, yet Odisha is now a model state for FSM. My thanks to Dr. Mohanty, Ganesh, Birupaxhe, Shikha, Shirish, and Prajwal for their technical guidance. The later partnership with CPR and Arghyam under the NIRMAL project helped shape the program’s success.
• Our collaboration with ADB, especially on the Rajasthan Urban Infrastructure Project (2014), paved the way for FSM’s integration into ADB investments. My thanks to Manoj Sharma at ADB for his vision and guidance. I was introduced to Suraj Kumar from Innpact at that time—he is now one of the sector’s champions. CDD also played a critical role in expanding FSM in Rajasthan. Kudos to both CDD and Innpact for their contributions.
• UMC – Manvita and Meghna have been unwavering champions for inclusivity and the welfare of sanitation workers. Although we had early collaborations with UMC and CEPT in 2013, our real partnership took shape in Odisha. The NAMASTE scheme, which they demonstrated in Odisha, is now a national pride and is being replicated in Bangladesh and Nepal.
• Although my engagement with UNICEF India was limited, I deeply respect their efforts to scale FSM in many states with limited resources. This was made possible by Sujoy’s strong leadership at UNICEF India. At the Global Sanitation Forum in Nepal last year, Sujoy was the sole representative from India and did a commendable job leading the country at the Forum.
• WASHi has been a strong partner in influencing government policy. I recall our work on the Mobile Treatment Unit (MTU), a pioneering idea that later gained recognition thanks to Marc from Duke University, who supported WASHi in generating technical evidence for the product’s commercialization. It’s great to see sector leaders like AK, Sasanka, Rajesh, and Praveen coming together to drive the organization. WASHi is now also playing a key role in establishing transformative technologies like OP in Kerala, together with Ankur.
• Though we faced challenges on the technology front, we gained valuable insights that have shaped our strategic direction. We achieved success with thermal treatment (OP) and partnered with companies like Ankur Scientific and Kalyani to manufacture and supply these systems locally and internationally. We also have a strong prototyping agency, T-Works, that can significantly contribute to the commercialization of transformative technologies in India. I am grateful to colleagues Ankur, Jignesh, Sampath, Joginder, and Saibal for their expertise. I also thank the Acclime team (Sujay, Priyanka, and Shreeram) for sharing the path forward by learning from past failures.
• I am grateful to Murali and the community leaders of the FANSA Chapter India; their support and mentorship were greatly appreciated in raising the profile of FANSA in the region.
• Measurement of success and development of a monitoring tool for CWIS, and deeper analysis of CWIS cities, was effectively led by Athena in India, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. I admired Deepa’s leadership and that of her team. We also received immense support from Sujaya Rathi at various points in our engagement in India. Anindita’s support has been instrumental in consolidating CWIS grants in India and facilitating knowledge exchange between India and South Asia.
• Finally, Dasra’s energy and coordination revitalized the NFSSM Alliance, turning it into a vibrant and globally recognized model for collaboration and advocacy in the sanitation sector. Neera and Parnasha are great leaders driving Dasra, along with Dhruv, Shreya, Kaveri, and many others. I am inspired by the young professionals working there, whom I admire deeply!
• I have always loved working with young professionals—they helped me stay young and energetic. I must acknowledge my best buddy in India, Vivek (aka “Vivekananda”), who connected me with so many of you and guided me at every step, especially during our technology demonstrations of P-OP and C-OP in India. We may soon see him as the “Junior OP Baba”! 😊 Thank you, Vivek!

I also sincerely thank our former foundation’s WSH leaders and colleagues—Brian, Jan Willem, Madhu, Radu, Alyse, Dipika, Neelima, and Venkata—for their exceptional leadership, invaluable guidance, and steadfast support in elevating the WSH program in India. Their values of collaboration, innovation, and dedication have been instrumental in shaping our strategy, ensuring the sustainability and impact of WSH initiatives in the years to come.

Our Foundation Leaders — Hari, Doulaye, Alkesh, and Archana—provided invaluable guidance. I also want to acknowledge my non-WSH India Country Office (ICO) colleagues Ashwin, Bhavna, Swathi, Arnav, Nita, Ankita, Kiran, Anupama, Sanjeeta, and many others for their wholehearted programmatic and strategic support in advancing the WSH agenda, as well as for making my stay in India comfortable.

Words fail me when it comes to expressing my gratitude to my dear ICO-WSH colleagues, Sakshi and Ramandeep. WSH-India’s strategy would be unimaginable without Sakshi’s leadership, and I couldn’t stay organized without Raman’s support. Their dedication and hard work have been truly invaluable.

There are many more stories and champions I could name—please forgive me if I have missed anyone. Every memory is unforgettable, and each of you has left a lasting mark on my journey.

My final years of engagement in India (2021–2024) were filled with pride and reflection. Although our strategy evolved and some programs concluded, I am confident that the institutions, capacity, and leadership you have built will sustain and expand this movement across India and the Global South. India will continue to lead the world in sanitation.

Though I am stepping away from my official role, my commitment to this mission remains strong. I plan to continue supporting as a mentor and advisor, fostering innovation, policy development, and capacity-building efforts. Our collective work continues, and I look forward to staying engaged.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and trust. It has been an honor to work together toward our shared goal of inclusive and sustainable sanitation for all. I look forward to staying connected and continuing our important work together.

My final day with the Foundation will be at the end of December 2025. I am working closely with Doulaye, Sakshi, and the Water, Sanitation & Hygiene team, and we will be in touch with you directly to discuss the transition and its implications for our continued collaboration. You are fortunate to have a leader like Sakshi in India—her leadership and vision will further accelerate the adoption of transformative sanitation technologies in the country. She will continue working closely with you all.

Thank you once again for your friendship, partnership, and inspiration. I hope to see many of you at the IWA Development Congress in Bangkok. Please feel free to contact me at rrshrestha712@gmail.com starting January 1, 2026.