Nepali woman at a community water tap

A woman stands in front of a water spigot carrying a water pitcher inside a doko -- a bamboo basket. The doko is held to her back by a strap across her forehead. Fetching water is one of many tasks done by women in Nepal.

Water spigots like this one are built as part of development projects in the mountains. Most of these spigots are built with foreign aid. In the past, local communities used to build and manage these water sources. However, as infrastructure and development has progressed in Nepal, government agencies increasingly involve themselves in building and managing them.

Election campaign slogans endorsing a political candidate are written on the rock wall above the spigot. In Nepal, it is not unusual for water spigots to serve as political forums.