Centre of Research for Environment, Energy and Water (CREEW)

What Centre of Research for Environment, Energy and Water (CREEW) does

CREEW (Centre of Research for Environment, Energy and Water) is a Kathmandu-based non-profit research organization founded in 2008/2009 (firmographics cite 2008; an alternate source cites 2009) that operates three flagship programs targeting Nepal's groundwater, environmental, and climate research ecosystem. Its core offerings include (1) the CREEW Research Grant Program — an annual thesis-support grant for Master's students funded continuously by Kurita Water and Environment Foundation (KWEF) Japan since 2008, having supported 76+ scholars; (2) the National Groundwater Symposium — convened annually since 2009 under Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS) leadership, attracting 1,200+ cumulative participants across 14 editions; and (3) the Climate Change Adaptation Training program — delivered via Training-of-Trainers across 16 districts to 3,591 MSMEs under USAID's Biodiversity (Jal Jangal) program. A discontinued fourth program, the Young Researchers Fellowship (CREEW-YRF), was halted after 2020.

CREEW's revenue model is grant-based, with primary inflows from international foundations (KWEF Japan) and bilateral development programs (USAID). Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: it distributes research funding through annual competitive calls, disseminates findings via the National Groundwater Symposium, and delivers training through partner-led ToT cascades with organizations such as Development Support Consult and ICAS/UESC. The organization maintains a small in-house team of 12 employees supplemented by a 14+ partner ecosystem spanning Nepali universities (Tribhuvan University, AIT Thailand), government bodies (WECS, KVWSMB, MoEIWS), and international NGOs (IWMI, WaterAid, ENPHO). Its technical stack includes a basic fresh/wastewater laboratory and a Compact Locally-Fitted Decentralized (LCD) Water Treatment System developed under the SATREPS project; its competitive advantage rests on a 17-year unbroken programmatic cadence and a dense alumni-and-advisor network anchored by founder Dr. Sangam Shrestha (Dean, AIT Thailand).

Name

Centre of Research for Environment, Energy and Water (CREEW)

Legal name

Center of Research for Environment, Energy and Water

Website

https://creew.org.np

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CREEW is a Kathmandu-based non-profit research organization that funds Master's-level environmental research, runs the annual National Groundwater Symposium, and delivers climate adaptation training for Nepali MSMEs, serving students, government agencies, and development partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Research Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Water Supply (4941), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Forestry, Land Use & REDD+ Programs (BPADALAF), NRW Data Management & Water Balance (IWA Methodology, GIS/SCADA Integration, Digital Twins) (EUANAKAJ), Land Use, Indigenous & Community Engagement Policy (EUAMANAL)

Keywords

• Environmental research services
• Water resource management
• Groundwater governance research
• Climate adaptation training
• Research grant programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kathmandu

HQ country

Nepal

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Grants from Foundations: Primary funding from international foundations, particularly Kurita Water and Environment Foundation (KWEF) Japan since 2008, which funds the annual CREEW Research Grant Program for Master's students.
2. Project Funding from Development Organizations: Funding from international development organizations and government agencies for specific research projects and programs, such as the USAID Biodiversity (Jal Jangal) program for climate change adaptation training.
3. Research Grant Program: Annual grant program supporting Master's course students in thesis semester, funded by KWEF and other partners. Grant recipients must conduct research in Nepal in environmental/water resource fields.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CREEW is a non-profit research organization that conducts and supports research on groundwater, surface water, integrated waste management, climate change resilience, green energy, and environmental health/WASH in Nepal. It delivers financial and technical support to Master's students and early-career researchers through grant and fellowship programs, organizes the annual National Groundwater Symposium, runs capacity-building training programs for MSMEs and government staff, and publishes peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and policy guidance.

Product overview

CREEW is a research organization focused on environment, energy, and water. Its programs include the Research Grant Program providing thesis support to Master's students, the Young Researchers Fellowship for early career researchers, the annual National Groundwater Symposium as a platform for groundwater governance discussions, and Climate Change Adaptation Training for businesses. CREEW also produces publications including journal articles, books, proceedings, and guidebooks, and maintains a basic laboratory facility for fresh water and waste water analysis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CREEW Research Grant Program Annual grant program providing financial and technical support to Master's course students conducting thesis research in environmental, water resource, civil, geotechnical engineering, environmental science, hydrology, meteorology, agricultural and forestry fields. Research must be conducted in Nepal.
• CREEW Young Researchers Fellowship (CREEW-YRF) Fellowship program for early career researchers below 40 years and post-graduates in relevant environmental and water resource fields to conduct independent research in Nepal. (Program halted after 2020.)
• National Groundwater Symposium Annual national symposium on 'Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Management of Groundwater Resources in Nepal' organized under the Nepal National Water and Weather Week (NNWWW), bringing together policymakers, scientists, and development partners.
• Climate Change Adaptation Training for Nepalese Businesses Training program enhancing capacity of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Nepal with climate adaptation tools, covering climate-resilient supply chains, climate finance access, and risk management strategies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,591 MSMEs trained across 16 districts with climate adaptation knowledge
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• The Small Earth Nepal (SEN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Co-founder and core partner in the annual National Groundwater Symposium since its initiation in 2009. Collaborative partner in organizing symposia and joint research initiatives.
• Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead government agency in organizing National Groundwater Symposium under Nepal National Water and Weather Week (NNWWW) framework. CREEW provides technical coordination for symposia.
• International Water Management Institute (IWMI) NepalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey research and knowledge partner in groundwater governance research and symposium activities. Contributes technical presentations and governance frameworks.
• University of Yamanashi (ICRE) JapancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative groundwater research partner, particularly in SATREPS project. University provided joint supervision and knowledge exchange. Contributed to Kathmandu Valley Groundwater Outlook publication.
• Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) ThailandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey academic partner providing expert advisors (Prof. Sangam Shrestha serves as CREEW Research Grant Program Advisor). Joint workshops and researcher exchanges conducted. Prof. Shrestha is Dean of School of Engineering at AIT.
• Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Management Board (KVWSMB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner in groundwater research and symposium organization. Co-organizer of National Groundwater Symposium activities.
• Development Support Consult (DSC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint organizer of Climate Change Adaptation Training for Nepalese Businesses program. Provided training expertise and implementation support.
• International Center for Applied Sciences/Universal Engineering & Science College (ICAS/UESC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint organizer of Climate Change Adaptation Training for Nepalese Businesses. Prof. Dr. Amod Mani Dixit (President, ICAS) contributed to training curriculum development and delivery.
• Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch-based NGO partner in National Groundwater Symposium organization and environmental health initiatives.
• SmartPhones4Water Nepal (S4W-Nepal)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch-based NGO co-organizer of National Groundwater Symposium. Contributes technical expertise and field research.
• WaterAid NepalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational NGO partner in groundwater symposium activities and WASH sector collaboration.
• Tribhuvan University (Institute of Engineering, Central Departments)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary academic partner providing research grantees and expert reviewers. Multiple departments (Civil Engineering, Geology, Environmental Science, Botany) participate in CREEW programs.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) Asia: International environmental research institute with Asia operations covering climate, water, and sustainability policy. Comparable as an environment-research NGO producing peer-reviewed work and policy advisory, but with global scope and significantly larger resourcing.
• International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD): Regional intergovernmental research and knowledge centre covering the Hindu Kush Himalayas including Nepal. Comparable as a non-profit research organization focused on water, environment, and climate in the same geography, but with a far larger mandate, budget, and staff across eight member countries.
• International Water Management Institute (IWMI): Global CGIAR research institute focused on water management for food security and ecosystems. Comparable as a water-resources research organization with a Nepal office, conducting policy research and convening groundwater stakeholders. Larger scale and broader geographic mandate than CREEW.
• IUCN Nepal Country Office: Country office of IUCN focused on biodiversity conservation and environmental governance in Nepal. Comparable as an environmental conservation organization engaging in research, policy advisory, and convening across water and ecosystem issues, with global institutional backing.

Direct peers

• The Small Earth Nepal (SEN): Nepal-based environmental NGO focused on research, conservation, and climate action. Co-founded the National Groundwater Symposium with CREEW in 2009 and shares the small-Nepal-NGO research-and-advocacy operating model.
• Nepal Development Research Institute (NDRI): Nepal-based independent policy and development research institute. Comparable as a Kathmandu-based research NGO conducting studies on water, climate, and development, with similar publication-oriented outputs and government advisory work.
• Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO): Nepal-based non-profit focused on WASH, environmental health, and resilient communities. Directly comparable as a domestic Nepal NGO working on groundwater, sanitation, and water-environment intersections; CREEW and ENPHO are co-organizers of the National Groundwater Symposium.
• Practical Action Nepal: Nepal office of UK-based INGO working on poverty reduction through technology and innovation in water, agriculture, and climate. Comparable as a Nepal-based development NGO implementing water and climate programs with research and capacity-building components.
• Clean Energy Nepal (CEN): Nepal-based environmental NGO working on climate change, renewable energy, and sustainable development. Comparable as a small Kathmandu-based environmental NGO doing research, advocacy, and capacity building across overlapping climate and environment themes.
• WaterAid Nepal: Country office of global WASH-focused INGO active in Nepal on water security, sanitation, and hygiene. Comparable as a WASH and groundwater sector partner; co-organizes the National Groundwater Symposium with CREEW.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/creewresearch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/creewnepal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Centre of Research for Environment, Energy and Water (CREEW)