SSP is a planning framework that is quantitative, multi criteria, multi project and iterative. It is used to inform the decision-making process by visualizing options & making explicit the tradeoffs that are inherent in hydropower development. Combinations of potential future hydropower projects are assessed across multiple criteria. Therefore, SSP allows for the analysis of how each combination of projects (solutions) perform across a range of metrics which assess environmental, social, financial and energy-related dimensions.

A High Conservation Value River (HCVR) as defined within the Nepali context is a clean, highly connected or free flowing river or stretch that acts as a lifeline, maintaining ecosystem services for present and future generations, providing refuge and habitat for high levels of aquatic biodiversity, and supporting important socio-cultural values. This definition was developed and refined by Nepali experts.

The basic objective of this study was to classify the river system/network of Nepal according to the GloRiC utilizing the provided river network of Nepal to the consultant.