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To jumpstart its work in Nepal, the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative’s Resilient Communities program conducted a scoping study earlier this year which found that disaster preparedness and response plans and policies at federal, provincial, and local levels are in place; however, gaps in funding and institutional arrangements may hinder the implementation of localization plans and policies.
The study was informed by consultations with stakeholders, and key informant interviews (KIIs) with different government and nongovernmental agencies working in the disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) sector in Nepal. The scoping study aimed to understand the strengths and gaps in governance, coordination, knowledge management, and capacity of disaster management in the country.
Click here to learn more about the study findings.
“Nepal is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change impacts. From glacial lake outburst floods in the north, exacerbated by warming temperatures, to flooding in the south, impacted by increased rainfall. Climate poses a direct threat to infrastructure, agriculture, health, and livelihoods. Local communities will be at the forefront of this and it is important to explore how local actors are thinking about and preparing for climate-related impacts on their communities,” said HHI Resilient Communities program director Dr. Vincenzo Bollettino in a statement.
The study suggests that research and training institutions can bridge the gap by bringing agencies together to share their knowledge, experiences, and learnings that can help DRRM programming in local communities.
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