The Issue
Nepal’s Madhesh, Lumbini and Karnali Provinces are among the most vulnerable to hydro-meteorological hazards with floods causing a significant threat. The impacts of these hazards are worsened by climate change, socioeconomic disparities, and limited institutional capacity. Frequent flash floods during monsoons, combined with limited technical capacity and the absence of social safety nets, put people with disabilities and marginalized ethnic minorities at even greater risk.
To counter this, SARATHI is a community-led holistic action which supports climate resilience in the region. Furthermore, the project focusses on gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), so marginalised and vulnerable at-risk communities are empowered as well.
The Project
The SARATHI project focuses on strengthening resilience in three provinces by using data-driven approaches and strong community partnerships. By working closely with local governments, provincial authorities, and community based organisations (CBOs), the project aims to:
- Collaborating with 121 CBOs across 15 local areas, SARATHI provides training and small grants to help communities design and implement early warning systems (EWS), disaster preparedness plans, and climate adaptation measures. The project also supports local advocacy efforts to ensure governments allocate resources for disaster resilience and are held accountable.
- Partnering with experts, SARATHI strengthens early warning systems for multiple hazards and improves access to risk information, ensuring that vulnerable communities receive timely and actionable updates.
- By working with local and provincial governments, SARATHI helps develop disaster risk reduction policies that are gender-sensitive, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of marginalized groups. The project also advocates for long-term funding commitments to ensure these policies lead to real change.
The Change
The project will enhance multi-hazard early warning systems and drive research and innovation to develop effective emergency action plans, aligning with national frameworks such as the National Disaster Risk Financing Strategy (2020), the National Policy for Disaster Risk Reduction (2018), and the National DRR Strategic Plan of Action (2018-2030).
Through these efforts, the project aims to:
- Ensure that CBOs and vulnerable communities understand, engage in, and actively contribute to EWS, emergency action, and climate adaptation efforts.
- Strengthen or establish provincial government systems for multi-hazard forecasting and EWS.
- Enhance the emergency action and response capacities of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDDRMA) and provincial governments, using data-driven insights and community needs.
- Improve local government response capacities, ensuring they are informed by real-time data and the specific needs of vulnerable communities.
By implementing these measures, the project will help create a more coordinated and effective disaster preparedness and response system at both the community and government levels.
Partners
People in Need (PIN), is a non-governmental, non-profit, international organization founded in the Czech Republic in 1992 that has been working in Nepal since 2015. They have a strong track record in scaling up EWS to national levels. Their robust understanding of socio-economic vulnerability in Madhesh, Lumbini and Karnali and innovation experience in locally led, demand-driven approaches makes them an ideal lead in executing the project activities in inclusion and localization, early warning and early action and shock responsive social protection.
Youth Innovation Lab (YIL), founded in 2017, is an organisation focused on technology development, disaster risk reduction, climate change, open data, entrepreneurship, data driven advocacy, youth engagement, and volunteerism. They have developed the BIPAD (Building Information Platform Against Disaster) platform and play a crucial role in providing technical support to the national government and innovating on risk communication.
CSRC, established in 1993, specializes in land rights and systemic inclusion of landless people. It excels in engaging with the national government/stakeholders to promote inclusion in DRR/Anticipatory Action (AA). CSRC will ensure that gender equality, disability and social inclusion are mainstreamed across all activities within Project.
Prerana, is working with a vision to establish a just and socially inclusive Nepal. It has a strong foothold in Madhesh Pradesh and a grassroots focus on people with disabilities. By operating the secretariat for National Association of Service Providers in Rehabilitation (NASPIR), Prerana brings expertise and networks to promote disability-inclusive practices and sustainable community solutions.
LI-BIRD, established in 1995, is dedicated to community resilience, locally led adaptation and are known for scaling up good practices. Their expertise in the localisation of Agromet Advisory services is valuable for the resilience and adaptation themes of the project.
UK Met brings exceptional expertise in hydro-met forecasting, climate predictio and localisation of weather/climate services. With a strong focus on impact-based forecasting, evidence generation and stakeholder collaboration they excel in co-developing information, capacity building and knowledge sharing at all tiers of government.
About this Project
Title: SARATHI (Strengthening system for Anticipation to build Resilience and Adaptation Through Hazard Early Warning and Inclusion)
Timeline: 2025 to 2029
Partners: People in Need (Lead), DanChurchAid (Co-lead), PRERANA, Community for self-Reliance Centre (CSRC), Youth Innovation Lab (YIL), UKMET Technical Partner, Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD).
Amount: 2,015,000 £
Outreach: The intervention will directly target 987,299 number of people from 15 selected Local Governments and 3,478,805 population indirectly benefitting across a further 99 LGs in the Madhesh, Lumbini and Karnali provinces.
Donors: Funded by Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)/ British Embassy Kathmandu
