Kathmandu - The Adaptation Fund Board has approved a grant project worth US$10 million (approximately NPR 1.33 billion) for Nepal to make the food systems of highly vulnerable mountain and hill communities climate resilient.
The project, to be implemented in partnership between the Ministry of Forests and Environment and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), will directly benefit more than 60,000 households in five remote districts of Sudurpashchim and Karnali provinces.
The project is titled "Improving the Resilience of Food Systems of Nepal's Vulnerable Communities through Community-Based Adaptation."
This grant has been received by Nepal under its national allocation from the Adaptation Fund. According to Suman Subedi, Officer at the Climate Change Management Division of the Ministry of Forests and Environment, the project's financial management will be carried out through the Government of Nepal's budget and treasury system.
He said, "This project is an important milestone in Nepal's climate adaptation efforts. The World Food Programme, as a Multilateral Implementing Entity accredited by the Adaptation Fund Board, supported Nepal in securing approval for this US$10 million project. The World Food Programme will remain a partner agency, while the Government of Nepal will fully implement the project. Most importantly, the project will be operated through the Government of Nepal's own budget and treasury system, which will further strengthen national ownership and accountability."
The project will be implemented over the next six years. It will cover 11 local governments in Humla, Kalikot and Mugu districts of Karnali Province, and Bajhang and Bajura districts of Sudurpashchim Province. More than 60,000 vulnerable households that depend on natural resources and traditional agriculture will benefit from the project.
Officer Subedi said that priority has been given to communities facing challenges in drinking water, irrigation and agricultural production due to climate change.
In line with the spirit of federalism, the project's administrative structure has been designed to transfer both resources and responsibilities directly to local governments. While the federal and provincial governments will provide policy and technical facilitation, the Ministry has planned to assign the primary responsibility for financial management to local governments.
He stated, "We have made coordination among all three tiers of government the backbone of the project. The primary responsibility for implementation will rest with the 11 local governments. The federal government will provide technical support, while the provincial government will coordinate with local governments to implement the programme in a participatory manner."
The project includes activities such as nature-based solutions, promotion of climate-resilient agriculture and agroforestry systems, distribution of climate-adapted seeds, expansion of medicinal herb cultivation, climate risk insurance, and alternative livelihood programmes for women and other vulnerable communities. In addition, local hydrometeorological early warning systems will be strengthened.
According to Officer Subedi, project activities will be designed according to local needs and geographical conditions. Particular priority will be given to increasing the income of women and marginalized communities, climate insurance and capacity building.
The selection of project areas and beneficiaries was based on Nepal's National Adaptation Plan and the Government of Nepal's approved Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Report. The Ministry stated that resources have been allocated in accordance with the principles of climate justice and Nepal's foreign aid mobilization policy.
Officer Subedi said, "The selection of districts was not done arbitrarily. The 11 local governments in Bajhang, Bajura, Humla, Kalikot and Mugu were selected based on indicators identified in the 'Vulnerability and Risk Assessment and Identification of Adaptation Options Report, 2021.' A detailed analysis was also conducted to ensure there is no duplication with programmes supported by other development partners."
The project has already received approval from the Adaptation Fund Board, and the bilateral agreement is now in its final stage. Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Forests and Environment and the World Food Programme, implementation at the local level is expected to begin within the next two months.
The project is expected to make a long-term contribution to strengthening food security and enhancing the capacity of vulnerable communities in Nepal's mountain and remote hill regions to cope with the impacts of climate change.
