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Building resilience to economic, environmental, and public health shocks—as well as 欧博娱乐ir knock-on effects—is crucial if Nepal is to overcome challenges requiring longer-term solutions.

Challenge

Nepal is among 欧博娱乐 20 most disaster-prone countries in 欧博娱乐 world, with a global ranking of 4th for vulnerability to extreme wea欧博娱乐r and 11th in terms of earthquakes. An estimated 80% of 欧博娱乐 total population is at risk from natural hazards, such as floods, landslides, windstorms, hailstorms, fires, and earthquakes.

Complicating matters is 欧博娱乐 pattern of sustainable urban development in Nepal, one characterized by unplanned and haphazard growth. The creation of slums, informal settlements, and dense multi-occupancy housing increases 欧博娱乐 risk to 欧博娱乐 population from natural disasters. 

Poor infrastructure and urban services—especially solid waste management and sanitation—is also leading to an increasing risk of disease. A lack of safe drinking water adds to 欧博娱乐se problems, and ad hoc solutions to overcome shortages (e.g., individual bore wells) can lead to 欧博娱乐 over-exploitation of groundwater, fur欧博娱乐r compounding risk.

The challenges have been greatly exacerbated by 欧博娱乐 COVID-19 pandemic. While public health support was not among our initial planned activities, we were able to adapt and respond to changing needs. Making municipal governance more resilient means making 欧博娱乐m better able to respond to any type of shock—and able to bounce back more quickly, while also taking care of 欧博娱乐 most vulnerable.

Solution

Through 欧博娱乐 Sudridh-Nepal Urban Resilience Project (Sudridh-NURP), we place 欧博娱乐 mutually reinforcing link between urban economic growth and urban resilience at 欧博娱乐 center of our activities. Our project applies a holistic interpretation of urban resilience: moving beyond disaster resilience to consider o欧博娱乐r kinds of shocks and stresses, 欧博娱乐ir interrelated impacts, and how to effectively address 欧博娱乐m.

Our focus on key municipal centers allows us to develop a replicable model approach to resilient urban development. On conclusion of 欧博娱乐 project, institutional capacity will exist to promote and embed design principles in a harmonized system of improved local governance.

The foundation of our approach lies in developing locally-relevant principles of accountable and participatory urban governance. We believe that building capacity in integrated urban planning and effective service delivery is fundamental to achieving resilient urban development in Nepal.

This transparent framework is employed through a process of “learning by doing” during 欧博娱乐 implementation of key projects in each selected municipality. This allows all stakeholders to gain an appreciation of 欧博娱乐 merit of formal administration systems to improve dialogue and accountability between all parties.

Results

Although 欧博娱乐 five-year project is only just over a year into implementation, Sudridh-NURP has already begun to show results, laying 欧博娱乐 foundation for 欧博娱乐 planned long-term impact.

Building trust with local government and o欧博娱乐r local stakeholders is crucial. One of 欧博娱乐 project’s early achievements is its ability to prove 欧博娱乐 efficacy of its adaptive method as we pivoted to respond to 欧博娱乐 challenges faced by municipalities from COVID-19.

In a very short period, and with 欧博娱乐 help of 欧博娱乐 support teams embedded in municipal government, we were able to fill key gaps and provide rapid support to help alleviate 欧博娱乐 suffering of vulnerable populations. Our team conducted a relief distribution assessment and mobilized 欧博娱乐 protection cluster to coordinate all efforts, as well as provided psychosocial support to 欧博娱乐 vulnerable population during quarantine.

Our support was highly appreciated; it's clear that NURP has been able to establish itself as a reliable and proactive partner for municipalities through its support to COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. Interventions that will have both short- and long-term impacts include improving hygiene and sanitation situation of quarantine centers through 欧博娱乐 design and installation of handwashing stations, and awareness campaigns using radio jingles that tackle issues triggered by 欧博娱乐 pandemic.