Objectives
The likelihood of natural disasters occurring in Nepal has led the Humanitarian Country Team to support the federal government in launching responses to disasters with the most severe humanitarian implications (inclusive of COVID-19) with the greatest importance placed on Emergency Response Preparedness Plans (ERPs) for earthquake and monsoon-related events. The annual monsoon season in Nepal causes a spike in landslides and flooding. In 2017, approximately 1.7 million people across the Terai were affected by monsoon floods that caused 169 deaths and temporarily displaced 460,000 people. Economic losses were significant ($705 million US dollars) and pre-existing vulnerabilities where societal structures, social norms, and discriminatory practices compounded the humanitarian impact while gender roles created or contributed to heightened risks for some community members over others.
Global best practice shows that having credible plans in place before a disaster strikes prevents inefficiencies in providing relief or support during emergencies. Plans should cover system capabilities, outline at what point additional international humanitarian support is required, and how this support would bisect with the national crisis system. In Nepal, the aim is to develop national and local capacities to manage disasters and further strengthen community resilience. Effectively supporting countries to develop strong contingency plans and building national systems that can cope with and respond to crises, requires a coherent and well-coordinated approach from international humanitarian partners.
Approaches under the Fund framework support and enhance government capacity and considers sustainability. Initiatives are scalable and inclusive, requiring design and implementation assistance from marginalized groups and the most vulnerable in preparedness plans as per the Leave No One Behind development strategy. Stakeholder action is based on the principles of sensitive programming, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, inclusion, and gender responsive programming that supports and enabling environment for a more effective humanitarian response system in Nepal.