Released: VR Film Ground Beneath Her, a Window into the Continuing Devastation of Nepal’s 2015 Earthquake

Check out UNDP's new Virtual Reality Film that transports you to life in the hills of rural Nepal, where 14-year-old Sabita and her family struggle to return to the life they knew before the 2015 Nepal Earthquake.

Brochure: How UNDP supported Nepal in Building Back Better

Two years after the devastating earthquakes of 2015, we take a look at some of the key achievements in UNDP's earthquake response and its contributions to helping Nepal in its recovery

A future in sight

UNDP’s Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Programme was able to help visually-challenged Khil Bahadur from Sindhupalchowk acquire both his identity papers and a roof over his head after the earthquake through the Resilient Communities Through Building Back Better project funded by the Humanitarian Aid department of the European Commission

UNDP-piloted EQ-safe housing technologies included in Government catalogue

Two technologies for EQ safe housing piloted by UNDP have been approved by the Government of Nepal and included in the “Catalogue for Reconstruction of Earthquake Resistant Houses Volume II"

Exclusion and inequality lead to uneven development across Asia and the Pacific: Human Development Report 2016

Disparate progress in South and East Asia and the Pacific due to discrimination towards women, ethnic minorities and populations in remote areas, says UNDP Report

Rising from the Dust

UNDP's recovery support has enabled micro entrepreneurs in Nepal's Ramechhap rise from the rubble left behind by the devastating earthquakes of 2015

A year in review: UNDP Nepal's achievements in 2016

Taking stock of UNDP Nepal’s key achievements in 2016, in the areas of post-quake recovery, poverty reduction, resilience building & democratic governance and gender & social inclusion

Wheels in motion: UNDP offers free construction counseling and drawing-preparation services for vulnerable households in quake-hit areas

UNDP’s Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Programme—with support from the Japanese government and in collaboration with the Institute of Engineering—has offered free construction counseling and drawing-preparation services to earthquake-affected households in Melamchi to help them build back better

Pick your peace hero: Nominations open for 2017 N-Peace Awards

The N-Peace Awards are calling for candidates to be nominated for the latest iteration of the prize

Regional meet on Sustainable Energy for Asia-Pacific LDCs held in Kathmandu

The regional meeting on sustainable energy was aimed at building national leadership in the energy sector, creating stronger multi-stakeholder partnerships to improve access to finance, and reaching out to the poorest and supporting bottom-up approaches

Reversal of fortune: From child soldier to entrepreneur

Although being a minor disqualified her from taking up the options available to other Maoist fighters following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, Bindu’s return to a normal life and livelihood was paved with help from the UN Interagency Rehabilitation Programme

A step towards better disaster governance: Report on lessons learned from the 2015 earthquake

A new report from the Ministry of Home Affairs—prepared with technical support courtesy of UNDP—provides insight on how overall governance, institutional mechanisms, resource mobilization, capacities, coordination, participation and preparedness for DRR/M can be improved

Nepal’s airports prepare for future natural disasters

A four-day training and assessment programme involving airport authorities, military and humanitarian partners is being held to develop a customized disaster response action plan for Tribhuvan International Airport and Nepalgunj Airport

Rebuilding with the Community After a Disaster: Volunteer Engagement in the 2015 Nepal Earthquake

In the aftermath of the 2015 Nepal earthquake, UN Volunteers were rapidly mobilized from different parts of Nepal to provide vital aid. National UNVs motivated by their longing to help others and contribute to their community were on the front line, reinforcing government-led interventions alongside approximately 300 organizations. This included supporting the UNDP Demolition and Debris Management Project to conduct the structural assessment of damaged buildings and oversee the destruction of structures found to be unsafe. This report documents the participation of the UNVs in two UNDP projects in the disaster-affected sites.

A Common Framework for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion

In order to build a common understanding between Development Partners regarding Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) leading to more effective support to state and non-state actors in the implementation of the “inclusion” vision, this common framework was developed by the GESI Working Group under the Social Cluster of the International Development Partner Group

Spreading the word on the SDGs

Refusing to be daunted by her hearing impairment, Anju Gurung—back from attending the Asia Pacific Youth Exchange in Manila as part of a youth action component of UNDP’s ESP—is keen to mobilize young people, including those with disabilities, to proactively contribute to achieving the SDGs

A mile in Maiya's shoes

A shoe-making enterprise started with training and support from UNDP’s MEDEP has not just enabled a mother of two to help pull her family back on its feet after the earthquake, but also changed the dynamics within their home—for the better

The future of development cooperation: Engaging with the private sector

The “Role of the Private Sector in the Era of Sustainable Development” conference on 12 December discussed the country’s prospects in achieving in the SDGs and how enterprises and corporations might potentially expedite the process

A long-awaited turn-around

For the locals of the village of Gadhi in Surkhet, a UNDP-supported water-supply project has completely altered their prospects, particularly that of women

New dawn: Growing 'black diamonds' in Gairimudi, Dolakha
New dawn: Growing 'black diamonds' in Gairimudi, Dolakha

A group of farmers in the earthquake-stricken settlement of Putalikat in Dolakha’s Gairimudi are set to reap the rewards of commercial farming of large cardamom thanks to a training organized by the District Agriculture Development Office and local NGO ECARDS, and assisted by UNDP's Community Infrastructure and Livelihood Recovery Programme (CILRP)

Supporting Nepal in Building Back Better: UNDP Strategy for Earthquake Recovery Assistance
Supporting Nepal in Building Back Better: UNDP Strategy for Earthquake Recovery Assistance

In the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes of 2015, UNDP has been extending its support to the Government of Nepal to coordinate, plan and manage the recovery and reconstruction processes. In addition to the immediate emergency assistance provided within the first six months, UNDP is further assisting the Government through a comprehensive recovery programme spanning four years. This report presents the UNDP’s strategy with regards to earthquake recovery assistance in Nepal, and the effort therein to systematically address underlying vulnerabilities in order to help the country to return to sustainable development pathways and build back better.

Parliamentarians open informal forum to promote SDGs

Kathmandu Nepal’s parliamentarians have launched an informal forum to promote and implement the agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A follow-up to the Millennium Development Goals, which concluded in 2015, the SDGs comprise long-term development objectives agreed upon by all 193 member-states of...

Persons with Disabilities and Stakeholders Raise their Concerns over Proposed Disability Bill

Kathmandu Persons with disabilities (PWDs) and other stakeholders have suggested new areas for amendment in the proposed Disability Bill. The concerns were put forth to lawmakers at an interaction programme held in Kathmandu on Friday with UNDP’s support. Speaking at the programme, one of the participants, Dr....

Mobilizing People to Adapt to a Changing Climate

In 2013, the Government of Nepal began implementing a National Climate Change Support Programme in 14 remote districts, under the guidance of the Ministry of Population and Environment, and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development. Facing longstanding challenges with programme delivery, the Government sought external technical support, opting for UNDP as a partner, given its expertise and long history of engagement in the country. For the first time in Nepal, the programme used a co-financing approach, drawing on financing provided to the Government by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the European Union. The move signals Nepal’s urgent need to adapt to climate change as it strives to graduate from a least developed to a middle-income country by 2022.

Nepal launches new project to minimise climate change impacts on agriculture

The Government of Nepal, UNDP and the Food and Agriculture Organization on Monday launched a new project to integrate climate change adaptation in the agriculture sector. According to a 2015 study ‡, the impact of climate change on Nepal’s agriculture is likely to reduce GDP by about 0.8 per cent per year in 2050. Amongst other things, this will come from more intense and frequent droughts that can damage crops and reduce yields. The cumulative impact of the losses in the agriculture sector would be a GDP lower by 13% than it would otherwise have been.

Reviving tourism locally

Locals from Briddhim VDC in Rasuwa district provide labour to reconstruct a road vital to tourism