The local governments within the Doda Watershed in Sudurpaschim Province have convened in a two-day workshop to address interconnected issues of disaster risk reduction, climate change, sustainable development, and resilience. The workshop, held on November 7, 2023, in Dhangadhi, unanimously elected Ran Bahadur Mahar of Shuklaphanta Municipality as the leader of the newly formed Doda Watershed Multi-Stakeholder Platform, with Bimala Bohora, the Deputy Mayor of Parshuram Municipality, as Vice President; Nirmal Rana of Chairperson of Laljhadi Rural Municipality as Secretary; and Dhana Devi Thapa Magar of Deputy Chair of Chure Rural Municipality as Treasurer.
On November 4, DPNet organized a virtual discussion in response to the earthquake in Jajarkot, which occurred on November 3, 2023. The meeting was a significant gathering, with over 150 stakeholders participating and sharing their insights. The primary focus of the discussion was to strategize the immediate actions required in the wake of the disaster and to ensure an effective and coordinated response. The meeting has been decided that DPNet will take the lead in gathering information to compile a daily situation report, which will serve to minimize the duplication of efforts among the involved parties. Additionally, there is an immediate need for the mobilization of field staff to assess the actual on-ground situation from day one. DPNet will also put together a team dedicated to data collection and identifying the specific needs of different clusters affected by the earthquake.
On October 30, 2023, DPNet Nepal organized a Discussion on Enhancing Agriculture and Livestock Resilience post-Bajhang Earthquake in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The event aimed to plan and coordinate agriculture and livestock impact assessments, focusing on the needs of affected households. Key figures present at the discussion included Mr. Dhruba Bahadur Khadka, Under Secretary/ Spokesperson/Information Officer of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), Dr. Arun Prakash Bhatta, Under Secretary at MoALD, Dr. Raju Thapa, Acting Chair of DPNet Nepal, Mr. Nawaraj Basnet, Chairperson of National Farmers Group Federation Nepal (NFGF), and Mr. Thakur P. Chauhan, Project Coordinator of FAO, among others from MoALD, DPNet, and FAO.
On October 19, 2023, DPNet Nepal hosted a virtual discussion focused on the Bajhang Earthquake Agriculture Resilience. Collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the event focused on the recent seismic events in Bajhang district: a 6.3 magnitude earthquake and a preceding 5.3 magnitude quake, which impacted grain storage and livestock housing.
On October 13, 2023, the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR) organized an International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, focusing on supporting People with Disabilities (PwD) in disaster situations. The event centered around the theme 'Fighting inequality for a resilient future,' stressing the importance of involving PWD in disaster planning and response. The event was a hybrid of in-person and virtual attendance, with 107 individuals present physically and an additional 130 joining via Zoom, some participants also joined through live Facebook broadcast. The aim was to highlight the unique challenges PwD face during various disasters.
On October 6, 2023, DPNet Nepal organized a virtual interaction session titled “International Training Programme (ITP) Opportunity” through an online platform. The primary aim of this session was to disseminate information regarding the Seventh and final call for applications for the ITP in Disaster Risk Management. The event drew participation from 60 attendees, including individuals involved in DRRM.