Interaction Program on Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction at Bagmati Province
On November 23, 2023, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law, Bagmati Province (MoIAL), led an event titled 'Interaction Program on Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction.' The event, organized by DPNet-Nepal and financially and technically supported by USAID’s Tayar Nepal, aimed to enhance Disaster Risk Governance in Bagmati Province, Nepal. The primary focus of the interaction was to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of acts, policies, and follow-ups related to DRR at the provincial level. Mr. Dhruba Gaida, Province Secretary of MoIAL, Bagmati Province, chaired the event, with Hon. Ram Krishna Chitrakar, Minister of Industry, Commerce, Land Management and Administration, Bagmati Province, serving as the Chief Guest, and Ms. Meena Lama, Mayor of Hetauda Sub Metropolitan City as the special guest. Mr. Surya Prasad Sedai, Chief District Officer of Makwanpur District, along with province secretaries from different ministries of Bagmati Province, Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa, Chair of DPNet Nepal, and representatives from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Nepal Red Cross Society, and NGOs operating in Bagmati Province were among the guests present at the event.
Learning of Anticipatory Action Scoping Study
On November 21, 2023, DPNet Nepal, in collaboration with Oxfam, organized the Learning of Anticipatory Action Scoping Study. Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa, Chairperson of DPNet presided over the event which was attended by guests from Governmental Organizations namely Mr. Rishiraj Acharya, Under Secretary, MOFAGA, Mr. Jiwan Prasad Dulal, Under Secretary, NDRRMA, and Ms. Shanti Kandel, Senior Dicisonal Hydrologist, DHM, and the representatives from different NGO/INGOs, Insurance, and Media.
SUDRIDH Project - Participatory Review and Reflection Workshop
On November 9, 2023, DPNet Nepal, in collaboration with USAID Tayar Nepal, organized the SUDRIDH Project-Participatory Review and Reflection Workshop. The event, presided over by Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa, Chairperson of DPNet, featured discussions led by Mr. Kshitiz Paudel, Program Coordinator, highlighting the project’s phases and learnings. Guests including Mr. Tirtha Raj Joshi from USAID Tayar Nepal, Mr. Rishi Raj Acharya from MOFAGA, and Ms. Krishna Karkee from USAID Tayar Nepal, among others attended the event. Mr. Thapa expressed gratitude for Tayar’s support and acknowledged DPNet’s dedication to transparently achieving project goals. The event concluded with feedback for improvements and emphasized ongoing activities, such as earthquake response in Jakarkot and Bajhang, policy discussions, and coordination efforts. The event aimed to foster collaboration for future disaster risk reduction planning.
Provincial Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (PPDRR) Formed
The Provincial Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction has been formed in the Sudurpashchim Province on 8th Noveember, 2023. In support of Mercy Corps Nepal, NEEDS Nepal and DPNet, the program was organized jointly by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law and was attended by Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah, Minister of Internal Affairs and Law Shivaraj Bhatta, Member of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Dr. Gangalal Tuladhar, and the representative of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, Smita Paudel, among others.
Multi-Stakeholder Doda Watershed Platform Formed
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.
DPNet Discussion on the Jajarkot Earthquake
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.