Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU: The Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank Group’s International Development Association (IDA), and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support Nepal in strengthening disaster risk management and developing climate-resilient infrastructure, amid rising climate-induced disasters across the country.
Nepal remains highly vulnerable to extreme weather events including floods, landslides, droughts, and glacial lake outburst floods—hazards that continue to claim lives, damage infrastructure, and undermine economic growth. Key economic sectors such as hydropower, which Nepal depends on for future energy exports and domestic supply, are particularly exposed to climate risks.
“Investing in climate-resilient infrastructure and disaster risk management has never been more critical,” said Arnaud Cauchois, ADB Country Director for Nepal. He emphasized that coordinated investments would help protect essential assets, create jobs, and support long-term economic growth. The three development partners will coordinate technical cooperation to ensure programs deliver sustainable benefits nationwide.
The partnership aims to collaborate with the Government of Nepal in planning and upgrading climate-resilient infrastructure, particularly within the Dudh Koshi River Basin in Koshi Province, where major hydropower developments and community settlements face increasing climate risks.
David Sislen, World Bank Division Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, stated that building resilience must be central to Nepal’s development strategy. “By joining forces, the ADB, World Bank, and SDC intend to leverage our collective expertise, resources, and commitment to support Nepal’s sustainable development,” he said.
Under the MoU, the agencies will work to:
Improve multi-hazard risk assessment and forecasting systems
Strengthen early warning networks and crisis preparedness
Expand climate risk financing and resilient infrastructure planning
Support institutional capacity building and local knowledge sharing
SDC’s Assistant Director General Ambassador Arno Wicki said Switzerland will deploy experts from academia and the private sector to work directly with Nepali institutions. He noted that the collaboration reflects Switzerland’s long-term engagement and commitment to knowledge-driven and inclusive development.
The agreement underscores a shared commitment to avoiding duplication, improving efficiency, and maximizing development impact in Nepal’s climate resilience and disaster preparedness efforts.
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