Background

National Disaster Risk Reduction Centre (NDRC Nepal) works closely on disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation (CCA), natural resource management, and contemporary socio-economic issues. The major modes of work of the NDRC are research, evaluation, project implementation, and knowledge management. It has altogether reached 69 out of 77 districts in Nepal through various different development initiatives in terms of both research works, consultancy services as well as project implementation. NDRC has a pool of experienced human resources with expertise in the fields of DRR, CCA, good governance, rights-based approach, and advocacy works with governments, bilateral, UN agencies, non-government, and civil society institutions.

NDRC first came into being in 2003 and was later registered in 2007 with District Administration Office Kathmandu. It is also affiliated with the Social Welfare Council (SWC) of the Government of Nepal.

NDRC Nepal had worked in a number of countries in the South Asia region including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. It has well-established networks with government line agencies and strong partnerships with national and regional organizations and development agencies.

NDRC deploys DRR information and systems to reduce local, national, and regional risk across South Asia. Its portfolio focuses on DRM capacity building, improving DRM for cities and climate change, mainstreaming DRM into national and local development, improving DRM systems, and undertaking disaster risk assessments.

Vision

Building a resilient society.

Mission

Mainstreaming DRR and CCA into development plans and policies.

Goal

Enhance the capacity of people and institutions towards disaster resilience through Social and economic development of the communities.

Objectives

  • To aware and sensitize people at risk to prepare and cope with impending disaster,
  • To reduce the vulnerability caused by different hazards and promote sustainable mitigation measures,
  • To contribute to seismic risk assessment, particularly in the context of the earthquake,
  • To advocate for a favorable and supportive policy environment for the effective implementation of DRR and CCA initiatives in both rural and urban areas,
  • To increase the effectiveness of civil society and promote the role of civilians to contribute towards building resilient communities,
  • To implement projects, conduct research, case studies, lessons learned, and good practices for wider dissemination.

Strategies

NDRC Nepal is adhering following strategies for better development gains:

  • Strengthen local alliances through linkage, coordination, and networking
  • Organize people and evidence-based advocacy and campaigning
  • Develop local volunteers, human resources, and institutions for synergy in DRR and CCA
  • Collaborate with the media to aware, advocate and disseminate DRR and CCA information
  • Maintain political neutrality and practice the ‘do-no-harm’ principle
  • Promote equal and inclusive practices in DRR and CCA
  • Enlarge national and international collaboration for effective DRR and CCA initiatives
  • Advance knowledge management practices for the cross-fertilization of knowledge

Key involvement

So far, NDRC Nepal has been involved in the following key actions and interventions with different national and international actors (Government of Nepal, NGO/INGO, UN and bilateral agencies in Nepal, and academic institutions like the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), and various institutions in South Asian countries).

  • Technical feasibility needs assessment for DRR and CCA and humanitarian response,
  • Resilience in the Education Sector, Promotion of a Comprehensive School Safety Framework and development of a School Disaster Preparedness Plan
  • Hospital Safety and Hospital Preparedness Plan including, a). Structural and operational vulnerability assessment, b). Physical and operational strengthening, and c). Awareness raising
  • WASH and Water Resources Management, Flood Management
  • DRR and CCA capacity-building initiatives,
  • Specialized study on seismic assessment, HEALTH, WASH, SPHERE, inclusive development,
  • Baseline survey; KAP (knowledge, attitude, and practice) survey; gap and phasing out the study,
  • Prepare manual on DRR and CCA, Emergency Management,
  • Participatory Vulnerability Analysis (PVA) and protection-related assessment,
  • Participatory project planning,
  • DRR and CCA related Monitoring and Evaluation,
  • Good Practices and Lesson Learned Studies.

Key focus areas

NDRC Nepal contributes in, but is not limited to, the following sectors:

  • Urban resilience (DRR and CCA),
  • Formulation of disaster risk management plan at VDC, wards/municipality, and district level,
  • Strengthen Disaster Management Committees (DMC), Emergency Operation Centers (EOC) at Province, District, and Local levels.
  • Contribute to the localization of the global development and humanitarian framework SFDRR, SDGs, Paris Agreement on Climate, New Urban Agenda (Habitat III), and New Humanitarian Agenda,
  • Implementation of NAPA and LAPA,
  • Carry out social and economic impact,
  • Assessment of Earthquake Disaster Risk in urban and rural areas,
  • Water Resource Management – WASH and Irrigation facilities
  • Research on ‘building code’ and ‘land use plan’,
  • Research and development work in ‘making cities disaster resilient’,
  • Urban Disaster Risk Management,
  • Climate variability and change/climate risk management,
  • Emergency preparedness and response system development,
  • Geological hazard risk management,
  • Early warning systems,
  • Risk assessment (in the multi-hazard context).
  • Pandemic and Health Emergency Management