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Kathmandu, December 5: A national workshop on ‘Enhancing human security through local climate actions’ was organized to share insights on human security in Surkhet. The event was hosted by the Office of Chief Minister and Council of Ministers (OCMCM), Karnali Province, chaired by the Secretary, and supported by UNDP and the Government of Japan. It brought together government officials from key federal agencies and representatives from all seven provinces, local representatives from project municipalities, provincial representatives of the Municipal Association of Nepal (MuAN) and the National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal (NARMN), and representatives of development partners working in Surkhet.

In his opening remarks, Takahiro Tamura, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Japan said he was pleased to share that UNDP project interventions have brought positive changes to the communities in Nalgad Municipality and Barekot Rural Municipality of Jajarkot District. He mentioned that the capacity built through this project was very helpful during the response to the Jajarkot earthquake in November 2023, and said, “The support provided by UNDP trained volunteers as part during that time has highlighted the significance and importance of investing in building resilience”. He also expressed his hope that these interventions will be sustained and upscaled by the municipalities and other stakeholders. While he extended Japan’s deep gratitude to the UNDP, mentioning this programme made another successful example of Japan-UNDP cooperation, he added his expectation that the project will further strengthen the relationship between Japan and Nepal as well as deepen the friendship between the two countries.

Kyoko Yokosuka, Resident Representative of UNDP, stated, “Given the high vulnerability of Karnali Province, UNDP has been collaborating with the Government of Nepal including provincial and local governments, to implement various projects focused on governance, post-earthquake recovery and resilience. The ‘Leave No One Behind’ principle has been central to our approach.” She thanked the Government of Japan for their generous support, adding, “Through this partnership, we contributed to Nepal’s ongoing efforts to enhance the adaptive capacities of communities to cope with the impacts of climate change and facilitate post-earthquake recovery.”

Ananda Saru, Secretary of OCMCM Karnali Province emphasized the benefits of a comprehensive approach to climate change adaptation and resilience at the local level. He stressed that such activities will build the adaptive capacities of communities to respond to environmental hazards and unlock the region’s economic potential.

People’s News Monitoring Service.