The “Emergency Preparedness and Response: From Anticipation to Action” project is being implemented in Nepal by the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF with funding from The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) for the period of 2025-27. Nepal is highly vulnerable to disasters, facing recurring threats from events such as earthquakes, floods and landslides across its diverse geography—from the Terai plains to the Hills and Mountain regions. These hazards frequently cause damage to human lives and infrastructure, disrupt livelihoods, and strain national response capacities, reversing hard-earned development gains. This project aims to absorb the shocks and impact of disasters on communities through anticipatory action (AA) and coordinated response mechanisms for medium-scale disasters. The project consists of 2 main components: (i) Anticipatory Action (which will be implemented in Koshi and Karnali River basins) and (ii) Humanitarian Response (which will be activated for medium-scale disasters in any part of the country). The response activities will be implemented in accordance with the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) preparedness and response plans or in the event of an unforeseen disaster at the request of the Government of Nepal (NDRRMA).
The Water and Climate Program at NDRI is conducting the independent baseline assessment of the project. The baseline assessment aims to develop an evidence-based understanding of pre-intervention conditions concerning disaster preparedness, governance, and coordination systems; institutional readiness for AA and medium-scale post-disaster response; and the capacity of government systems to implement Shock Responsive Social Protection (SRSP) Guidelines and AA mechanisms.
Team Members:
- Dr. Shankar Shrestha (Team Leader)
- Mr. Pramit Ghimire (DRR / AA Expert)
- Dr. Shikha Thapa Magar (DRR Analyst and GEDSI Expert)
- Mr. Ram Prasad Devkota (Field Coordinator)
- Ms. Sophiya Shrestha (Research Assistant)
Geographical Coverage:
- Janaki Rural Municipality, Kailali District, Sudurpaschim Province, Nepal
- Rajapur Municipality, Bardiya District, Lumbini Province, Nepal
- Barahakshetra Municipality, Sunsari District, Koshi Province, Nepal
- Hanumannagar Kankalini Municipality, Saptari District, Madhesh Province, Nepal
