The Climate Smart Village (CSV) or Resilient Mountain Village (RMV) concept encompasses a collaborative, gender and socially inclusive and integrated approach to adapting to climatic, social, economic, and ecological changes. The CSV approach fosters a sustainable development outlook that involves complementary technologies and practices that enhance resilience building. The Government of Nepal has prioritized the implementation of the CSV concept in 41 municipalities across Nepal, as part of its efforts to help vulnerable communities adapt to the increasing impacts of climatic and other changes.

In August 2018, a Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed between ICIMOD and the Department of Environment (DoENV), Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE), particularly to promote resilience-building solutions in Nepal by strengthening capacities on resilience practices and upscaling promising adaptation and resilience solutions. A key component of the LoI pertains to building the capacity of local governments on implementing CSVs. During the time of the LoI signing, ICIMOD and the DoENV jointly conducted a national-level orientation on climate-resilient villages in Nepal for local government officials, including participants from 41 municipalities prioritized by the government. The workshop concluded that a learning hub would be created at the provincial level to implement the CSV concept and that support would be provided for strengthening the capacities of local governments on adopting the CSV approach.

As a follow up, a provincial-level orientation on strengthening the capacities of local governments on climate-resilient villages in Nepal is being organized in Dadeldhura District from 27 to 29 August 2019 by ICIMOD, in collaboration with the Department of Environment; MoFE; the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment (MoITFE); Sudurpaschim Province; and the Center for Environmental and Agricultural Policy Research, Extension and Development (CEAPRED). The workshop participants will include executive officers of local governments where CSV implementation has been planned and others representing municipalities with potential CSV sites in Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces.

Objectives

The overall objective of the orientation is to build the capacity – in regards to practical knowledge and understanding of CSV concepts and solutions – of executive officers responsible for the field implementation of the CSV approach.

Expected outcomes

• Enhanced understanding on the CSV concept, climate-resilient technologies, and good practices
• Defined approach for the Government of Nepal’s CSV policies and programmes
• Action plan for provincial CSV hubs
• Ideas for operationalizing and scaling CSVs

Event Group Photo