Back to news
25 Jun 2018 | Livelihoods

Celebrating World Environment Day 2018 at The Earthquake Reconstruction And Rehabilitation Project In Dhungentar, Nuwakot

2 mins Read

70% Complete

World Environment Day 2018 Event at Dhungentar: Brief Report.

Since 2016, ICIMOD in partnership with the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has been implementing a pilot demonstration project to reconstruct earthquake-damaged houses and build a resilient mountain village supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). On 5 June 2018, World Environment Day, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) organized an event at the site of an earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation project in Dhungentar, Nuwakot.

The event was inaugurated by the chair of the District Coordination Committee and the vice mayor of Bidur Municipality. Welcoming over 100 participants, Basanta Shrestha, Director of Strategic Cooperation at ICIMOD, spoke about the importance of building a resilient mountain village and how it enables public and private sectors to collaborate and build back better in the aftermath of the devastating 2015 earthquake. The day’s activities focused on showcasing the project’s progress in constructing disaster-resilient infrastructure, developing the community’s capacity, and improving and preserving the environment. Private sector organisations were invited in order to encourage future engagement in the resilience-building goal of the project.

Participants visited the community centre, still under construction, and learned about the multipurpose nature of the building. Community members will use the centre for meetings, workshops, trainings, health camps, child care, and as an information technology centre. During disasters, the centre can also be used as an emergency operation centre. Participants also visited the project’s agriculture model and model house, which showcased innovative, climate-smart technologies. Participants were introduced to the block production technology being used and the eco-friendly, cost-effective, and disaster-resilient qualities of the locally produced blocks. So far, 54 shelters and toilets in the settlement have been built using these blocks, and the community centre will also incorporate the interlocking block technology. As of 31 May, 92 houses are in advanced stages of construction.

The primary activity of the event—tree-plantation—was organized in Archale village. More than 200 trees of various species were planted in landslide-prone areas by Bidur Municipality local government leaders, NGO partners, settlement community members, and female students of Trishuli Medical College. This aimed to create local awareness on safeguards against landslides. The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves (GACC) showcased the environmental and health benefits of clean fuel in rural settings. In an interactive session, GACC explained the benefits of smoke-free kitchens and clean cookstoves.

In the closing ceremony, representatives from private sector organizations expressed their commitment to the settlement’s development or their interest in collaboration through a corporate social responsibility approach or business development plans. Lucent Drop announced its plan to set up a community-based drinking water system and provide access to clean drinking water. Dabur Nepal said it would continue to provide plant seeds for environment improvement; e-Sewa initiated its plan to provide access to digital services by setting up a vendor in the settlement; Shikhar Insurance discussed the possibility of providing agro and cattle insurance; South Asia Foundation discussed the suitability of the Amul cooperative model in the community; and Heifer International brought up prospective goat-rearing livelihood options.

2
3
1. Basanta Shrestha, Director of Strategic Cooperation, ICIMOD, welcoming participants to the event in the Dhungentar project site 2. Participants observe construction activities at the community centre site 3. Shantaman Tamang (centre), Chairman of the District Development Committee, Nuwakot, and Gita Dahal (third from left), Vice Mayor of Bidur Municipality, and officials from the Department of Forest visiting the agriculture model

Stay current

Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.

Sign Up

Related content

Continue exploring this topic

28 Sep 2016 News
Upper Indus Basin (UIB) Network Moots in Islamabad

The Technical Working Group (WG) and Strategic Committee Meetings of Upper Indus Basin (UIB) Network met 5 ...

8 Mar 2019 Gender in Koshi
Balance for better: Community enterprise for strengthening women entrepreneurship in Nepal

Business has largely been dominated by men across the world, and Nepal is no exception. Women usually need to be ...

29 Aug 2017 Himalica
Community Enterprise for Collective Vegetable Production and Marketing in Udayapur

ICIMOD and CEAPRED are helping three local farmers’ groups launch a common collection center and retail outlet under the Himalica ...

25 Jul 2017 Himalica
Farmers from Barshong Visit Gelephu, Sarpang Bhutan to Learn about Agricultural Practices

The farmers were on a five-day exposure trip to Gelephu organized by the Support to Rural Livelihoods and Climate Change ...

22 Sep 2015 News
SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SAARC CCI) and private sector engagement in climate change

The SAARC region is one of the most densely populated and ecologically vulnerable regions in the world housing more than 40 percent ...

28 Dec 2016 News
ICIMOD Scientist Receives Young Scientist Award from NAST

Santosh Nepal, a water and climate specialist at ICIMOD, has been awarded the prestigious ‘Young Science and Technology Award’ by ...

28 Aug 2023 News
Highlights from the 2nd meeting of the National Coordination Committee of India

On Thursday in New Delhi, India’s Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and […]

10 Jun 2016 KSL
Mapping Kailash Kora for Conservation and Promotion of Responsible Heritage Tourism

Researchers from Sichuan University, China visited the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Nepal 18-22 April 2016 to ...