ADB, IDA, and Switzerland Partner to Strengthen Nepal’s Disaster Risk Management

Three major development partners of Nepal including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank Group’s International Development Association (IDA), and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reaffirming their shared commitment to support the Government of Nepal in strengthening disaster risk reduction and management and building climate-resilient infrastructure.

Issuing a joint statement on Wednesday, the  development partners noted that Nepal faces increasing threats from climate-induced hazards such as floods, droughts, landslides, and glacier melt, which continue to cause severe human and economic losses and displace communities. In particular, nature-dependent sectors, including hydropower—vital to the country’s economic growth—are particularly vulnerable to these impacts, reads the statement.

“Investing in climate-resilient infrastructure and disaster risk management has never been more critical. These investments will not only strengthen communities and safeguard essential assets but also create jobs and foster long-term economic growth,” the statement quoted Arnaud Cauchois, ADB Country Director for Nepal, as saying. “Through strengthened coordination and technical cooperation, ADB, IDA, and SDC aim to support Nepal in building resilience to climate impacts and ensuring that investments bring lasting benefits to people across the country,” said Arnaud Cauchois, ADB Country Director for Nepal.

The partner agencies have expressed their intention to collaborate in supporting the Government of Nepal in developing resilient infrastructure and advancing planned and existing investments, including in the hydropower sector, within the Dudh Koshi River Basin in Koshi Province.

“As one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate shocks and natural disasters, building resilience is an imperative for Nepal. Sustained efforts to reduce risks and prepare for crises must be at the heart of Nepal’s development agenda in order to protect communities, investments, and jobs. By joining forces, the ADB, World Bank, and SDC intend to leverage our collective expertise, resources, and commitment to support Nepal’s sustainable development,” said David Sislen, World Bank Division Director for the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

As per the statement, the partnership aims to strengthen Nepal’s disaster resilience by enhancing multi-hazard risk assessment models, establishing comprehensive early warning systems, advancing climate risk management and financial services for climate-resilient infrastructure, and promoting knowledge sharing and awareness. It will also emphasize joint analytical work, capacity building, institutional strengthening, and close technical collaboration with the Government of Nepal and local stakeholders.

“Switzerland is strongly committed to fostering resilience and sustainable development in Nepal. Through this partnership, a dedicated Swiss team of experts from academia and the private sector will be mobilized to engage with Nepali counterparts, ADB, and IDA to co-develop innovative solutions for disaster risk reduction and climate-resilient infrastructure. This collaboration reflects Switzerland’s long-standing engagement in the region and our belief in inclusive, knowledge-driven partnerships to build a safer, more sustainable future for Nepal,” said Ambassador Arno Wicki, SDC Assistant Director General and Head of the Division for Asia – Americas.

Through this partnership, ADB, IDA, and SDC reaffirmed their shared commitment to supporting Nepal’s sustainable and resilient development by improving coordination, avoiding duplication, and leveraging their collective expertise and resources for greater impact.