Nepal Disaster Resilience Partnership: ADB, IDA, SDC Sign MoU for Climate-Resilience

Nepal Disaster Resilience Partnership

6th November 2025, Kathmandu

A crucial three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank Group’s International Development Association (IDA), and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

Nepal Disaster Resilience Partnership

This Nepal Disaster Resilience Partnership aims to provide concerted support to the Government of Nepal in significantly strengthening disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) while simultaneously building robust, climate-resilient infrastructure across the country.

The agreement actively addresses the escalating threats posed by climate-induced hazards. Nepal continually faces severe risks from floods, droughts, landslides, and glacier melt, which inflict immense human and economic losses and displace vulnerable communities. Sectors heavily reliant on nature, such as the crucial hydropower industry, are highlighted as particularly exposed to these compounding risks.

Investing in Resilient Growth and Job Creation

The development partners stress the economic imperative of this collaboration. Arnaud Cauchois, ADB Country Director for Nepal, affirmed the critical nature of these investments.

He stated that investing in climate-resilient infrastructure and disaster risk management has never been more vital. These investments will not only strengthen communities and safeguard essential assets but also actively generate jobs and foster long-term economic growth.

Through enhanced coordination and technical cooperation, the ADB, IDA, and SDC seek to ensure that their combined investments bring lasting benefits and increased resilience to people nationwide.

Strategic Focus and Collaboration Areas

The partners intend to work closely together to assist the Government of Nepal in developing resilient infrastructure. A key geographical focus will be advancing planned and existing investments, particularly within the hydropower sector inside the Dudh Koshi River Basin in Koshi Province.

This targeted approach aims to protect key economic drivers from devastating climate impacts. David Sislen, World Bank Division Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, emphasized that, as one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate shocks, building resilience is an imperative for Nepal.

Sustained efforts to reduce risks and prepare for crises must remain at the core of Nepal’s development agenda to protect communities, investments, and employment opportunities.

Key Pillars of the Partnership

The three-year partnership will concentrate on several high-impact areas designed to uplift Nepal’s institutional capacity and technical expertise:

• Risk Modeling and Early Warning: Enhancing multi-hazard risk assessment models and establishing comprehensive, effective early-warning systems to give communities time to prepare.
• Climate Financial Services: Advancing climate risk management and financial services specifically designed for climate-resilient infrastructure projects.
• Capacity Building: Promoting knowledge sharing and awareness while prioritizing joint analytical work, institutional strengthening, and comprehensive capacity building within government bodies and local stakeholders.

Ambassador Arno Wicki, SDC Assistant Director General, affirmed Switzerland’s strong commitment to sustainable development in Nepal.

He highlighted that SDC will mobilize a dedicated Swiss team of experts from academia and the private sector. These experts will co-develop innovative solutions for disaster risk reduction and resilient infrastructure alongside Nepali counterparts, ADB, and IDA.

The MoU explicitly reiterates the commitment of ADB, IDA, and SDC to improve coordination, actively avoid duplication of efforts, and strategically leverage their collective expertise and resources.

This united front is designed to maximize the positive impact on Nepal’s sustainable and resilient development journey.

For more: Nepal Disaster Resilience Partnership