This speech by Izabella Koziell at the 3rd National Conference "Startup Nation 2030" highlights the vital role of green entrepreneurship in driving Nepal's industrial strategy. It underscores ICIMOD's commitment to fostering innovation, building capacity, and supporting sustainable startups that will lead Nepal into the fourth industrial revolution.
The Lal Bakaiya River, which flows through Bara and Rautahat districts in Madhesh province, in the southern lowlands of Nepal, poses a significant threat of flooding to over 260,000 residents living downstream. To understand this risk better, in 2023, ICIMOD conducted a study that included detailed analysis of flood risk and water scarcity, flood modelling, and consultations with residents. The study identified a critical need for a Community-Based Flood Early Warning System (CBFEWS) for the vulnerable communities living in the municipalities in the watershed.
ICIMOD worked with a local partner, Mandwi, to conduct a detailed scoping review and risk assessment of at-risk municipalities of Rautahat district. These municipalities were Gaur, Ishnath, Rajpur, Paroha, Dewahi Gonahi, Baudhimai, Gujara, Fatuwa Bijayapur, Maulapur, Kathariya, Rajdevi, Madhavnarayan, and Yamunamai. The team assessed the need to install monitoring instruments that are part of the CBFEWS, as well as the need to provide training on disaster response at the community level.
The CBFEWS system integrates technical and social tools to provide real-time early warning to at-risk communities. Its value lies in its ability to provide a lead time to downstream communities to respond to impending floods. This requires strong cooperation between people that live along the flood-prone river. As many of Nepal’s rivers are transboundary, the CBFEWS system has also been installed through cross-border collaboration between India and Nepal, as happened in 2017.
What makes the CBFEWS approach unique is that it encompasses the four pillars of the UN’s ‘Early Warnings for All’ initiative, which include:
- Disaster risk knowledge and management (led by UNDRR)
- Detection, observation, monitoring, analysis, and forecasting (led by WMO)
- Warning dissemination and communication (led by ITU)
- Preparedness and response capabilities (led by IFRC)
Importantly, the CBFEWS approach also includes an additional pillar – sustainability, which covers the financial, institutional, technological and social aspects of the CBFEWS.
ICIMOD held a workshop on 30 May 2024 to develop a mechanism for ensuring the sustainability of the CBFEWS installed at the Lal Bakaiya river. The event was held in Guar, which lies on the border of Nepal and India, and was attended by mayors and chief administrative officers of each of the municipalities. The workshop was a culmination of a long series of discussions that aimed to strengthen the community’s role in the maintenance and operation of the CBFEWS.
In the company of the Chief District Officer, Hiralal Regmi, all representatives from the 13 municipalities signed a cooperative agreement for the creation of a dedicated basket fund, where each municipality pledges to contribute approximately USD 750. The fund is to be used for the continued operation and maintenance of the system with the support of local stakeholders, including a caretaker, local municipalities and the local partner.
A similar agreement was signed in 2019 in Saptari district, where municipalities agreed to create a combined fund of USD 970 to support the functioning of a CBFEWS.
The CBFEWS agreement in Lal Bakaiya aims to strengthen cooperation among upstream and downstream municipalities within the flood-prone regions of the Lower Koshi River Basin in Nepal. The transboundary Koshi river is prone to water-induced hazards such as floods.
The agreement marks a crucial step towards ensuring the long-term sustainability of the CBFEWS. This collaborative effort will empower communities to build resilience against floods. As Hiralal Regmi, Chief District Officer of Rautahat, said, “I urge all municipalities to extend their support in institutionalising this initiative. Our district is highly vulnerable to the impacts of floods, and collaborative efforts like this are crucial for enhancing preparedness and response.”
This work is supported by the Building capabilities for green, climate resilient, and inclusive development in the Lower Koshi River Basin (HI-GRID) initiative. HI-GRID is supported by the Australian Government and implemented by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), local government organisations and project partners to enhance resilience towards the challenge of Too Much and Too Little water in the Lower Koshi River Basin in Nepal.