Japan, UNDP promote local climate actions in Jajarkot

Surkhet, Dec 5: A national workshop on ‘Enhancing human security through local climate actions’ was organized to share insights on human security.

The event was hosted by the Office of Chief Minister and Council of Ministers (OCMCM), Karnali Province, chaired by the Secretary, and supported by UNDP and the Government of Japan.

It brought together government officials from key federal agencies and representatives from all seven provinces, local representatives from project municipalities, provincial representatives of the Municipal Association of Nepal (MuAN) and the National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal (NARMN), and representatives of development partners working in Surkhet.

According to a joint press release by the Embassy of Japan in Nepal and UNDP, in the opening remarks, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Japan Takahiro Tamura said that he was pleased to share that UNDP project interventions have brought positive changes to the communities in Nalgad Municipality and Barekot Rural Municipality of Jajarkot District.

He mentioned that the capacity building through this project was very helpful during the response to the Jajarkot earthquake in November 2023, and said, “The support provided by UNDP trained volunteers as part of that time has highlighted the significance and importance of investing in building resilience”.

Resident Representative of UNDP, Kyoko Yokosuka, said that giving a high priority to the vulnerability of Karnali Province, UNDP has been collaborating with Nepal including provincial and local governments, to implement various projects focused on governance, post-earthquake recovery and resilience.

The ‘Leave No One Behind’ principle has been central to our approach.” She thanked the Government of Japan for their generous support

Secretary of OCMCM Karnali Province Ananda Saru emphasized the benefits of a comprehensive approach to climate change adaptation and resilience at the local level. He stressed that such activities will build the adaptive capacities of communities to respond to environmental hazards and unlock the region’s economic potential.

A photo book titled Building Resilience for Strengthening Human Security was also launched during the workshop.

The book showcases the collaborative effort of UNDP and the Government of Japan, under the leadership of the Government of Nepal, to strengthen human security through local climate actions in Karnali province.