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) to strengthen Nepal’s disaster risk reduction and management and support the development of climate-resilient infrastructure. This partnership reaffirms their joint commitment to helping the Government of Nepal address growing climate challenges, as the country faces increasing threats from floods, droughts, landslides, and glacier melt that continue to cause severe human and economic losses. Key nature-dependent sectors, particularly hydropower, which is vital to Nepal’s economic growth, remain especially vulnerable to these hazards.
Arnaud Cauchois, ADB Country Director for Nepal, emphasized the urgency of investing in climate-resilient infrastructure and disaster risk management, noting that such investments strengthen communities, protect assets, create jobs, and drive long-term economic growth. He highlighted that through enhanced coordination and technical cooperation, ADB, IDA, and SDC aim to help Nepal build resilience to climate impacts and ensure sustainable benefits for its people. The agencies plan to work closely with the Government of Nepal on advancing resilient infrastructure, particularly within the Dudh Koshi River Basin in Koshi Province, including planned and ongoing hydropower investments.
David Sislen, World Bank Division Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, underlined the importance of placing resilience at the core of Nepal’s development agenda, given its high vulnerability to natural disasters and climate shocks. The partnership will leverage collective expertise and resources to reduce risks, protect communities and livelihoods, and promote sustainable development. It focuses on strengthening multi-hazard risk assessment models, establishing robust early warning systems, advancing climate risk management and financing mechanisms, and promoting knowledge exchange and institutional capacity building across government and local stakeholders.
Ambassador Arno Wicki, SDC Assistant Director General and Head of the Division for Asia–Americas, reaffirmed Switzerland’s long-standing commitment to Nepal’s sustainable development. He noted that Swiss experts from academia and the private sector will collaborate with Nepali counterparts, ADB, and IDA to co-create innovative solutions for disaster risk reduction and climate-resilient infrastructure. This initiative underscores Switzerland’s belief in inclusive, knowledge-driven partnerships that foster resilience and sustainability.
Through this joint initiative, ADB, IDA, and SDC reaffirm their dedication to supporting Nepal’s sustainable and resilient growth by improving coordination, avoiding duplication of efforts, and maximizing the impact of their shared expertise and financial resources.
