An ICLEI South Asia team visited Kathmandu to explore opportunities for engagement with the Ministry of Forest and Environment (MoFE), Government of Nepal, the Municipal Association of Nepal (MuAN) and other organisations for strengthening climate resilience, gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), and ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in the country.
The team held detailed discussions with MoFE officials, including Mr. Sharad Babu Pageni, Under Secretary; Mr. Yam Nath Pokhrel, Under Secretary; and Ms. Shila Gnyawali, Forest Officer, on the activities conducted under the second phase (2018-21) of the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) programme. The officials expressed interest in utilising the activities being conducted/ planned in CDKN Phase 3 (2022-2027) to upgrade or develop an inclusive Local Adaptation Plan of Action in one or two municipalities of Nepal.
The ICLEI South Asia team also met officials from MuAN as well as from Dhulikhel Municipality, which has requested support for upgrading its Voluntary Local Review of SDGs.
The CDKN programme aims to advance gender-equitable and socially-inclusive climate-resilient development by mobilising knowledge-into-action, capacity and Southern climate leadership from local to global levels. It is co-funded by the Royal Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS) and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC). ICLEI South Asia is the coordinator of CDKN Asia. The third phase of CDKN is focusing on accelerating equitable, financed and ecosystem-based action on climate change that is locally led and strengthens the voice and climate leadership of disadvantaged groups at the community level.