Donation
Sajag-Nepal is a research project on ‘Planning and preparedness for the mountain hazard and risk chain in Nepal’ is a UK Global Challenges Research Fund-supported project focusing on multi-hazards and systemic risks in Nepal. The project was designed as an equitable partnership between practitioners, government and academics as a team from Nepal, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand with their shared interests and responsibilities for improved disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) in Nepal. The project partners include Government of Nepal (MoHA), Durham University, Northumbria University, University of Canterbury, Newcastle University, NSET, Social Science Baha, DFID, University of Oxford, Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network (ADRRN), Tribhuvan University, University of Bristol, UNRCO Nepal, University of Auckland, University of British Columbia, BBC Media Action.
DURATION: 2020 – December 2024
FUNDING: UK/GCRF
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
This program aims to improve decision-making and preparedness around the mountain hazard chain in Nepal. For that, the project has following objectives:
• Understand how people experience multi-hazard and risk,
• Develop the first national-scale multi-hazard inventory,
• Develop national-scale preparedness plans for earthquake-related and monsoon-related multihazards,
• Develop new ways to embed local, natural, and social scientific knowledge of the mountain hazard and risk chain in preparedness and response.
WORK PACKAGES
This research is designed to make a significant difference to the ways in which residents, government, and the international community take decisions to manage multi-hazards and system risks. The Sajag Nepal Project has 4 major work-packages
(a) thinking critically about the social, political, economic, and environmental context within which
disasters occur in Nepal;
(b) establishing a new approach to national- and provincial-scale planning for complex multi-hazard
events, including those triggered by earthquakes and monsoons;
(c) developing interdisciplinary science to anticipate and communicate the range of hazards that
occur during the annual monsoon; and
(d) find the best ways to utilize local knowledge
PROGRAM FOCUS
• Contextualize the contemporary multi-hazard and systemic risk landscape in Nepal, and develop the first national-scale multi-hazard inventory (support NDRRMA and Municipalities),
• Develop national-scale preparedness plans for earthquake-related multi-hazards (support GoN/UNRCO),
• Develop national- and municipality-scale plans for seasonal, monsoon-related multi-hazards (support GoN/UN RCO and Municipalities); and
• Develop new ways to embed local, natural, and social scientific knowledge of the mountain hazard and risk chain in preparedness and response.
GEOGRPHICAL COVERAGE
The program has been implemented in 4 districts (Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha, Kavrepalanchowk and Myagdi), 3 out of the 14 quakemost- affected districts and one in western Nepal. It covers five local governments including 10 locations/communities for detailed community research, where the county as the study area for multiple objectives.
PROGRAM IMPACTS
• Understanding Risks: The project explores socio-political and economic factors shaping systemic risks and multi-hazard environments.
• Resident-Focused: Risk managers are encouraged to prioritize residents’ needs, considering their physical, social, and political contexts.
• Empowering Local Governments: The initiative helps local governments enable collective risk management by using local and new information for better planning.
• Strengthening Disaster Preparedness: Collaboration with UN and HCT ensures disaster preparedness is based on the best science and awareness of socio-political risk factors.
• Building National Capacity: Works with the Government of Nepal to enhance national level understanding of earthquake and monsoon hazards.
• Developing Future Leaders: Supports 10 early-career researchers with training to build the next generation of risk specialists.
• Earthquake Modelling: Developed models estimating damage from the Mw5.7Jajarkot EQ.
• Monitoring Mid-hills: Since 2022, monitoring unstable slopes to study the link between rainfall, groundwater, and landslides, sharing findings with local governments.
Through these efforts, Sajag-Nepal has been contributing in establishing foundation for strategic, evidence-based planning to address the complex challenges posed by multi-hazard risks in Nepal.