• Project Area: Promoting inclusive disaster risk reduction
• Project Duration: 2022-06-01 to 2025-01-31
• Donor: Arbeiter Samariter Bund (ASB) Germany; Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development-Germany

READ Nepal (RN) and Arbeiter Samariter Bund (ASB) Germany initiated the journey of mutual partnership in Nepal after the earthquake in 2015 with the idea to construct a disability-accessible library integrated with the social components. The journey of the mutual partnership began with the reconstruction of two disability-accessible Community Library and Resource Centers (CLRCs), namely Janajagaran in Nuwakot and Garurishankar in Dolakha, which were damaged by the earthquake. Since then, RN and ASB have completed three phases of the Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DiDRR) project successfully.

With financial and technical support from ASB Germany and in collaboration with CLRCs, the ongoing project "Increased resilience of communities (and especially at-risk groups) in Nepal and Bhutan through improved risk management and inclusive socio-economic development" is being implemented in Nepal and Bhutan. Persons with disabilities, older people, and marginalized groups who are most at risk in disasters are the project's major target participants. The project is being implemented in six districts of Nepal: Nuwakot, Dolakha, Nawalparasi-West, Dang, Chitwan, and Bardiya. The project focuses on three key areas. First, by raising awareness, providing training, and practicing, project participants will be better equipped to respond to disasters; second, the project participants will receive training, input support, and regular mentoring to enhance the risk-sensitive livelihood initiatives to mitigate the impacts of climate change; and third, collaborate with local governments to strengthen inclusive disaster risk reduction and management structures and mechanisms as well as climate change adaptation, keeping the project participants at the center of all inventions. Our continuous initiatives aim to assist Nepal's most-at-risk populations.

RN has provided humanitarian assistance to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in eight districts, Koshi flood, and landslide in Garurishankar Rural Municipality in Dolakha, in addition to its regular project interventions. Together, we strive to protect lives, alleviate suffering, and make a significant impact on the well-being of vulnerable communities during the difficult times