With the summer holidays just around the corner, we are proud to end the first six months of the year with the news that we have landed another project with support from CISU: The Everest Network II .
When the first phase of the network started two years ago, five small local associations were on board. They had experienced the 2015 earthquake and the floods of 2021. They saw how the influx of humanitarian aid and reconstruction projects did not take into account the local needs as articulated by the population, nor was local knowledge utilized.
They realized the vast gap between the knowledge of local communities and the so-called expert knowledge coming from outside. They felt inadequate as they “lacked a language/capability” concerning climate change. They realized that they needed more knowledge, if they were to act optimally on behalf of their communities.
Along the way, the network has grown to include 20 local associations. Seven of them have partners in Denmark. The organizations are spread across Nepal and are challenged by very different climate-related issues. The local associations – or CBOs, as they are called in development jargon (community based organizations) vary in size and capacity. Some organizations were quite fragile and were networking for the first time, while others were well established.
The network collaboration fostered something as rare in Nepal as mutual support across organizations. Various communication channels were created, such as a WhatsApp platform and a virtual support group where members chat daily and debate issues. The network’s statutes, vision and administrative routines were all cemented during the project. Today, the network is robust and has a growing knowledge of climate issues. They want to continue learning, support weaker CBOs in the group and put a strong focus on advocacy.
Among the unforeseen project outcomes, the network hosted two organizations from Kenya that came to explore networking forms. The Kenyan organizations are now in regular contact and exchange knowledge and ideas. Kenya has established a network in line with the Everest Network’s way of working.
The project’s final report received very positive feedback from CISU and was positively highlighted in the independent report on climate adaptation projects commissioned by CISU in the spring. Just Nepal Foundation, JNF, acts as the coordinating CBO for the network in partnership with CICED.
We have now received almost DKK 200,000 to strengthen the network further. The project document states that over the next 14 months, we will further focus on
- Create an inclusive network of local, implementing CBOs that will inspire and leverage each other’s resources to meet the challenges of climate change better.
- Gain a better understanding of how to support communities and local authorities in adapting to the growing uncertainty brought about by climate change and ensure preparedness to mitigate the consequences of natural and climate-related disasters.
- Advocate for communities to be key players in designing, planning and implementing interventions.
- Transform disaster response and funding from a reactive model to a proactive model.
When we return after the summer break, we look forward to telling you more about this and our other projects, as well as new initiatives to strengthen our communication with members and other interested parties. Then, we’ll reveal what kind of world CICED is working for.
Until then, we wish you all
a wonderful summer
