Nepal's path towards strengthened water security, resilient institutions, and inclusive climate resilience.
Organizers: Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS), Government of Nepal; International Water Management Institute (IWMI); Center for Indigenous People's Research and Development (CIPRED); CGIAR Climate Action; CGIAR Policy Innovations; Water Resilience Tracker (WRT)
Nepal is highly vulnerable to climate change, with increasingly frequent and intense climate-related disasters, such as the Rasuwa-Bhotekoshi disaster of 26 August 2026 and subsequent Budhi Gandaki flash flood. These events demonstrated how high-mountain hazards can cascade along river corridors, resulting in significant economic impact: the Rasuwa-Bhotekoshi disaster caused an estimated USD 2.77 billion in losses and damages and USD 4.77 billion in recovery needs (NDRRMA, 2026). Beyond disasters, declining springs, limited access to safely managed drinking water, fragmented governance, and institutional capacity gaps are intensifying water insecurity in the region. These pressures disproportionately affect smallholder farmers, women, children, older people, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, and marginalized communities.
Water is a vital link to food security, energy security, tourism, livelihoods and ecosystems. It is central to climate adaptation and resilience, yet investment in water security and climate-resilient water systems remains inadequate. In this context, this high-level side event will examine Nepal's recent disasters to understand emerging climate-induced water risks and identify priority actions, investments, and partnerships to keep hazards from becoming disasters.
Notably, this side event will be an opportunity to think strategically about Nepal's path towards strengthened water security, resilient institutions, and inclusive climate resilience.