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Our Projects · Disaster Risk Management & Ecosystem Restoration

Rain Communities NepalPhase 2

Communautés de pluie – Phase 2

With three Nepali partners, ten rain-fed communities in Kaski and Chitwan are restoring springs, ponds and forests and building more resilient farms.

OngoingDisaster Risk Management & Ecosystem Restoration2023–2026 (three years)
© Kanchan Nepal
WherePokhara area (Kaski District) and Tobang area (Chitwan District), Nepal
When2023–2026 (three years)
WithKanchan Nepal, LI-BIRD and SVSI
Rainfall≈ 1,500 mm a year in Nepalnational average, World Bank; local figure to add

Targets

  • about2,000households in 10 rain communities
  • 75household rainwater tanks of 8 m³
  • 5improved springs
  • 6nurseries and 2 seed banks

The Challenge

Homes in the hills of Kaski and Chitwan are scattered in hamlets on steep slopes. Gravity-fed systems serve families lower down, but hilltop households often run short of water in the dry season. They rely on springs 50 to 100 metres below the villages, and spring flows are falling as rainfall becomes more erratic. Deforestation and poor soils increase runoff and erosion, so less rain recharges groundwater and harvests decline.

Average monthly rainfall and temperature in Nepal, 1991–2020
Rain in Nepal: about 1,500 mm a year, mostly June to September (monsoon). Source: World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (observed 1991–2020) and World Bank average precipitation.

What We Do

  • Study each catchment with communities, using participatory 3D models, and develop or strengthen two Water Use Master Plans with local authorities.
  • Build 75 household rainwater tanks of 8 m³ and improve five springs with storage tanks and clean, secure collection points.
  • Restore pokharis (traditional ponds) and look for new sites higher up the slopes, to slow runoff and recharge groundwater.
  • Plant trees, create six nurseries and revive fodder trees for livestock.
  • Support 35 families with agroecological production, set up and strengthen two community seed banks, and train farmers in beekeeping and marketing.
  • Run WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) training, build improved toilets for the most vulnerable households, and install automatic weather stations.

Progress So Far

  • 2024: 77 farmers from five rain communities around Tobang (Gurkesh, Kaule, Chhap Dada, Tobang and Hattibang) were trained in beekeeping. 80 beehives are to be distributed, co-financed by Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality.
  • Automatic weather stations, including one at Janapriya Blue School in Tobang, now share rainfall and weather data online.
  • SVSI and LI-BIRD have run agroecology training. In Chhap Dada, a women's group that already stores rainwater now receives SVSI support for vegetable gardening.

Expected Results

  • All local stakeholders carry out a shared plan for water and land management.
  • Ecosystem functions are strengthened; about 7,500 households benefit from reforestation.
  • Water supply infrastructure improves water security for families.
  • Farm yields and family incomes increase.
  • Communities have stronger technical knowledge and skills.

थोपा थोपा गर्दा घैँटो भरिन्छ।

“Drop by drop, the water jar fills.”

Nepali proverbproverb: wording and translation to check with our local partner

On the Ground

Swipe or use the arrows, and click on a photo to enlarge it.

Terraced landscape in Nepal supported by rainwater management and ecosystem regeneration · © Kanchan Nepal
Community members in Nepal creating a 3D map to understand their landscape and water resources · © Kanchan Nepal
Rainwater harvesting tank in Nepal displaying the message “Catch, Store and Use Rain” · © Kanchan Nepal
Members of a rain community gathered for knowledge exchange and good practices in Nepal · © Kanchan Nepal
Woman collecting water from a restored spring in Nepal · © Kanchan Nepal
Traditional retention pond pokhari in Nepal · © Kanchan Nepal
Rainwater harvesting tank in Nepal decorated with community drawings · © Kanchan Nepal
Reforestation project in Nepal restoring degraded land · © Kanchan Nepal

Partners and Funders

  • Implementing partners: Kanchan Nepal · LI-BIRD · SVSI
  • Local authorities: Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality (co-financing beehives) · Madi Rural Municipality
  • Funders: Fédération genevoise de coopération (FGC) · Swisslos – Canton of Aargau · Services Industriels de Genève (SIG) to verify: other funders

Resources

PDFProject factsheetPDF, English, 0.9 MB

From Our Blog Archive

archived posts: to re-publish on the new site, then update these links

Related Projects

Rain Communities Nepal – Phase 12019–2021 (two years)Blue Schools Chitwan – Janapriya (Tobang) and Adarsha2022–2024 (Adarsha completed in December 2023)Rain Communities Sri Lanka2025–2028 (three years)

Every Drop Restores

Help communities catch, store and use the rain.

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