Inclusive governance and post-disaster recovery in Nepal
The past two decades have seen significant instability and natural disaster in Nepal. VSO is one of the few organisations to have sustained its operations throughout this period of conflict, disaster and fragility.
Today, VSO uses the knowledge and credibility built throughout these years to contribute to a more stable and inclusive Nepal. This is achieved both through specific governance inclusion projects and by cutting across our work in all other thematic areas.
Judith Hill
Volunteers survey a camp for people displaced by the 2015 earthquakes at Dhading, Nepal
National Disaster Recovery Coordination Secretariat
Following Nepal’s earthquakes in 2015, the transition from emergency response to recovery and reconstruction was hampered by a fragile and complex political situation. Over 100 international non-governmental organisations (INGOs), along with many government agencies and countless local organisations and individuals responded to the disaster.
Despite the best efforts and intentions of these players, a coordination gap between them created a risk of duplication of efforts, confusion and failure to share and scale best practices. Some of the most vulnerable people were not being reached.
With funding from the UK's Department for International Development (DFID), VSO has partnered with the Association of INGOs in Nepal to develop an innovative National Disaster Recovery Coordination Secretariat (NDRCS). Its role is to:
- coordinate and manage information between all participating agencies
- share best practices
- improve government and (I)NGO response/recovery communication channels
- strengthen coordination and coherence across the 14 most affected districts.
Since it was established at the beginning of 2016, the NDRCS has become an essential body for support, information and coordination for agencies across all 14 affected districts.