Building resilience in Nepal, one community at a time

Nestled in the hills of eastern Nepal, Suryodaya Municipality is quietly making waves as a model for disaster resilience. Since joining the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) initiative, led by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the municipality has embraced the Ten Essentials for Making Cities Resilient – transforming these guidelines into tangible, local action.

The Ten Essentials serve as a globally recognized framework developed under the MCR2030 initiative to guide cities in building their disaster risk reduction (DRR) and resilience capacities. Covering areas such as governance, risk identification, infrastructure, and response preparedness, the Ten Essentials offer a step-by-step roadmap that empowers local governments to assess vulnerabilities, prioritize actions, and implement practical solutions.

Turning global tools into local solutions

One of Suryodaya’s first steps was to make the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities more accessible by translating it into Nepali. This simple yet powerful move opened the door for more inclusive community engagement. During a validation workshop, emergency responders, civil society groups, and local leaders adapted the tool to fit local needs. The findings helped identify gaps in preparedness and guided the development of a GIS-based risk profile – now integrated into Nepal’s national DRR platform, Bipad.

Strengthening technical capacity

To turn data into action, the municipality invested in technical training for 24 staff in advanced GIS and drone mapping. Armed with ArcGIS tools and DJI Phantom 4 drones, they can now conduct hazard mapping and scenario analysis to better plan for floods, landslides, and other climate-related risks.

Community-led risk governance

Suryodaya’s approach is rooted in local ownership. At the heart of its strategy are the Tole – small neighborhood clusters within wards. Across the city, 201 Tole Development Committees (TDCs) have been formed, each representing 60 to 120 households. Every household nominates one representative, forming a grassroots network of over 320 active volunteers. These TDCs coordinate with ward and municipal officials to support preparedness, awareness-raising, and community mobilization. Because every household is involved, this model ensures that no one is left behind. 

Financing resilience where it matters most

The municipality is piloting innovative insurance schemes tailored to local risks. Working with civil society and local experts, Suryodaya launched agricultural and livestock insurance programmes to support smallholder farmers and herders vulnerable to landslides and floods. The municipality is also developing a DRR financing strategy to secure sustainable funding for resilience-building measures.

Safer cities through smarter planning

Guided by hazard risk mapping, the city has adopted land-use zoning regulations and now enforces Nepal’s national building code through a local oversight committee. These steps help ensure that new developments are safer and better protected against future shocks. 

Nature-based solutions and ecosystem restoration

Suryodaya’s citywide plantation drive reflects a growing commitment to nature-based solutions. Trees planted across the municipality help prevent erosion, protect water sources, and create natural buffers against climate and environmental hazards. 

Education, awareness, and engagement

Public awareness is central to the municipality’s strategy. From DRR-themed school curricula (Grades 1–8) to interactive theatre in underserved areas, Suryodaya is using creative approaches to spread life-saving knowledge. The municipality also established a Disaster Risk Reduction Learning Center to train residents in CPR, emergency kit preparation, and evacuation drills.

"When a gas leak at our school caused flames to burst out, everyone panicked. But thanks to the municipality’s training, I stayed calm and knew exactly what to do. With one simple technique, we prevented a major disaster. I’m truly grateful to our municipality", Manita Mukhya, Principal of Rose Valley Academy, said.
 

Youth leading the way

The Youth Empowerment in DRR initiative is preparing the next generation of resilience leaders. Fifty young people have been trained in emergency response, preparedness, and community outreach, ensuring that the city’s progress continues well into the future.

Planning for an uncertain future

Suryodaya’s Local Disaster and Climate Resilience Plan (LDCRP) was developed through a participatory process involving community members, experts, and municipal officials. The city is now developing its Local Adaptation Plan of Action (LAPA), taking a long-term view of climate threats and aligning resilience with broader development goals.

A model for other cities

Suryodaya’s journey was recently showcased at a national DRR workshop in Lalitpur, co-organized by CityNet, UNDRR, ICLEI South Asia, and Makati City, where participants from 12 municipalities recognized the city as a leading example of inclusive, practical resilience-building. In 2025, Suryodaya will share its experience at regional events, inspiring other cities across Nepal and beyond. 

"Follow the Ten Essentials and your city will become resilient. DRR can be difficult for people at first—take time to explain, and slowly, they will understand." Ran Bahadur Rai, Mayor of Suryodaya

Through whole-of-society engagement and strong local leadership, Suryodaya is showing that DRR and climate adaptation don’t have to be abstract concepts—they can be woven into everyday governance. Its model offers powerful lessons for other municipalities across Nepal and the Asia-Pacific region.