Strengthening Community-Based Flood Early Warning Systems in the Ratu River through sustainability mechanism

Supported by DFAT: Government of Australia

About the event

The Lower Koshi River Basin (LKRB), home to over 8 million people, is one of the most vulnerable river basins in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region. It faces significant threats from multiple hazards and the growing impacts of climate change. The basin is particularly affected by the dual challenge of “Too Much and Too Little” (TMTL) water, resulting in water-induced disasters such as floods, and water shortages that affect livelihoods and basic needs in LKRB.

Through the “Building Capabilities for Green, Climate-Resilient, and Inclusive Development” (HI-GRID) project with support from Government of Australia, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is working to enhance resilience in such vulnerable river basins by promoting community-based, inclusive disaster risk reduction (DRR) solutions.

ICIMOD has been working with the local government bodies and its local partners in Nepal and across the LKRB to implement and scale up Community-Based Flood Early Warning Systems (CBFEWS), an early warning system designed to strengthen local preparedness by equipping community members and local institutions with the knowledge and tools to respond effectively to flood risks.

In 2015, a CBFEWS was established in the Ratu river, providing up to 3 hours of lead time for downstream communities. The system reaches around 64,000 people and has proven critical in saving lives and reducing losses. However, its long-term impact depends on sustained financing, institutional ownership, and integration into local planning. The successful implementation of CBFEWS requires close collaboration among community members, local governments, and technical partners.

To further strengthen the long-term sustainability of the system, one promising approach is the establishment of a “basket fund” that enables multiple stakeholders, such as local governments, development partners, and community-based organisations to contribute to a shared pool of resources. This coordinated funding model can support system maintenance, capacity building, and future upgrades, while promoting local ownership and accountability.

In this context, ICIMOD, in collaboration with the Community Development and Advocacy Forum Nepal (CDAFN) and other local stakeholders, is organising a one-day sustainability workshop focused on enhancing institutional and community ownership, exploring the basket fund, and strengthening the long-term operation of CBFEWS in the Ratu river basin.

Objectives

The main objective of the workshop is to:

• Facilitate a joint agreement with the vulnerable municipalities along the Ratu river to ensure the long-term sustainability of CBFEWS.
• Share good practices and lessons learned related to CBFEWS implementation, with a focus on institutionalising and sustaining the system through local ownership and collaboration

Expected outcomes

• Key stakeholders, including representatives from vulnerable municipalities, will sign a Letter of Cooperation(LoC) committing to the establishment of a basket fund dedicated to the sustainability of the CBFEWS in the Ratu river basin.