KATHMANDU, Feb 20, 2017: Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) is set to launch a climate change adaptation project for building capacity of the indigenous peoples in Dang and Kanchanpur districts.  An agreement has been signed to this effect with Program for Aquatic Natural Resources Improvement (PANI) under USAID funding.

The project titled ‘Strengthening Capacity of Nepal’s Indigenous Nationalities to Adapt to Climate Change at the Grassroots and Central Levels’ aims to enhance capacity of indigenous peoples residing in lower Mahakalit and Ratpi watershed areas of those two districts to adapt to adverse effects of climate change through improved water management practices in their river basins, informed NEFIN Climate Change Partnership Program’s National Coordinator Tunga Bhadra Rai.

Under the project, NEFIN together with PANI, will collect and analyze data on local livelihoods and traditional water management practices of indigenous peoples of the Mahakali and Rapti river basins. NEFIN will conduct training based on the Civil Society Guide with the aim of enhancing the capacity of indigenous peoples of these watershed areas for implementation of participatory, multi-stakeholder integrated approach to water management, including recognition of the indigenous peoples’ customary laws and practices. The project is set to kick off beginning March 2017.