Kathmandu, 21 July 2026 — More than 100 representatives from federal, provincial and local governments, alongside development partners, academia, civil society and the United Nations, gathered today in Birendranagar, Surkhet, for the national workshop "Insights on post-earthquake recovery: Experiences from Western Nepal and beyond." The event provided a platform to reflect on Nepal's recovery journey following the devastating November 2023 Jajarkot earthquake and to share lessons for strengthening resilient recovery and disaster preparedness nationwide.  

Jointly organised by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with support from the Government of Japan, the workshop brought together key stakeholders involved in the Livelihoods Improvement and Disaster Resilience Enhancement (LIDRE) project.

The sessions highlighted practical lessons from recovery efforts across five heavily affected municipalities in Jajarkot and Rukum West. Through the LIDRE project, local governments have been supported in restoring essential public services, rehabilitating community infrastructure, strengthening livelihoods, and enhancing overall disaster preparedness. Participants also exchanged local experiences alongside international perspectives from the Great East Japan Earthquake and recent recovery efforts in Afghanistan, underscoring the critical need to integrate resilience into long-term recovery planning and local governance.

A key highlight of the event was the launch of a coffee table book, ‘RESILIENCE BUILDING’, and an impact video, ‘FROM RUINS TO RESILIENCE’. Documenting stories of recovery and hope from Jajarkot and Rukum West, these impact products capture the initial destruction caused by the earthquake and the collective, resilient rebuilding efforts led by local communities, governments, and the project. The workshop also featured a showcase of local products manufactured in project-supported Common Facility Centres (CFCs), highlighting the successful revitalisation of local enterprises.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Vijaya Singh, Assistant Resident Representative (Environment, Climate and Resilience) of UNDP Nepal, emphasised the importance of translating recovery experiences into future action.

"Recovery is not simply about rebuilding damaged infrastructure—it is about restoring dignity, strengthening institutions, and creating opportunities for communities to thrive again," said Mr. Singh. "The experiences from Jajarkot demonstrate that when local governments, communities, and development partners work together, recovery can become a pathway towards greater resilience. The impact products launched today celebrate these inspiring stories while reminding us that the lessons learned must continue to shape Nepal's disaster recovery policies and practices."

Mr. Yasuharu Shinto, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan, reaffirmed Japan's commitment to supporting Nepal's resilience journey.

"Japan has experienced the devastating impacts of earthquakes and understands that recovery is a long-term process requiring strong partnerships and local leadership," Mr. Shinto stated. "We are proud to support Nepal through this initiative with UNDP and the Government of Nepal, helping communities recover while strengthening their preparedness for future disasters. We hope the lessons shared today will contribute to more resilient communities across the country."

Mr. Pradip Kumar Koirala, Chief Executive and Joint Secretary of NDRRMA, highlighted the vital need to institutionalise lessons learnt from these on-the-ground recovery efforts.  

"The experiences from Jajarkot provide valuable evidence that disaster recovery must go beyond reconstruction and focus equally on strengthening governance, preparedness and resilient livelihoods,” said Mr Koirala. “NDRRMA remains committed to working with all partners to ensure these lessons inform national recovery policies and future disaster risk reduction initiatives."

 The workshop concluded with a shared commitment among government agencies and development partners to strengthen collaboration, promote knowledge sharing and apply the lessons from Jajarkot to future disaster recovery initiatives across Nepal.  
 

For more information, please contact:  Monica Upadhyay, Head of Communications, UNDP Nepal, monica.upadhyay@undp.org, + 977-9841343953  

About LIDRE project: With support from the People of Japan, the “Livelihoods Improvement and Disaster Resilience Enhancement in the Areas Affected by the Jajarkot Earthquake (LIDRE)” project is being implemented from March 2025 to July 2026 across five local governments in Karnali Province: Nalgad Municipality, Bheri Municipality, and Barekot Rural Municipality in Jajarkot district, as well as Aathbiskot Municipality and Sanibheri Rural Municipality in Rukum West district. Following the earthquake of 3 November 2023, the project aims to support recovery and strengthen long-term resilience by enhancing local government capacity for service delivery, supporting reconstruction efforts, and revitalising livelihoods in the affected communities.