RAIN is a consortium-based project lead by PIN, DCA as consortium partner. The overall localization and inclusion sub-thematic focus will be led by PIN and the national sub-leads Prerana and CSRC. Early warning will be led by PIN in close collaboration with Youth Innovation Lab (YIL), UK Met (technical partner), and with the potential contribution of the Czech Hydro meteorological Institute. Community Resilience and Adaptation will be led by DCA and the national sub-leads for this thematic area will be LI-BIRD across the provinces.

RAIN will be implementing in 15 Palikas (8 core LGs and 7 are connecting LGs) in Madhesh Province and 6 (3 are core LGs whereas 3, supporting LGs) in Lumbini. The project is funded by Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). RAIN aims to improve community resilience and adaptation for 6050 households from core palikas and 2500 from connecting palikas.

RAIN has been developed to support and enhance the overall climate resilience goals of the FCDO BEK RAIN programme, specifically aimed at improving the resilience and safety of the most at-risk communities. Comprehensive community-led initiative can provide considerable additional benefits and sustainable expansion to the RAIN programme in reaching the most vulnerable and marginalized populations in the Madhesh and Lumbini provinces affected by disasters by the year 2029. To accomplish this, RAIN will employ evidence-based strategies to customize implementation for building resilience in a systemic manner, focusing on localization, inclusion, and utilizing financial resources to aid in adaptation across various contexts in the targeted provinces. The RAIN Theory of Change has two intermediate outcomes that will concentrate on 1) improving community resilience, and 2) reinforcing sub-national governmental systems related to early warning (EW), early action (EA), and adaptation. These objectives will be achieved through four outputs.

1. CBOs and vulnerable communities understand, and actively participate in EWS, EA and resilience/adaptation.
2. The provincial government system for EWS/forecasting for multi-hazards is strengthened or set up.
3. NDRRMA’s and PG’s EA and response capacities are strengthened based on data, and needs from the vulnerable communities.
4. LG’s EA and response capacities are strengthened based on data, needs and demand from the vulnerable communities.

The RAIN consortium will collaborate with and empower 121 community-based organizations (CBOs) that represent the most marginalized groups in 21 local governments (LGs) across two provinces. Through training sessions and sub-grants, these CBOs will actively co-develop and engage in early warning systems (EWS), early action (EA), and adaptation initiatives in their communities. In partnership with national thematic sub-leads and leads, the CBOs will enable and hold accountable local and provincial governments (LG, PG), along with RAIN technical assistance (TA) and other stakeholders, focusing on the crucial task of “unlocking fiscal resources” for early warning, early action, and adaptation efforts.