LI-BIRD, with financial support from the European Union (EU) through Dan Church Aid (DCA), Nepal implemented a three-year project entitled ‘Enhanced Action of Inclusive CSOs for Participation in Climate Resilient Economic Growth (UTHAN)’ in Kanchanpur and Dailekh districts. The main responsibility of LI-BIRD in this project was to provide technical support to the local implementing partners, namely Nepal National Social Welfare Association (NNSWA) and Social Service Centre (SOSEC), based in Kanchanpur and Dailekh districts, respectively. 

The project aimed to promote inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient economic growth through meaningful CSOs participation and accountable local governance in Karnali and Sudurpashchim Pradesh (Provinces) of Nepal. The specific objectives of the project included:

1. Strengthening the capacity of CSOs and their networks, alliances, and federations for continued exercise of human rights and meaningful engagement in climate-responsive local governance and activity implementation.
2. Demonstrating, promoting, and scaling up Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) technologies and practices by CSOs for improving livelihoods and resilience of targeted groups.
3. Creating an enabling environment for the meaningful participation of women, youth, and marginalised groups and their initiatives for the promotion of CRA.

Implemented at Laljhadi Rural Municipality and Belauri Municipality of Kanchanpur district, Aathabis and Dullu Municipalities of Dailekh district, the project aimed to reach out to 8,000 farming households covering 120,000 farmers as beneficiaries. In this course, the project targeted to work closely with 80 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) including women and youth led Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs), Community Disaster Management Committees (CDMCs), Local Adaptation Plan of Action (LAPA) groups, and their associated networks, alliances, federations and cooperatives; 12 private sectors including green enterprises, financial institutions, and insurance companies; and 16 district and national level networks and CSO federations. Additionally, the project also aimed to strengthen the capacity of 80 elected local representatives on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change (CC) related issues and adaptation strategies. Over the three years, the project planned to conduct studies on CRA technologies and practices and demonstrate eight appropriate technologies and practices through action research in each selected municipality on a partnership basis.

LI-BIRD led key interventions, and the results of the action included:

1. Conducting action research and demonstrations on climate resilient agriculture technologies and practices (rice-cum fish/duck farming, biofloc fish farming, vegetable cultivation under permanent plastic tunnel with drip irrigation and mulching; riverbed farming; testing of climate resilient varieties; and installation of solar- based irrigation systems).
2. Demonstrating climate and gender friendly agriculture tools and technologies in 40 CSOs.
3. Supporting local implementing partners for the promotion of green farming enterprises and for the development of relevant knowledge products.
4. Supporting four local governments for the development of the Local Disaster and Climate Resilience Plan (LDCRP) and Climate Resilient Agriculture Investment Plan (CRAIP).