UN-Habitat has been supporting the government of Nepal and its people since the 1980’s in various areas of human settlements and urban development. It established its office in Kathmandu in 2006, and provides support in the areas of water and sanitation, shelter and land, slum upgrading, green development climate change and urban mobility through the following projects:

Public Space in Dey Pukhu, Kirtipur

Public water bodies in Kirtipur have historically played a significant role in the local communities, serving as areas for relaxation, recreation and traditional rituals. The aim of this project was to revitalize Dey Pukhu, a state pond in Kirtipur by developing a people-centered pond and public space management. The restoration of Dey Pukhu is significant for the community, and has helped to preserve the traditional culture of the community.

Project Duration: 2013 - 2014
Value USD: 50,000
Donor: Sida
Implementing Partners: Centre for Integrated Urban Development (CIUD)

Public Space

This project is located at a large green park which includes a school, temple and important water points. Following the earthquake of April 2015, activites in this project were postponed. However, UN-Habitat was able to allocate $50,000 from the public space budget towards the earthquake response, providing 2 emergency water tanks and 150 emergency shelters in the immediate aftermath and then constructing temporary shelters for 600 people in different locations in the Kathmandu Valley. The funds were also able to support the repair of a secondary school in the Sindhupalchowk district and establish an emergency information  centre.

Project Duration: 2015 - ongoing
Value USD: 100,000
Donor: Mojang
Implementing Partners: Centre for Integrated Urban Development (CIUD), Kirtipur Municipality

Shelter Provisions for Most Vulnerable House-holds before and during Monsoon (2015-2016):

Shelter support for vulnerable households through the ‘Peoples Process’ for 5 Earthquake affected districts of Nepal- Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Sindhupalchowk, Dalakha, supported by the Government of Japan. More than 2,200 families were provided with temporary shelter provisions. Technical support is provided for safer construction and helped the communities in safer building of temporary shelters.

Nepal Earthquake Emergency Response (2015 – 2016)

After the 25 March 2015 earthquake, UN-Habitat surge specialists supported the IFRC Shelter Cluster lead and the formulation of the Post Disaster Needs Assessment. It provided an early assessment for the policy response in the Kathmandu Valley and the capital city. Thereafter, together with IOM, UN-Habitat took over the coordination of the shelter organisations, with the Government and IOM, in collaboration with DFID and SDC, in order to maximize winter assistance and preparations towards the reconstruction. UN-Habitat's sanitation programme also mobilised support for the WASH sector.

Urban Land, Legislation and Governance: Catalytic Support to Land Issues (2013-2015)

Under UN Peace Fund for Nepal (UNPFN) this initiative is supporting the government in its land management and land use planning to mitigate land related conflicts in association with UNDP and IOM. The project will implement pilot initiatives in three selected VDCs of Surkhet, Nawalparasi and Morang districts.

Empowering Women 4 Women: Access to Land for Sustainable Peace in Nepal (2015-2016)

This initiative is the continuation of the Catalytic Support to Land Issues project, focusing on women land holding and ownership. This project will empower women by helping to increase the ownership of women on land as women land holding in the country is minimal.

Urban Planning and Design: Green Homes – Promoting Sustainable Housing in Nepal (2013-2015)

With the financial assistance of EU, UN-Habitat is promoting environment friendly, green products and services in housing sector to reduce green house gases, promote green jobs thereby reduce urban poverty. The main target groups/beneficiaries of the project are national policy makers (MoUD and DUDBC), municipalities, SMEs involved in sustainable housing, poor urban youth, particularly women, consumers of sustainable housing, professionals, researchers and general public and partner organizations. This initiative is primarily focused in three municipalities viz. Pokhara, Lalitpur and Dharan. Helping the government to bring green building code, promotional policies of municipalities to encourage construction of green homes and availability of green model and services.

Revitalizing Kirtipur: Promoting People-entric Pond and Public Space Management (2013-2016)

Conserving the open spaces and its best utilization in the changed urban context is vital to safeguard such spaces against competing urban uses. It is important to bring people on board to protect and use these spaces. Under this project UN-Habitat is helping local community and municipality for the conservation of traditional open spaces and its better use.

Continuity to this initiative public space improvement work will be implemented in 2016 under this initiative.

Urban Basic Services: Global Sanitation Fund (2010-2017)

The GSF program in Nepal aims to help the Government achieve the National Goal of universal sanitation coverage by 2017 with focus on achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status and promoting hygiene behaviors. The coverage of the programme has been extended to 17 districts. By doing so, it contributes to progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially those to reduce child mortality (Goal 4) and to ensure environmental sustainability (Goal 7).

People-entred Mobility (2013)

UN-Habitat is providing technical support to civil society and the government in promoting people-centred mobility. Promotion of non-motorized vehicles, public transportation, pedestranization are some of the areas covered.

Housing and Slum Upgrading: Operational Policy Guidelines for Urban Informal Settlements (2013)

UN-Habitat helped Government of Nepal to draft the policy guidelines to address the shelter need of informal settlements.

Support to Urban Poor Housing with Cooperative Financing (2013-14)

Under the request of the government UN-Habitat provided technical support to develop guidelines on promoting cooperative financing to cater the shelter need of low income group in cities.

Priority Action for Life-Saving Response through Integrated Nutrution, WASH and Health Interventions - (2012)

Building Back Safer early recovery pilot project for Sihara - (2012 - 2013)

Integrated Shelter Assistance for 225 Landless Households Affected by the Koshi Floods- (2009-2011)

The Provision of Vocational Training for Returning IDPs Affected by the Koshi Flood Priority (2009)

Non-Food Items and Emergency Shelter Assistance to IDPs and Returnees Induced by Conflict (2008) - CERF

Risk Reduction and Rehabilitation (Ongoing)

UN-Habitat with its mandate and being the co-lead of Shelter Cluster under IASC is leading and supporting the government in networking and preparing for shelter need as a recovery.