PM Shah's address to UNGA historic, says FM Khanal

Kathmandu, Sept. 30

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has said that the address, delivered by Prime Minister Balendra Shah at the General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly, is expected to mark an important step towards turning climate justice into a reality for climate-vulnerable countries such as Nepal.  

Talking to journalists upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport on Wednesday morning, he said that PM's strong call to the international community to simplify and facilitate the mobilisation of resources through climate finance mechanisms, such as the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), and to translate climate justice into practice has drawn global attention.

He termed PM Shah's address 'historic in many respects' as he highlighted fundamental aspects of Nepal’s national interests, including climate justice. PM Shah had addressed the UNGA on September 24. He also held meetings with the Secretary-General of the UN Antonio Guterres and Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese.

According to FM Khanal, Nepal’s participation in the 81st session of the UNGA has enhanced Nepal’s diplomatic profile and that the international community had responded positively to Nepal’s proposals.

More than 33 bilateral meetings held by the Nepali delegation had also contributed to further strengthening Nepal’s relations with the countries concerned. The Foreign Minister expressed confidence that a clear foundation had been laid for further strengthening Nepal’s diplomacy and making a tangible contribution to promoting the national interest in the days ahead.

"Nepal had strongly raised issues including climate justice before the international community. During the General Assembly, Nepal had clearly and firmly presented its position on the devastating Bhotekoshi flood as well as other national and international issues," he said.

He stated that there was an urgent need to present, at the highest level and on the global stage, Nepal’s perspective on the country’s historic political transformation, the changing global order and international issues, and, most importantly, the issue of climate justice following the devastating Bhotekoshi flood.

In his bilateral sideline meetings and other addresses, FM Khanal expressed gratitude to the countries and institutions who supported in the rescue and relief efforts in the aftermath of the floods and urged for additional support in the reconstruction and recovery efforts.

Nepal organised a high-level meeting on 'Sagarmatha to the Sea: A call to action for climate-resilient future' to highlight the future of Himalayas and plight of countries being affected by the climate change and global warming.

FM Khanal said that Nepali delegation, led by him, participated in more than 80 meetings, seminars and events and presented Nepal's agenda and issues. He also participated in the reception organised by US President Donald J. Trump.

The Foreign Minister also raised the issues of the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and implementation of Paris Agreement. "At the Secretary-General’s High-Level Meeting on Climate Action and Just Transition: Solutions Dialogue, I presented Nepal’s views on the impacts of climate change, climate finance, adaptation support and resilient development," he said.

Speaking at the meeting, he had stressed the need to move towards results-oriented implementation through accessible climate finance, adequate adaptation measures, early warning systems, easier access to technology and a well-resourced loss and damage fund. I also emphasised the need to strengthen global cooperation and solidarity to achieve the 1.5°C target under the Paris Agreement.

Similarly, while addressing the G7 Development Ministers’ Meeting and the Leaders’ Meeting of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF-V20), he emphasised that climate-related disasters are eroding development gains.

He talked about the need for stronger global cooperation, including among mountain and archipelagic countries, to advance climate justice through resilient development, accessible climate finance, robust forecasting and early warning systems, and green approaches.

During the UNGA, Nepal signed separate Joint Communiqués establishing diplomatic relations with Grenada, Namibia and Senegal. With these new diplomatic ties, the number of countries with which Nepal has established diplomatic relations has now reached 188.

Similarly, during bilateral meetings with Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Jean Patrick Nduhungirehe, Serbia’s Foreign Minister Marko Djuric and Belarus’s Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov, agreements were signed respectively on a General Cooperation Agreement, a Bilateral Consultations Mechanism, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports.

 Published in The Rising Nepal on 1 October 2026.     

FM Khanal calls for strong actions to eliminate racism, xenophobia

Nepali delegation departs for Kathmandu from New York

 

Kathmandu, Sept. 29

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal called for stronger action to eliminate racial discrimination, racism, xenophobia and systemic injustice.

Addressing a high-level meeting held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to mark the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, he urged the international community to take more effective measures to end all forms of discrimination, and systemic injustice.

"Discrimination and exclusion continued to hinder the development of human potential," said FM Khanal, while noting that alongside technological advances, prejudice was increasingly manifesting itself in the digital sphere and in the form of ‘algorithmic bias’ in artificial intelligence (AI).

According to him, such prejudice and exclusion continue to limit human potential.

Stating that the principles of the Durban Declaration were deeply linked to Nepal’s national consciousness and constitutional values, Khanal said the government was committed to social justice and equality. He said political-level initiatives were necessary to address the historical and institutional discrimination faced by Nepal’s Dalit community.

He informed that Nepal was a party to seven major international human rights conventions, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

For effective implementation of the Durban Programme of Action, FM Khanal outlined four priorities - enforcing strong anti-discrimination laws and expanding human rights education from the school level, ensuring the meaningful participation of historically marginalised communities in public policymaking, controlling racial bias and hate speech through regulation of AI, and strengthening international cooperation to end systemic intolerance.

Meanwhile, FM Khanal met Dr. Khalilur Rahman, President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. During the meeting, he expressed Nepal’s commitment to providing full cooperation and support during Rahman’s tenure.

They exchanged views on the impacts and damage caused by the recent devastating climate-related disaster in Nepal, informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

Likewise, the Foreign Minister also held a meeting with Sri Lankan Foreign, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath.

The two ministers stressed the need to convene meetings of existing bilateral mechanisms and expressed their commitment to further expanding and strengthening bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including trade, tourism, education, culture, connectivity and people-to-people relations.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Khanal departed New York for Kathmandu on Tuesday after participating in the UNGA. He departed with his delegation from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York for Kathmandu via Qatar.

Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Lok Bahadur Thapa, Nepal’s Consul General in New York Dadhiram Bhandari, and officials of the Nepali mission saw the Foreign Minister off at the airport.

Minister Khanal is scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu on Wednesday morning.

 Published in The Rising Nepal on 30 September 2026.     

FM Khanal holds bilateral meeting with UAE counterpart

Kathmandu, Sept. 27

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal held a bilateral meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

During the meeting, held at the Permanent Mission of the UAE to the United Nations in New York on Saturday, FM Khanal expressed appreciation and gratitude to the UAE for their solidarity with communities affected by the devastating Bhotekoshi floods in Nepal, and humanitarian assistance provided, including its recent commitment to provide an additional US$25 million in financial assistance.

"The two leaders discussed labour, trade, investment, tourism, renewable energy, connectivity and multilateral cooperation under the United Nations, among other issues," FM Khanal's Secretariat informed in a statement.

Khanal meets UN Human Rights Commissioner

Earlier, FM Khanal held a meeting with United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at the United Nations Headquarters at the sidelines of the ongoing UNGA.

According to the Foreign Ministry, they discussed Nepal-UN cooperation and issues related to human rights.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on matters related to Nepal's nationally owned and led peace process, the interrelationship between development and human rights, and the devastating effects of growing climate change.

Ongoing rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts following the Bhotekoshi disaster in Nepal were also discussed during the meeting.

Nepal, Belarus sign visa exemption agreement

Similarly, Nepal and Belarus signed an agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports.

The agreement was signed by FM Khanal and his Belarusian counterpart Maxim Ryzhenkov at a side event in of the UNGA.

The two foreign ministers also expressed their commitment to expand cooperation in areas including labour, education, trade, investment and people-to-people relations.

Earlier, during the ongoing UN Assembly in New York, Nepal had also signed a similar visa exemption agreement with Kazakhstan.

Interaction with Non-Resident Nepalis

Meanwhile, speaking in an interaction programme organised by Non-Resident Nepalis and other diaspora organisations in the United States, Foreign Minister Khanal outlined the government's policy and priorities for engaging the Nepali diaspora as an important partner in Nepal's economic transformation.

He presented the government's approach to utilising the knowledge, skills, capital, technology and networks of the Nepali diaspora for Nepal's economic development and transformation.

"The government's priority is to further strengthen relations between Nepal and the Nepali diaspora and effectively mobilise the diaspora's contribution to Nepal's economic transformation," he said.

Meanwhile, three Nepali organisations based in the United States handed over US$226,000 in assistance for people affected by the Bhotekoshi floods to Foreign Minister Khanal. Out of the total support, US$120,000 is from NH Nepali Samaj, US$93,000 from America Nepal Helping Society, Virginia, and US$13,000 from Gurung Society Inc. USA.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 28 September 2026.     

Minister Khanal meets Romanian counterpart

Kathmandu, Sept. 26

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal held a bilateral meeting with Romanian Foreign Minister Oana-Silvia Toiu on the sidelines of the ongoing UNGA in New York.

The two foreign ministers exchanged views on further expanding and strengthening growing bilateral cooperation between Nepal and Romania, the Foreign Minister's Secretariat informed in a statement.

They also discussed the potential for cooperation in various areas of mutual benefit. Both sides stressed the need to make cooperation more effective in areas including climate action, and continuing cooperation on matters of mutual interest and shared concern.

Nepal, Kazakhstan sign visa waiver agreement

Nepal and Kazakhstan have signed an agreement to waive visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official/service passports.

The agreement was signed by Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal and his Kazakh counterpart Mukhtar Tleuberdi at a sideline event held in New York during the UNGA.

Under the agreement, holders of diplomatic and official/service passports of both countries will be exempt from visa requirements when travelling to the other country. The agreement is expected to facilitate travel between Nepal and Kazakhstan and contribute to strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) informed.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Khanal held a bilateral meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Tleuberdi, and exchanged views on important issues of mutual interest and held a friendly and cooperative discussion on further strengthening bilateral relations between Nepal and Kazakhstan.

Nepal, Serbia agree to establish BCM

Nepal and Serbia have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM).

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal and his Serbian counterpart Marko Đurić signed an MoU at a sideline event held in New York during UNGA, MoFA informed.

The BCM is said to provide an institutional framework for regular discussions and consultations between Nepal and Serbia on matters of mutual interest and concern.

The mechanism is also expected to help further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and facilitate the identification and expansion of new areas of cooperation.

Interaction with Nepali Diaspora

FM Khanal interacted with members of the Nepali diaspora in New York.

Speaking at the event organised by the Consulate General of Nepal in New York, he described the Nepali diaspora as an important pillar of Nepal's development journey and said greater contributions from the diaspora were needed for the country's development.

On the occasion, diaspora representatives made presentations on technology, artificial intelligence (AI), disaster management and the potential contribution of the diaspora to Nepal's development.

Minister Khanal emphasised the need to connect the knowledge, skills, experience, capital and networks of Nepalis living in different countries with Nepal's development efforts. He said the government was committed to making cooperation with the diaspora more effective and increasing their contribution to national development priorities, informed his secretariat in a statement on Saturday.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 27 September 2026.     

'Sagarmatha to the Sea' appeals for collective action against climate risks

Kathmandu, Sept. 26

Nepal has organised a special event titled ‘Sagarmatha to the Sea’ in New York, United States, to highlight the issue of climate change on the global stage.

Led by Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal, Nepal hosted the high-level climate-focused special event, ‘Sagarmatha to the Sea: A Call to Action for a Climate-Resilient Future’, at the United Nations Headquarters. Nepal had decided to organise the high-level event following the devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi River. A short video of the Bhotekoshi floods was also screened at the event.

The event was co-hosted by Bhutan, Maldives, New Zealand, Samoa and Tajikistan, as well the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

Addressing the programme, Foreign Minister Khanal stressed the need to address shared climate risks from the mountains to the sea in an integrated manner, noting that the climate system does not recognise political boundaries. "Sagarmatha to the Sea begins with a simple proposition: the climate system does not recognize the boundaries through which we organize our politics," he said.

He said that mountains, rivers, oceans, coastal areas and island regions constitute interconnected ecosystems in terms of climate change, requiring collective and coordinated efforts to address the climate crisis.

The Himalayan region called the - third pole contains the largest volume of snow and ice outside of the polar regions, featuring an inventory of over 63,700 glaciers. Standing at the foot of Himalayas, in 2023, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described these glaciers as 'icy reservoirs'.

"From there, water descends through glaciers and rivers, nourishing ecosystems and communities before reaching the sea. But, Nepal has lost close to one-third of its ice in the last three decades," said FM Khanal, while adding that their decline alters river flows and threatens livelihoods downstream, while island and coastal nations confront rising seas, erosion and displacement.

He said that science, policy and investment must recognize the ecological continuum connecting mountains, freshwater systems and oceans. Mountains deserve greater prominence in climate processes, including systematic integration across relevant UNFCCC frameworks.

"Keeping 1.5°C within reach is imperative. Every fraction of a degree matters, requiring accelerated emission reductions and implementation of the transition away from fossil fuels agreed under the UNFCCC process," he added.

The foreign minister also stressed on preparedness with stronger early-warning systems, resilient infrastructure, anticipatory action and scientific cooperation.

Likewise, he said that developing countries need adequate, predictable and accessible climate finance, technology and capacity-building. The Fund for responding to Loss and Damage must be sufficiently capitalized and accessible.

He informed that Nepal is doing its part with forests covering around 46 per cent of the territory, expanding clean hydropower and electric mobility, and community-led conservation.

Four-year of accelerated action

Foreign Minister Khanal said the remaining period until 2030 should be used as a period of accelerated action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Addressing a high-level meeting on the Global Development Initiative (GDI) organised at the sidelines of the UNGA, he said urgent action was needed to translate development commitments into results amid growing financing needs, conflicts, the climate emergency and mounting debt pressures in developing countries.

Congratulating China on behalf of Nepal on the fifth anniversary of the GDI, he praised China's continued efforts to translate the initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, into practical cooperation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed in a statement.

"In five years, the GDI has expanded across the developing world as a platform for partnerships, resource mobilisation, knowledge sharing and practical cooperation," Minister Khanal said.

According to him, the GDI's priorities in poverty reduction, food security, development finance, green development, industrialisation and the digital economy addressed many of the priorities of the Global South.

Noting that the world had entered the final phase towards the 2030 targets, Minister Khanal said only 36 per cent of accessible SDG targets were progressing either on track or at a moderate pace. He said developing countries faced an annual SDG financing gap of around US$4 trillion, while conflicts, the climate crisis and debt pressures had added to the challenges.

  

Multilateral action called for pandemic preparedness

Addressing a high-level meeting on ‘Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response’, Foreign Minister Khanal said that multilateralism, equity and solidarity must remain at the centre of global efforts to prevent, prepare for and respond to pandemics and public health emergencies.

He said the COVID-19 pandemic had demonstrated that a public health emergency arising in one location could develop into a global crisis. "No nation is safe until every nation is safe," he said.

"The pandemic was not merely a health crisis, it also devastated development gains achieved over decades," he said.

 

Reform needed in int'l financial architecture

Likewise, speaking at the 50th annual meeting of the Group of 77 and China, FM Khanal called for timely reforms to the international financial architecture to increase the voice and representation of developing countries in global economic governance.

He stressed the need to renew unity and collective efforts to strengthen multilateralism and said the voice of the Global South should be raised more effectively.

According to him, the UN-centred, rules-based multilateral system should be further strengthened, while implementation of the SDGs should be accelerated through adequate and accessible financial resources, technology transfer and capacity-building.

"There is a need to reduce existing inequalities through economic and digital transformation," he said. 

Published in The Rising Nepal on 27 September 2026.     

'Developmental autonomy: Nepal's doctrine of statecraft'

Kathmandu, Sept. 25

Minister for Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal has said that developmental autonomy is the doctrine of Nepal's statecraft.

"Developmental autonomy is not about choosing sides, it is about increasing our value across three confident, unified directions," he said while speaking at the Asia Society organised in the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly ongoing in New York. 

According to him, Nepal’s strategy centres on three directions: southward, northward and global engagement. Southward, it aims to use its open border with India, hydropower potential and Special Economic Zones to expand manufacturing, clean-energy exports and regional supply chains.

Northward, Nepal seeks to become a land-linked economy through roads, railways, dry ports, aviation and digital connectivity, alongside Himalayan cooperation on climate and disaster resilience. It also emphasises transparent financing and sovereign autonomy in cooperation with China.

Likewise, at the global level, Nepal plans deeper partnerships with the US, Europe, Japan, ASEAN and the Gulf. Its clean power, cool climate and diaspora can support digital, fintech and AI development, said FM Khanal. 

However, he said that Nepal’s future cannot be charted in isolation, so it must be written for Nepali people, but it cannot be authored by Nepalis alone. "To our partners in the United States, across Europe, throughout ASEAN, Latin America, and beyond: our doors are open, our rules are transparent, and you are warmly welcome to build alongside us," he said.

"Nepal was a civilizational bridge in the past. We are an economic bridge in our present. And we will be a strategic bridge for our future," he said.

He also informed the panel that Nepal has set a national goal of achieving middle income status in the next 10 years and high-income, developed status by 2050.

FM Khanal stressed that the recent tragedy of Bhotekoshi floods offered an unmistakable foreign-policy imperative for Nepal - treating climate change as an existential strategic priority.

"We, therefore, must focus on robust ecological cooperation: better early warning mechanisms, hydrological data-sharing, predictable grant-based climate finance, and practical collaboration with the neighbours and global community," he reiterated while adding that when a nation cannot alter its physical geography, it must summon strategic agency. 

Stating that with nearly 30 million people, Nepal has a population larger than Australia's, and if placed in the European Union, it would be its sixth-most populous member, he said Nepal's neighbours’ scale is a fact of geography, it must never become the ceiling of the country's ambition. "Nepal is not small," he said.

He also said that when the world speaks of Asia, the western imagination often races east toward Shanghai, Singapore or Tokyo. Yet South Asia is home to two billion people and some of the fastest-transforming societies on earth. Delhi, Dhaka, and Kathmandu are just as central to this resurgence.

Informing that long before modern cartography, the Kathmandu Valley was a wealthy, cosmopolitan entrepôt connecting the Gangetic plains to the Tibetan plateau, the foreign minister said, "The architectural wonders of our Durbar Squares were built by wealth generated from trans-Himalayan commerce."

 

FM holds sideline meeting with McNeill, Wong

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal discussed Nepal-UK relations with the UK’s Minister of State for International Development, Kirsty McNeill, at the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly ongoing in New York.

"During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to further strengthen the Nepal-UK bilateral cooperation, which has been expanding in recent times. In particular, they discussed making cooperation with the UK more effective in the recovery and reconstruction efforts following the devastating disaster that recently struck Nepal," FM Khanal's Secretariat informed.

Minister Khanal highlighted the importance of international partnerships and support as Nepal continues its post-disaster rescue, relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.

Likewise, FM Khanal also held a bilateral meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

They discussed the loss of lives and property caused by the devastating floods that recently hit Nepal, as well as ongoing rescue, relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. Minister Khanal expressed appreciation for international support for post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction.

The two ministers also discussed further strengthening the friendly relations between Nepal and Australia and expanding areas of bilateral cooperation. 

Published in The Rising Nepal on 26 September 2026.     

Climate justice cannot remain a phrase in document: PM Shah

Kathmandu, Sept. 25

Prime Minister Balendra Shah said at the United Nations General Assembly that those who have contributed more to the problems created by climate change, and those with greater capacity to respond, must do more.

Speaking at the Assembly ongoing at New York, on Friday morning, he said, "Climate justice cannot just remain a beautiful phrase in a United Nations Document. People of our country be allowed to build their future instead of constantly rebuilding their past."

Stating that Nepal was not at the UN to blame any country or continent, or to turn climate change into another geopolitical battlefield, he asked one and all to recommit to shared responsibility and solidarity.

PM Shah said that climate justice is not only about money but also about distributive justice - who bears the costs, and procedural justice - who has a voice.

It is about whether the future of mountain communities, small island states, landlocked and least-developed countries, and generations yet unborn count equally. "Starting tomorrow at the 'Sagarmatha to the Sea' side-event right here at the United Nations, Nepal is ready to help lead this conversation," he said.

PM Shah has reminded the UNGA that through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the international community has already agreed to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.

He sought the international solidarity and support in the post-disaster rebuilding. "Nepal now faces a massive task of recovery and reconstruction. After at least 1,400 confirmed deaths and over 6,000 people still missing, our rapid assessments peg physical recovery needs at about 10 per cent of GDP," he said.

He further added, "We did not create this crisis. Yet we are paying a colossal price for it. Our glaciers are retreating. Our mountain slopes are becoming unstable. Our rivers are becoming less predictable. And every major disaster threatens to erase years of development."

For Nepal – a country that contributed less than 0.1 per cent of the global greenhouse-gas emissions, climate catastrophe is not just a humanitarian event, but a development emergency.

"The disaster destroyed roads, bridges, schools, homes, farms and livelihoods. It destroyed clean energy infrastructure that we need to fuel our future. And it forces a poor country to borrow money to repair damage it did not cause," said Prime Minister Shah.

According to him, the international system is under now and, many often, military and economic power determines whose voice is heard. In such a scenario, Nepal believed it needs a much fairer global economic order. "The weak would not simply have to accept whether the powerful decide," he said.

Referring to the devastating Bhotekoshi floods, termed as 'Himalayan Tsunami', he lamented that he couldn't simply speak about development, democracy, peace and the hopes of a young nation, instead, he was forced speak about death and destruction of epic proportions.

"It was not just a local tragedy, it was a warning to the world. And I ask you today: have we really heard that warning?" asked the prime minister while recalling the visit of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Nepal when the latter warned humanity about the madness of an impending climate disaster.

"That cry from the rooftop of the world was not heard loudly enough. We in Nepal heard it. Our communities heard it. Scientists around the world heard it. They repeated it with evidence. But we, the political leaders of the world, have been negligent to translate those warnings into action at the speed and scale that vulnerable people require," he said. "Last month, we saw the tragic consequences."

According to him, this tells us something fundamental - Climate change does not recognize borders. Glaciers and floods do not travel with a visa stamped on passports.

Stating that the Himalayas are not peripheral to the planet but the part of the planet's life-support system, PM Shah proposed establishing a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism, led by Nepal, India and China.

He said that this mechanism will help in sharing satellite data and expertise, monitor dangerous glacial lakes, let us strengthen joint early-warning systems.

He said, "When disaster strikes, let us coordinate assistance across borders. Let the Himalayas become a laboratory of international cooperation, rather than a frontier of fragmented information."

When a climate-driven disaster destroys the infrastructure of a poor country, the answer cannot simply be another mega loan or a patchwork of small grants, maintained the prime minister.   

He stressed that Nepal needs adequate grant-based support from the world. The Loss and Damage Fund, the Global Environment Facility and other relevant financing mechanisms remain grossly inadequate.

"Climate finance must not become a bureaucratic maze through which vulnerable countries spend years proving that they need help. When the house is burning, we do not ask the family to complete fifty forms. We act," he said. "That is what climate justice must mean."

Published in The Rising Nepal on 26 September 2026.     

FM Khanal meets Pakistani, Icelandic counterparts

Kathmandu, Sept. 24

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly in New York.

During the meeting, they stressed the need to further strengthen Nepal-Pakistan relations and expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest. They also discussed ways to make cooperation more effective at both bilateral and multilateral levels, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) informed in a statement.

The two sides particularly emphasised strengthening cooperation between Nepal and Pakistan at multilateral forums, including the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the United Nations.

Meanwhile, FM Khanal held a side-line meeting with his Icelandic Foreign Minister Porgerour Katrin Gunnarsdottir, and exchanged views on the unprecedented economic and humanitarian losses caused by climate-related disasters.

According to the MoFA, they discussed the loss of lives and property caused by the recent devastating floods in Nepal, as well as the growing risks posed by climate change.

"The two sides stressed the need for coordinated efforts by all levels of government and all sections of society for timely recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction following disasters," it said.

They shared the view that the entire government and social mechanisms should be mobilised to provide prompt relief to disaster-affected communities and advance long-term reconstruction efforts. The two foreign ministers also emphasised the need to further strengthen global solidarity and international cooperation to address the growing risks of climate change, capacity constraints and limited resources.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 25 September 2026.     

'Climate action: Not charity but justice'

Kathmandu, Sept. 24

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has warned that failure to respond to the climate crisis with urgency and seriousness could lead to even greater risks in the future. “Climate action should be treated not as charity, but as justice,” he said in his address to a high-level meeting on climate action and a just transition at the United Nations headquarters on Wednesday.

Stating that fragmented, uncertain and delayed assistance would make it difficult for climate-vulnerable countries to cope with the current crisis, Minister Khanal called on the international community to make a decisive shift from climate commitments to implementation to address the crises caused by climate change.

Calling for a fundamental shift from commitments to implementation, Minister Khanal said climate finance should be adequate, predictable and readily accessible to communities before disasters occur, rather than relying primarily on assistance after disasters strike.

He stressed the need to prioritise climate adaptation, making clear that for countries such as Nepal, adaptation was not an option but a basis for survival.

FM Khanal called for greater investment in universal access to global early-warning systems, reliable technologies suited to mountain ecosystems, climate information services and climate-resilient infrastructure.

Likewise, he further stressed the need to adequately capitalise the Loss and Damage Fund and make it faster, simpler and more accessible. He also said that multilateral development banks should be able to mobilise rapid and affordable finance during disasters.

Highlighting the need for an integrated approach to addressing climate-change impacts from the mountains to the oceans, he called for stronger global efforts to keep the goal of limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5°C within reach.

“This is an issue linked to the survival of mountain and coastal communities,” he said.

Referring to the devastating floods that recently struck Nepal, Minister Khanal said the country had suffered significant human and physical losses, with hundreds of people losing their lives and extensive damage caused to homes, infrastructure, agriculture and livelihoods.

Hydropower infrastructure had also suffered serious damage and that development gains achieved through decades of effort had been set back. According to preliminary assessments, Nepal has suffered losses of more than US$5 billion, equivalent to around 15 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product, from recent climate-related disasters, said FM Khanal.

“Nepal did not create this crisis. Nepal’s contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions is less than 0.1 per cent. Yet Nepal is experiencing its impacts disproportionately and repeatedly,” Minister Khanal said.

He said climate-related disasters had become not merely a humanitarian emergency for Nepal, but also a development emergency, a crisis of justice and a serious challenge linked to the survival of communities and future generations.

Recalling the United Nations Secretary-General’s call three years ago from the foothills of Everest to 'stop the madness', he said the warning that the mountains were 'crying out' for help was grounded in science. He said an important question now was whether the international community had listened to that warning with sufficient seriousness, prudence and determination.

“What happens in the Himalayas does not remain confined to the Himalayas. The Himalayas are an integral part of the Earth’s life-support system,” he said.

 

'Collective initiatives to ensure climate justice'

Speaking at the leaders’ meeting of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) on Wednesday on the sidelines of the UNGA, FM Khanal said stronger cooperation between mountainous countries and small island developing states is necessary to amplify the common voice of countries vulnerable to climate change.

Commending Barbados Prime Minister and CVF Chair Mia Amor Mottley for her leadership, Minister Khanal thanked Barbados for effectively raising the concerns of climate-vulnerable countries on the global stage.

“Geographically, Barbados and Nepal are located in two very different parts of the world - one an island nation surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and the other a landlocked mountainous country with the world’s highest peaks,” he said. “Yet, from ecological and existential perspectives, our futures are intrinsically connected.”

Stating that Nepal remained committed to nature-positive economic development, its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2045, Minister Khanal said the international development system needed to be restructured in five key areas.

As the first priority, he called for accelerating climate-resilient development, saying every infrastructure investment, from transport infrastructure to community-based water supply systems, should be made capable of withstanding climate risks. He said Nepal welcomed the operation of the Lifeline Fund, which provides rapid financial resources when climate-related disasters create severe balance-of-payments pressures.

As the second priority, he called for reforms to the development finance system, stressing that climate-related disasters should not turn into debt crises. Supporting the Bridgetown Initiative and the Vulnerability to Viability Compact advanced under Prime Minister Mottley’s leadership, he called for expanded concessional and grant-based financing and more effective provisions for debt-payment suspension.

As the third priority, he called for greater investment in science-based forecasting and early-warning systems. He said impact-based early-warning systems, real-time satellite data and cross-border data sharing should be expanded from mountain glaciers to the oceans.

As the fourth priority, he stressed the need to accelerate the green and digital transition, saying a just transition from fossil fuels to clean energy was necessary. He said Nepal was ready to contribute to the region’s green transition by expanding clean hydropower and regional electricity transmission networks, adding that this could create new opportunities for young people in the digital economy.

As the fifth priority, FM Khanal stressed the need to make financial support for loss and damage more effective. He called for new and additional grant-based resources for the Loss and Damage Fund. “It is not appropriate to address the suffering caused by disasters through repackaged commercial loans under the Loss and Damage Fund,” he said.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 25 September 2026.     

Nepal will strongly voice for climate justice at UN

 Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has tried to initiate institutional and service-reforms which range from digitalising consular services to creating a vast pool of experts and prospective ambassadors. His activism in the aftermath of the catastrophic Bhotekoshi floods is visible from his bilateral engagements, situation monitoring, and the Foreign Ministry's leading role in information dissemination regarding the rescue and relief efforts. Amidst such a scenario, FM Khanal is attending the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York happening from this week, and Nepal is preparing to raise the issue of climate change impacts and lobby for justice. Ritu Raj Subedi and Modnath Dhakal of The Rising Nepal talked about Nepal's priorities in the post-disaster scenario, managing resources for the reconstruction and issues to be raised at the UNGA. Excerpts:

 

There is a common understanding that the new government has continued the foreign policy adopted by the previous governments. However, some critics have also raised questions about the policy of balance. Would you like to say something about this?

Nepal's foreign policy is guided by the Constitution of Nepal. In a democracy, the Constitution is the supreme law that must be followed by governments that come to power through democratic methods and processes. Nepal's fundamental foreign policy is clearly defined in terms of non-alignment, the Charter of the United Nations, and our multilateral and bilateral relations. So, whichever government comes to power must move forward within the framework of the foreign policy set out in the Constitution. As a democratic party, that is also our understanding. In that sense, it is natural that there is continuity in foreign policy, and I believe there should be such continuity.

 

A few days ago, in your address to the Parliament, you referred to the 'old baggage' arising from political polarisation within the country. How, then, has Nepal's internal political polarisation affected its foreign policy?

Any country's foreign policy must be guided by its national interest. However, over a long period, Nepal's foreign policy and its relationships were largely influenced by internal political and partisan conflicts, and were driven by highly personal or partisan interests. There were also instances where neighbouring countries and other friendly nations were unnecessarily brought into the political game of gaining personal or collective power, and in some cases were unnecessarily criticised or condemned.

Such wrong practices weaken our own national identity and interests. Foreign powers or friendly countries should not be brought into our internal struggles involving personal, partisan or factional interests. In this sense, when we refer to 'old baggage', our understanding is that we will not follow such tendencies and that such practices are wrong.

 

What preparations is the government currently making to attend the United Nations General Assembly?

A Nepali delegation led by the Prime Minister is going to the 81st session of the UNGA, and I will also be part of the delegation. The General Assembly's 'high-level week' will begin on September 22 and will run for about a week. I will be leading a team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will be participating from the beginning. Given the current crisis created by the Bhotekoshi disaster, the Prime Minister does not intend to remain outside the country for a long period. However, since the disaster has brought some climate-related critical issues to the fore again, we will internationalise them from the UN platform. The Prime Minister will participate in order to clearly raise issues concerning climate change and climate justice, as well as the impact of climate change on Nepal. He is scheduled to address the General Assembly on September 24.

In addition, I will participate in various sideline events, high-level events and bilateral meetings. Nepal will also raise various issues at the international forum, including those concerning LDCs, of which Nepal is currently a member. We have also applied for an extension in relation to LDC graduation. We will participate in forums related to public health and issues concerning climate change. We are also organising a climate change-related event, "From Sagarmatha to Sea". I will also participate in a high-level event organised by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. In all those deliberations, I will place greater emphasis on Nepal's foreign policy, our engagement with the United Nations, and, given the current disaster situation, the issues of climate change and the crises arising from it.

 

Is the Prime Minister having any sideline meetings with his foreign counterparts?

There has been tremendous interest in the Prime Minister's visit from around the world. For a long time, his counterparts have also been expressing interest informally and indicating that they would like to meet him if time permits. However, given the disaster situation, he will now be travelling only for a short period. Because of his limited time, it appears that we may not be able to arrange many programmes. Since his presence will be brief, I do not think it will be possible to hold many engagements.

 

Nepal has written a letter to the board of the UN's Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage. It has been reported that Nepal's chances of receiving US$20 million under the fund have increased. How close are we to receiving it?

Nepal has been making claims for a long time under the Loss and Damage Fund, which was established under the Paris Agreement. Although Nepal had made claims previously, with the recent claim we have made in connection with the current disaster situation, we are seeing a positive environment emerging based on the information we are receiving. The matter will formally be decided at a board meeting. We believe that the forthcoming board meeting may view Nepal's proposal positively.

 

Prime Minister Balendra Shah has also said that he will raise a strong voice for climate justice. In this regard, what kind of internal mechanisms and other groundwork are we doing to secure the international support we need?

A rapid post-disaster assessment has already been carried out, and it indicates that reconstruction could cost around US$4–5 billion. At present, more than 300 people have been mobilised through the National Planning Commission for the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA). In a few weeks, we will have a clearer picture of how much will be needed for reconstruction. This will cover both the damage and the loss. Much of the hydropower sector, for example, is in private hands, although some projects are government-owned. Roads and bridges have also been washed away, as have schools and hospitals. So, there will be a need to rebuild public infrastructure as well. Tens of thousands of houses may also have to be rebuilt. This means we will have a major immediate need for resources.

In the short term, our focus is on post-disaster reconstruction, and we are putting a lot of effort into that. But this disaster has also taught us that reconstruction alone will not be enough. Many of our settlements and hydropower projects are located along rivers and streams. We now have to think about how we should rebuild in places where disasters have occurred. For example, in settlements such as Timure and Syafrubesi, and even in Betrawati, we need to consider whether people can safely continue to live there. If a similar accident or disaster happens again in the future, what will we do? We therefore need to rethink reconstruction in a new way.

Meanwhile, we also need to start thinking about other settlements located along our glacial corridors. In the long term, we need to work out how to build a more resilient ecosystem so that, when disasters occur in the future, we do not have to suffer the kind of human and physical losses we are facing today. This is also the message we are giving to the international community. This is not a one-off disaster. Because of climate change, Nepal could face such events regularly in the future. Therefore, the international community also needs to contribute to countries like Nepal that can suffer major and immediate impacts from climate change. Although our contribution to the problem is very small – 0.1 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions - we are having to suffer its negative effects. In that situation, we need the international community's technology, knowledge, know-how and resources not only for immediate reconstruction and rebuilding, but also in the long term for preparedness and mitigation strategies. We are preparing for this accordingly.

 

You mentioned that the assessment is above Rs. 700 billion. After the 2015 Earthquake, Nepal held a donor conference to push forward the reconstruction drive. Have you also considered holding a donor conference for this disaster?

Yes, certainly. We are already moving ahead with preliminary discussions on holding a donor conference. Once the PDNA is completed, we are considering setting a date for the conference.

 

What are the government's main expectations from the UN?

We believe the UN is a strong platform for bringing the suffering we have experienced to the attention of the international community. That is what we are preparing to do. Likewise, regarding the donor conference, we will make particular use of bilateral meetings to prepare for it. Since this disaster occurred, I have spoken by telephone with counterparts from many countries. While I am at the UN, I will meet them as well as foreign ministers and other representatives of friendly countries who will be leading their delegations. We are making preparations for those meetings. Apart from our broader bilateral relations, one important issue we will raise with them is Nepal's reconstruction needs. We will also inform them about the resources we require.

After the UNGA, the COP climate conference will be held in Türkiye. The international community will once again come together there to discuss climate-related issues, and there will be extensive work on climate negotiations. We are preparing for that as well, in parallel.

 

It appears that close cooperation between China and Nepal could help mitigate disasters like the Bhotekoshi floods termed as 'Himalayan Tsunami'. However, some reports in the media have suggested that China did not provide a warning in time. What kind of communication did the government have with China before the disaster occurred?

This is a question I have been asked many times, and I have explained it on several occasions. Nepal and China reached an agreement some time ago to establish a mechanism for sharing hydrological and meteorological data between the two countries. Based on that agreement, we held meetings between the two sides. We had a meeting as recently as April, and after that we exchanged drafts for establishing the mechanism. After the meeting, we sent them a draft incorporating the conclusions we had reached, and we were waiting for their response. We were working very closely on this mechanism, particularly because Nepal is a downstream country. We need to take into account issues such as the possibility of floods in our rivers when there is heavy rainfall upstream.

We were doing intensive work on this mechanism when this major disaster occurred. Even after the disaster, China has been providing us with a great deal of information. They have given us access to satellite and drone images, as well as data, through a portal they have developed themselves. The Chinese side continuously monitored the potential risk areas through satellites and provided us with information and reports twice a day. At present, our Survey Department and our department dealing with climate-related issues are in continuous coordination with them. They are providing us with all the information we need.

That is the short-term aspect. The establishment of a bilateral mechanism for data sharing is also moving forward in parallel.

 

You introduced an open application process for the appointment of ambassadors. But there is a concern that highly competent people may not apply themselves. You may have to actively look for and bring in such people. Doesn't that create some mismatch in the process?

When we called for applications, we actually asked people to recommend suitable candidates rather than simply submit an application. People were also allowed to recommend themselves. We deliberately used language that was slightly different from the traditional idea of submitting an application. However, the general understanding was that this was simply another conventional application process. It was not.

We received around 2,700 CVs, and the process is taking some time as we received CVs of a much higher quality than I had personally expected. When you have to choose from among such strong candidates, the selection process requires careful consideration, both strategically and legally, for the government. We do not want to limit ourselves to a small circle. The reason we kept the process open was that, traditionally, if we had to select someone, we would probably look only within our own networks - people I know, or people known to those I know. By opening the process and asking people to suggest suitable candidates, Nepalis around the world were able to recommend people they considered suitable. As a result, our pool of potential candidates became much broader.

 

Since you took office, how much have you strengthened our missions abroad?

The number of Nepalis living abroad has increased, but the number of staff working at our embassies remains very low. So, in the first phase, we decided through the budget process to close some missions if necessary and increase the number of diplomatic staff in places where we need to provide more services.

A few days ago, we completed a new organisational and management survey, or O&M, and we are now in the process of implementing it. We have just started the work of deploying and transferring staff, including transferring staff from embassies that have been closed to places where there is a greater need. Many of our missions and embassies operate from rented buildings rather than having their own premises. We have started working on that issue as well. We are also working on how to make the services we provide easier and more accessible, including where we don't have our mission. As I have also said in Parliament, there are major countries where Nepali citizens have to take a three- or four-hour flight simply to provide their biometrics for passport applications. These are real difficulties. We are studying alternative ways of making such services more accessible.

Beyond that, we are also working to promote Nepal's long-term interests through stronger engagement with neighbouring countries. If we look particularly at India, Nepal and India have more than 40 bilateral mechanisms. Many of these mechanisms had not met for a long time. But recently, we have seen two or three meetings being held almost every week, sometimes in India and sometimes in Nepal. When these mechanisms become active, they strengthen the institutions themselves. If the mechanisms established for institutional strengthening are functioning properly, the conclusions they reach can provide long-term benefits for Nepal.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 20 September 2026.    

PM Shah to leave for UNGA on Sept. 22

Kathmandu, Sept. 18

Prime Minister Balendra Shah is leaving for New York on September 22, leading a Nepali delegation to the High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

He will address the General Debate of the session on 24 September 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) informed in a statement.

During his stay in New York, PM Shah is scheduled to hold a meeting with the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Separately, Minister for Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal will be leaving for New York on September 20 to participate in various high-level meetings, side events and ministerial-level engagements. He will also hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts and other dignitaries.

The Nepali delegation comprises of FM Khanal, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister Kumar Byanjankar, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai and other senior officials of the government of Nepal.

PM Shah is scheduled to return Kathmandu on September 26.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 19 September 2026.    

PM Shah to champion climate justice at UNGA

Kathmandu, Sept. 11

Prime Minister Balendra Shah is set to draw the international community’s attention to the loss of lives and property Nepal has repeatedly suffered from climate change and climate-induced disasters.

He will call for climate justice, including immediate and appropriate compensation through mechanisms such as the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), while highlighting that Nepal is experiencing the adverse impacts of climate change despite its negligible carbon emissions.

PM Shah is leading a high-level Nepali delegation to the High-Level General Debate of the 81st United Nations General Assembly scheduled in New York for 22-28 September. He is scheduled to address the General Debate on 24 September, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai informed during a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Friday.

This will be the first maiden foreign trip of PM Shah. He will stay in New York for five days – from 22 to 26 September.

"The Prime Minister will also appeal to developed and wealthy countries to provide accessible and concessional technology and climate finance to Nepal for building climate-resilient infrastructure, promoting climate-smart agriculture and strengthening the capacity of stakeholders," he said.

PM Shah will raise several issues at the General Assembly but his focus would be on climate change and its repercussions on the Himalayas and Nepali people who have recently experienced devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi River that killed 1385 while leaving more than 5000 unaccounted for.

According to the Rapid Disaster and Needs Assessment (RDNA) conducted by the National Planning Commission and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, about Rs. 723.31 billion will be required for reconstruction of the structures and infrastructures damaged by the devastating floods.

About 75 per cent (Rs. 473.57 billion) of the total recovery needs, will be required to restore the infrastructure sector, which suffered the largest impact from the disaster. Houses, farm lands, hydropower projects, roads and motorable and suspension bridges, businesses and industries have swept away in the floods or damaged by it.

The Prime Minister is also expected to highlight Nepal’s contribution to global environmental protection through nature-friendly lifestyles, forests covering more than 46 per cent of its territory, the Himalayan region and extensive river systems.

"The disaster has further highlighted Nepal’s vulnerability to the climate crisis. Although Nepal makes a negligible contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, countries such as Nepal continue to bear a disproportionate share of the adverse impacts of climate change," said Rai.

During the UNGA, Nepal will organise a side event titled 'Sagarmatha to the Sea: A Call to Action for a Climate-Resilient Future'. According to Rai, the event will discuss the adverse impacts of global climate change, particularly in the Himalayan region, and the resulting disasters, with the aim of drawing international attention to the issue.

 

FM Khanal to have sideline meetings

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal will participate in ministerial meetings of the Least Developed Countries (LDC), Landlocked Developing Countries, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and G77 and China. He will also address other high-level discussions and side events organised by the United Nations.

The foreign minister will hold meetings with counterparts from neighbouring and other friendly countries, as well as senior UN officials.

The MoFA said that PM Shah is leading a small delegation that will include Foreign Minister Khanal, Prime Minister’s Chief Adviser Kumar Byanjankar, Foreign Secretary Rai and other senior government officials.

The theme of this year’s General Assembly is 'Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All'. Heads of state from 81 countries and heads of government from 50 countries, including Nepal, are scheduled to participate in the General Assembly.

"The General Assembly will provide Nepal an opportunity to call at the highest level for continued and increased international support and goodwill towards Nepal," said Rai.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 12 September 2026.    

UN and partners launch $49.6 million emergency appeal

Kathmandu, Sept. 4 

The United Nations and humanitarian partners launched a US$49.6 million flash appeal on Friday to deliver life-saving relief to over 84,000 people affected by catastrophic flash floods and landslides in the Bhotekoshi River on August 26.

Operating under the overall leadership of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), the four-month response plan addresses critical operational gaps identified by the government to prevent further hardship and disease outbreaks as winter approaches in high-altitude Himalayan communities. "The United Nations and humanitarian responders are working in partnership with ongoing Nepalese emergency operations," the UN in Nepal said in a statement.

Stating that the survivors of the catastrophe face tragic losses of family members, homes, and rural livelihoods, it said that to mitigate immediate suffering and safeguard vulnerable populations, the joint response targets essential humanitarian needs across multiple sectors.

"Direct cash transfers will be deployed where local markets remain functional to give families the dignity to buy essential goods while stimulating local economies. To protect displaced communities before winter sets in, aid teams will distribute cold-weather shelter materials and supply portable solar units to households to restore essential power and light in off-grid zones," read the statement.

According to the UN, humanitarian operations will also restore damaged water networks, deploy rapid purification systems, and deliver hygiene supplies to halt the spread of waterborne illnesses. Emergency mobile clinics will provide immediate medical treatment and nutrition support, while protection teams work to reunify children separated from their families.

In addition, aid teams will distribute emergency food aid and manage surviving livestock to protect rural livelihoods.

Lila Pieters Yahia, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nepal, said, "Working under the government's leadership, this appeal will get cash, shelter, health care, clean water and protection to the hardest-to-reach communities before winter closes in."

Israel distributes support

Meanwhile, the Embassy of Israel in Nepal has provided emergency humanitarian assistance to communities affected by the devastating Bhotekoshi floods in Baireni of Galchhi Rural Municipality-6 in Dhading.

Deputy Chief of Mission Janan Bebar visited the affected area and handed over Emergency Go-Bags and boxes containing essential supplies to support individuals and families facing immediate challenges as a result of the floods, the embassy informed in a statement on Friday.

"The assistance marks the first phase of the Embassy’s emergency relief response. Additional support and assistance will be provided in the coming days as further needs are identified," it said.

Ambassador of Israel to Nepal Shmulik Arie Bass expressed hope that this initial assistance would provide some immediate relief to affected communities. 

Published in The Rising Nepal on 5 September 2026.   

Women, girls affected disproportionately in disasters: UN Women

Kathmandu, Aug. 29

An estimated 157,050 women and girls living in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts have been directly and indirectly affected by flash floods that swept through communities on 26 August 2026, UN Women stated in a statement.

More than 500 people have been killed and nearly 1,000 remain unaccounted for by Friday. Some 10,000 homes have been washed away, while critical infrastructure has been destroyed. With search and rescue operations still underway, the full scale of the disaster continues to emerge.

"Survivors now face severe shortages of food and water, disrupted health and protection services, and heightened risks of violence and exploitation. These risks are particularly acute for women and girls," read the statement.

Patricia Fernandez-Pacheco, UN Women Representative to Nepal, said that existing risks for women and girls skyrocket when disasters hit. "More women and girls are exploited and abused. More women and girls go hungry and without medicine when resources are scarce. There is even evidence from previous disasters to suggest women are more likely to die than men,” she said.

According to the UN Women, in all disasters, women and girls are impacted disproportionately. In addition to increased risks of violence and exploitation, women take on vastly greater unpaid care responsibilities than men, are forced to travel even further to secure water, and fall quicker and more deeply into poverty.

Women also experience barriers to accessing information and assistance. Across Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan districts, approximately one in three women is illiterate, making it harder to access information on relief efforts, complete registration processes and independently claim assistance.

One in three households across Bagmati Province is headed by a woman, out of which one third rely on already strained remittances.

Within the government's overall response, and in partnership with UN agencies, women's rights organisations and humanitarian partners, UN Women is working to ensure women and girls can access essential services and protection, and that the response addresses their needs.

The UN Women is mobilising resources for its 'Community Kitchen' initiative, a women-led emergency response mechanism providing immediate food assistance while creating opportunities for women’s leadership, livelihoods and longer-term recovery.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 30 August 2026.   

FNCCI, UN underline collaboration to boost jobs, investment

Kathmandu, Aug. 18

The President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Anjan Shrestha, and United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nepal Lila Peters Yahia have stressed the need for results-oriented collaboration among the government, private sector, development partners, the United Nations and all other stakeholders for Nepal’s economic and social development.

During a meeting on Tuesday, Shrestha said the FNCCI was willing to work with the UN to develop practical programmes combining skills development, entrepreneurship, investment promotion and decent employment. Noting that restoring investment and business confidence in Nepal’s economy was currently crucial, Shrestha said young people should be placed at the centre of development by creating employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for them within the country.

Shrestha said Nepal was in the process of graduating from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category and had requested a three-year extension of the transition period until November 2029. He said further UN support was needed to ease the post-graduation transition by strengthening productive capacity, export competitiveness, trade facilitation and Nepal’s ability to meet international standards.

Likewise, Yahia said the UN was positive about building a strong partnership with the private sector in Nepal. She said the United Nations would continue to support Nepal’s inclusive and sustainable economic development.

In response to the government’s request to the UN on delaying LDC graduation, the relevant committee would make a decision, she said stressing that Nepal should use the intervening period to make the necessary preparations.

“Graduation should not be limited to a change in status. It should be viewed as an opportunity for sustainable economic transformation, job creation, increased investment, and enhanced production and export capacity,” said Yahia.

She also said stable and predictable policies and public trust in national institutions were crucial to harnessing Nepal’s young workforce and potential across various sectors. She further stressed the need for strategies focused on import substitution and export promotion.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 19 August 2026.   

Nepal, UN hold annual JSC meeting

Kathmandu, July 25

The Government of Nepal and the United Nations on Friday held the annual meeting of the Joint Steering Committee of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), to review progress under the current framework and launching preparations for the next five-year cooperation plan.

The meeting, co-chaired by National Planning Commission Vice-Chair Dr. Gunakar Bhatta and UN Resident Coordinator Lila Pieters Yahia, endorsed a roadmap for the 2028–2032 Cooperation Framework.

The new framework will be developed jointly by the government and the UN Country Team and is scheduled to be signed in July 2027. It will align with Nepal's Sixteenth Plan and the country's transition from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, the United Nations informed in a statement on Friday.

The committee reviewed implementation of the current cooperation framework and identified priorities for its remaining 18 months.

According to the UN, discussions were focused on preparations for LDC graduation, implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sustainable development financing, climate action and institutional capacity.

The committee also reviewed progress in climate resilience, disaster preparedness, school meal programmes linked to local agriculture, skills development, access to finance and enterprise opportunities for women and young people, employment generation, and measures addressing child marriage, gender-based violence, legal identity reforms and electoral support.

"With fewer than five years remaining to meet the 2030 SDG deadline and Nepal's graduation from LDC status approaching, discussions centred on increasing women's participation in the economy, expanding skills development and employment opportunities for young people, supporting entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises, and promoting climate-resilient and digital economic growth," read the statement.

The meeting also discussed the impact of declining global Official Development Assistance and explored measures to improve the use of existing resources, strengthen capital expenditure, accelerate project implementation and mobilise innovative sources of development finance.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 July 2026.         

Govt seeks partnership with UNDP based on needs

Kathmandu, July 15

Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle said on Wednesday that the government seeks development cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) based on the country's evolving priorities and needs.

Addressing a programme in Kathmandu marking the 60^th anniversary of development cooperation between Nepal and the UNDP, he expressed the government's commitment to continuing the partnership.

"The contribution of the UNDP to poverty alleviation, reducing inequality, sustainable development, education, healthcare and many other sectors has been invaluable," FM Dr. Wagle said while hoping that the partnership will continue for the next 100 years.

He noted that long-term development cooperation under the umbrella of the United Nations should not be viewed solely in terms of the amount of financial investment, but rather as a broad framework for international collaboration and coordination.

The finance minister also thanked the UNDP for its contributions to environmental conservation, the strengthening of democracy, youth empowerment and digital development in Nepal. Recalling his own association with the organisation, he said he had spent an important period of his professional life working with the UNDP.

On the occasion, FM Dr. Wagle also launched '60 Years of Partnership', a photo book documenting the UNDP's work and development initiatives in Nepal over the past six decades.

Mental Health Support Programme launched

Meanwhile, the government and the UNDP launched a Joint UN Mental Health Support Programme (2025–2028), a three-year initiative to strengthen Nepal's mental health system and expand access to quality mental health and psychosocial support services across federal, provincial and local levels.

According to the UNDP, the programme is funded by Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented jointly by the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (RCO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

"It will be implemented in Karnali, Lumbini and Madhes Provinces, working closely with government institutions to strengthen policies, improve services, build workforce capacity, and promote innovation in mental health care," read a statement from the UNDP.

The programme is also said to support key national-level activities, including reviewing and updating mental health strategies and policies, and establishing online training infrastructure and resource centres, and work with private sector partners for the provisions and delivery of mental health services.

The programme responds to an urgent and growing need for mental health services in Nepal. The NMICS 2024–25 (Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey) reveals that 9.3 per cent young people aged 15-24 years reported symptoms of depression or anxiety, with females twice as likely as males to experience mental distress.

Despite important policy advances, including the National Mental Health Strategy and Action Plan (2020–2025), services remain fragmented, concentrated in urban areas and constrained by a shortage of trained personnel.

The case for investing in mental health is both social and economic. Evidence from Prevention and Management of Mental Health Conditions in Nepal: The Case for Investment, 2025 authored by MoHFS, WHO and UNDP shows that investing in mental health could save nearly 17,000 lives and generate almost one million healthy life years in Nepal over the next two decades. Every rupee invested in mental health returns nearly six rupees in economic and health gains, a multiplier effect that makes the case for action compelling.

The Programme will reach approximately 54,000 individuals and support policy reform, capacity building and service innovation, and will contribute to the Nepal Health Sector Strategic Plan (2022–2030) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.

It builds on Nepal's 100-Point Governance Reform Agenda, announced in March 2026, which includes explicit commitments to mental health and psychosocial well-being alongside broader health reforms, said the UNDP.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 16 July 2026.