The Government of Nepal has begun to put in place a policy framework to address the effects of climate change. In particular, the recently approved NAPA and Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR) aim to mainstream adaptation into the country's development efforts. These are the entry points for any initiative on adaptation planning and programming. The next step is to operationalize these policy documents and develop and implement an action plan. However, the policy framework itself recognizes that the Government lacks the necessary data and evidence base to identify which of the initiatives are priorities and where and how they should be carried out.

There is currently no comprehensive, nationwide, system for collecting data on the state of climate change in Nepal; the need for improved indicators of the state of climate change has been identified because indicators do assist in the assessment of both vulnerabilities and adaptation needs. Data gaps are a key limitation in responding to climate change induced food insecurity.

The purpose of this project was to fill this indicator gap in Nepal to provide an improved evidence base for climate change planning and programming. It was able to make use of an existing government-owned data collection system and integrate climate change indicators within this system.

The Nepal Food Security Monitoring System (NeKSAP) was created in 2009 as a national system for collecting data on food security in the country. The system builds on a Field Surveillance System which the World Food Programme (WFP) has been carrying out since 2005. NeKSAP collects data on a set of indicators that include crop conditions, coping strategies, environmental shocks, market conditions, and livelihood options. The data collected under NeKSAP is consolidated and analysed to generate local food insecurity insights which are then communicated to decision makers to achieve coordinated, appropriate and timely actions to minimize human sufferings due to food insecurity.

This project responded to the demand for evidence on climate change. By making use of an already existing government-owned data collection system and integrate climate change indicators within this system;NeKSAP hence selected for mainstreaming climate change indicators within the existing system. This proved to be more cost-effective and inclusive as well as strengthened the existing monitoring system and generate valuable data and insight on the critical areas of vulnerability, responses to be made in building resilience and adaptive capacity.

For further information on this project, please refer to the Technical Report: Mainstreaming Climate- Sensitive Indicators Into An Existing Food Monitoring System.

CDKN funding: £125,000