Climate Change Governance and Funding Dilemma in Nepal

Climate change is now becoming a serious social and environmental problem of the world and development issue in developing countries. The decade long negotiation on climate change has progressed in policy debate but contributed less in terms of real action on ground. This study tried to explore and analyse governance and financing on climate change adaptation with particular reference to Nepal using political economy and institutional analysis framework. The findings suggest that Nepal has attempted, but not been able, to capitalize on international and national funding and implementation of its adaptation priorities. The national outlook and public support is positive in Nepal. There are, however, some issues around institutional and financial mechanisms. Lack of policy coherence, donor aid fatigues and sectoral fragmentation of programmes are together preventing the conducive environment for adaptation to climate change in Nepal. This is impaired by the lack of sufficient information on country’s exposure to climate change which constrains decision making at different levels. One of the plausible strategies to overcome the governance challenges can be decentralized mainstreaming actions that promote collaboration and engagement among various actors.