Research

The Small Earth Nepal (SEN) in collaboration with IHE Delft, Tribhuvan University (TU), Tharu Women UPliftment Center (TWUC), and Karnali Integrated Rural Development and Research Center (KIRDARC) is implementing the project “Promoting CLimAte ReSilient and Socially Inclusive Water Management in the Lower Karnali Watershed Region, Nepal (CLASSIK)” in the Bardiya, Kailali, and Surkhet districts.

This project addresses water-related challenges in the socio-ecologically vulnerable Lower Karnali Watershed Region (LKWR) of Nepal, characterized by its susceptibility to climate-induced hazards. The region encompasses diverse ecosystems, including wetlands and the biodiverse Bardiya National Park, home to a substantial indigenous population, notably the Tharu community. Despite abundant water resources, the populace, primarily smallholder farmers, face recurring threats of floods, droughts, and unreliable rainfall, impacting their livelihoods and food security. Particularly vulnerable are women, indigenous, and marginalized groups, who rely heavily on natural ecosystems for sustenance but often lack representation and recognition in resource management.

The project’s goal is to promote socially inclusive and sustainable water resource management in LKWR. To achieve this, specific objectives include identifying vulnerabilities, examining barriers faced by marginalized groups, evaluating water management approaches, understanding water source trends, capacity building, and informing policy recommendations. The project integrates climate data, sociocultural insights, and modeling techniques while engaging local communities, professionals, and stakeholders by employing a transdisciplinary, participatory approach. Activities involve research, vulnerability assessments, knowledge documentation, capacity building through training, and advocacy for inclusive policy-making.

The project’s emphasis on community engagement, traditional knowledge preservation, and empowerment aligns with the intention to foster resilience and sustainability in water resource management. Effective execution of these objectives could serve as a model for promoting inclusive, climate-resilient practices beneficial to LKWR and similar vulnerable regions worldwide.