Disaster Risk Reduction & Management

Building a Resilient Private Sector

Nepal is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Located in a seismically active zone and facing increasing climate-related risks, the country is vulnerable to earthquakes, floods, landslides, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and other natural hazards. These disasters not only threaten lives and livelihoods but also disrupt businesses, damage infrastructure, and derail economic progress. For Nepal's private sector, building resilience is not optional, it is essential for sustainable growth.

Programs & Updates

NBI Hosts International Symposium on Multi-Sectoral DRRM Platform for Nepal

June 28, 2022

Kathmandu

NBI & A-PAD Conduct Emergency Preparedness Workshop for Multi-Sector DRRM Collaboration

May 29-30, 2022

Kathmandu

PPE सामग्री हस्तान्तरण

May 11, 2020 (Kathmandu)

National Disaster Profile

Key Statistics (2018 - 2024)

Indicator	Figure
Total disaster incidents	32,375
Lives lost	2,996
Missing persons	446
Injured	11,752
Houses affected	57,271
Infrastructures destroyed	43,168
Total economic losses	NPR 23.60 billion (~USD 177 million)

Major Disasters in Recent Years

Event	Date	Impact
Gorkha Earthquake	April–May 2015	~9,000 deaths; losses ~USD 7 billion (~1/3 of GDP)
Melamchi Flood	June 2021	Severe infrastructure damage; losses NPR 1 billion
Jajarkot Earthquake	November 2023	156 deaths; 65,427 houses destroyed; losses NPR 2.47 billion
Floods & Landslides	September 2024	248 deaths; 46,095 households affected; losses ~USD 346 million
Monsoon 2025	June–September 2025	140 deaths despite above-average rainfall

Climate Related Disasters (2012 - 2024)

Indicator	Figure
Total climate-related disasters	44,000
Deaths	5,667
Estimated economic loss	NPR 49 billion (~USD 367 million)
Average annual deaths	249.7

Nepal ranks 69th globally among countries most affected by climate change-related extreme weather events.

Global Rankings (2024)

Metric	Nepal's Ranking
Deaths per million population	12.76 (6th highest globally)
Direct economic losses as % of GDP	0.83% (8th highest globally)

Institutional Framework

Element	Detail
Key Legislation	Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, 2017
National Authority	NDRRMA, established 2019
Strategic Plan	National Strategic Action Plan for DRR, 2018–2030
Local Coverage	DRRM institutions across all 753 local municipalities
Officials Trained	19,900+ in DRRM principles
Data Portal	BIPAD Portal (bipadportal.gov.np)

Why this Matters for NBI

Nepal's vulnerability demands proactive, multi-sectoral collaboration. The private sector, employing over 4 million people and controlling critical infrastructure, supply chains, and resources, is indispensable to national resilience. NBI's DRRM initiatives bridge government, civil society, and business to move Nepal from reactive relief to preparedness, prevention, and sustainable resilience.