Earthquake science in disaster risk reduction policy and practice in Nepal
This working paper summarises current and potential uses of earthquake science in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and resilience-building activities in Nepal. This study aims to support governments, non-governmental organisations and communities to build resilience to earthquakes and secondary hazards along the Alpine-Himalayan belt. It is focused on four case study countries: Nepal, the neighbouring Indian state of Bihar, Kazakhstan and China.
The paper seeks to answer the following questions:
- What earthquake science is used by DRR stakeholders in Nepal, and for what purpose?
- To what extent is earthquake DRR policy and practice in line with current scientific knowledge?
- Where and how is scientific knowledge seen as particularly useful for policy and practice, and where is it seen to be less useful and why?
- What are the drivers of and constraints on the production and use of earthquake science?
- Are there opportunities to better produce or broker scientific knowledge for policy and practice?
- What effects could better use of earthquake science deliver, and to whom?
This working paper is written for anyone with an interest in earthquake DRR in Nepal, in particular scientists who generate earthquake science and practitioners and policy-makers who could use it.