Milijuli Nepali – Recovery phase

Research showed that

• Widespread misperception about what owner-led reconstruction meant;
• Vulnerable communities did not have access to relevant and timely information on resettlement, technical building guidelines, enrolment for government schemes, government services and procedures for rebuilding, and how to access training;
• Changing government policies resulted in confusing messages on pre-approved house designs and the amount of support available for rebuilding through grants and loans;
• A lack of public-interest media meant there were few programmes in local languages, a lack of reliable facts and information on reconstruction in local programmes, and a lack of production skills, resources and research to produce credible, creative programmes.

• People know the importance of rebuilding safely and have the information they need, including building techniques, how to access government incentives, and methods of better managing their livelihoods to be able to invest in secure housing.
• People discuss a range of issues that can support rebuilding.
• People have increased self- and collective-efficacy and motivation to take action.
• People take actions to support rebuilding, such as engaging with experts and local decision makers, voice their questions and needs, trying new building techniques, accessing government schemes, and securing their livelihoods to invest in rebuilding.

Targeting: Home-owners who are currently rebuilding, future homeowners, local representatives, masons and builders, government officials, engineers, communities in earthquake risk areas, and disadvantaged groups, including women.

Strategies: Provide role models (real and fictitious) who demonstrate ways of taking initiative and successfully rebuilding. Provide a forum at local levels to interact with experts and decision-makers.

• Media: Milijuli Nepali radio programme (15 min): Broadcast six days a week on the BBC Nepali Service, Radio Nepal, partner stations across the country, and on Twitter, Facebook and SoundCloud. Through stories, songs, humour inspiration and discussion the programme followed people facing reconstruction and everyday life. Milijuli Nepali stand out due to its unique content, through which simple, practical and actionable ideas are demonstrated to motivate people to act rather than just telling them what they should do. It was presented in such a manner that the information given inspired the listeners to develop a positive attitude during the difficult time. It was an interactive programme with real life stories and examples from the field with informative interaction with the technical experts like engineers from villages and central level.
• Katha Maala (Garland of stories) radio drama: 30 episodes. The story followed a milkmaid that went from shelter to shelter sharing information. She retrained as a mason and rebuilds houses in other areas.
• Outreach - Community discussions in 11 earthquake-prone districts in areas with limited access to media

Targeting: Local media professionals in earthquake-prone areas with limited other media

• Mentoring to partner radio stations in 11 highly earthquake-affected districts to conduct community discussions and to produce local programmes

Research showed that:

• It reached over 2.6 million people including government officials who tune in to follow the latest decisions and advice on rebuilding
• Almost every listener (99%) agreed that the information on the programme was trusted, relevant to their life (92%), and featured people like them (86%)
• nearly two-third (62%) of regular listeners reported that they now know about specific NRA-suggested techniques for earthquake resistant foundation and have recognised its importance to ensure safety
• Nearly half (45%) of regular listeners to the programmes reported using these techniques during their house reconstruction

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About Milijuli Nepali, Recovery phase

Full episodes: Available on SoundCloud