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The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved a grant of $36.1 million (approximately NPR 5 billion) to support Nepal in mitigating the increasing threat of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
The approval came during the 42nd GCF Board Meeting held in Papua New Guinea on Tuesday, where Nepal’s project titled “Protecting Livelihoods and Assets at Risk from Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and Climate Change-Induced Flooding in Glacial River Basins of Nepal” received unanimous support.
Dr. Sindhu Prasad Dhungana, Alternate Board Member of the GCF representing the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), confirmed that the grant was approved to help Nepal safeguard lives and livelihoods from GLOF-related risks. He also shared that the Board approved 17 out of 19 project proposals, including Nepal's.
United Nations agencies have identified GLOFs as one of the most significant and accelerating climate risks in the Himalayas. According to UNDP Nepal, this project marks a shift in Nepal’s climate response strategy—from post-disaster recovery to proactive risk reduction.
Led by Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the seven-year project is expected to benefit over 2.2 million people living in the Koshi and Gandaki river basins.
“This project represents a long-term investment to protect lives and strengthen resilience where it matters most,” said Kyoko Yokosuka, UNDP Resident Representative in Nepal. “Supported by the Green Climate Fund, this initiative is climate action that is both grounded and transformative.”
The project will also receive an additional $14 million in co-financing from the Government of Nepal, UNDP, and the Independent Power Producers’ Association Nepal (IPPAN). Key components include:
Expanding and upgrading hazard monitoring and early warning systems
Lowering water levels in four high-risk glacial lakes: Thulagi, Lower Barun, Lumding Tsho, and Hongu 2
Strengthening riverbanks and flood-prone areas through reforestation and infrastructure such as check dams and vegetative gabion walls
Supporting national and local authorities, first responders, and communities in preparedness planning
Kamal Ram Joshi, Director General of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, expressed hope that the project would significantly strengthen Nepal’s capacity to protect vulnerable Himalayan communities.
“With 21 glacial lakes identified as being at high risk of outbursts, this GCF grant is a major achievement and supports our broader efforts in climate risk management,” Joshi said.
Stakeholders have described the initiative as a milestone in Nepal’s journey toward building long-term climate resilience in one of the most vulnerable regions on Earth.
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