PACE-NEPAL: Recognized for Innovative Climate Change Adaptation
Introduction: Pace Nepal, a prominent organization dedicated to climate change adaptation, received notable recognition in 2019 through the Karyanwan Prize awarded by the Climate Change Adaptation at Scale (A@S) Prize program funded by UKaid. The award ceremony took place on May 23, 2019, at the Himalayan Hotel in Kupondole, Lalitpur.
The A@S Prize and its Winners: The A@S Prize aimed to reward innovative approaches in expanding community-driven climate change adaptation initiatives and influencing policy. After meticulous evaluation, 10 organizations were selected from over 130 participants to share a total prize purse of £500,000. These winners were acknowledged for their efforts in both scaling out the initiatives to more communities and scaling up to impact local and provincial policies and programs.
The Event and Notable Figures: The award ceremony was graced by esteemed figures such as Hon. Mr. Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Nepal’s Minister of Forests and Environment, who lauded the winners’ achievements and emphasized the significance of collaborative efforts in tackling climate change.
Innovative Initiatives: The recognized initiatives covered a wide spectrum, from pioneering technologies like riverbed water level raising, hydraulic ram pumps, and weather index insurance, to inventive business models focusing on ecosystem-based commercial agriculture and agroecosystem-based approaches. These models integrated climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction with inclusive forest resource management.
The Winners and Honorary Prizes: The winners were divided into two categories: international and national NGOs, CBOs, and local NGOs. Additionally, four honorary prizes were awarded for excellence in sustainability, technology, inclusion, and governance. Notably, Partnership Aid Center (PACE-Nepal) was honored as the second-place winner for its remarkable Disaster Risk Reduction Initiatives and Climate Change Adaptation activities in the Karnali Province.
PACE-Nepal’s Achievements: PACE-Nepal’s exceptional work involved community sensitization, climate change adaptation awareness, and capacity building. Through innovative methods like snow and rainwater harvesting ponds, seepage water utilization for irrigation and drinking, and bio-engineering techniques, PACE-Nepal made significant contributions to the field of climate change adaptation.
Reflections on the Prize: Kishor Neupane, President of PACE-Nepal, attributed the award to the collaborative efforts of his team and stakeholders. He emphasized the importance of replicating their successful model and expressed the intention to invest the prize money in further Disaster Risk Reduction Initiatives, climate change adaptation, forest management, and more.
Acknowledgments and Gratitude: PACE-Nepal extended heartfelt gratitude to various organizations, including the UK Government, INGOs, NGOs, and government representatives. They recognized the invaluable support provided by partners such as Caritas Nepal, Caritas Germany, and UN WFP, among others. The acknowledgment extended to all stakeholders who contributed to the success of their initiatives.
Conclusion: PACE-Nepal’s recognition through the Karyanwan Prize underscores the organization’s pioneering work in climate change adaptation. The award ceremony brought together influential figures and organizations committed to addressing the challenges of climate change. PACE-Nepal’s commitment to replication and collaboration hints at a promising future in the field of climate adaptation and mitigation.
For more information, you can refer to the official A@S Stage 2 Evaluation Report and a news article.