KATHMANDU: Eight municipalities in Nepal’s Madhesh Province have joined forces to protect thousands of flood-prone households along the Ratu River.

Mayors from Bardibas, Bhangha, Balwa, Jaleshwor, Loharpatti, Matihani, Mohattari, and Ek Dada signed a landmark agreement in Lalgadh to create a shared “basket fund” that will keep Community-Based Flood Early Warning Systems (CBFEWS) working year-round.

“The Ratu River Basin is one of the most vulnerable areas in Nepal, where floods can upturn lives and livelihoods within hours,” said Madhesh Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh. “By institutionalizing these systems and ensuring local ownership, we are safeguarding progress and preparing communities to act early and save lives.”

Similar funds have already been set up for the Khado and Lal Bakaiya watersheds. Contributions will support system repairs, capacity-building for local operators, and the integration of new technology when needed.

The Ratu River CBFEWS was first installed in 2015 by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in partnership with UNDP, the Global Environment Facility, and Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. It can provide up to three hours of lead time during floods — a critical window that has helped protect more than 60,000 residents during emergencies, including in the Khando watershed in 2024.

The system relies on trained local caretakers and municipal disaster management committees who issue alerts via sirens and mobile messages, giving families time to evacuate and safeguard their property. Residents say the technology has greatly reduced flood-related casualties and damage over the past decade, though sustained funding is essential to keep it functional.

Nepal is among the leaders in implementing the UN Secretary-General’s Early Warning for All initiative, which aims to protect everyone worldwide with life-saving alerts by 2027. Madhesh Province is linking community systems with police and local administration to ensure swift evacuation and relief during peak floods.

“What we are witnessing in Madhesh is a model for how governments, technical agencies, local partners, and communities can work together,” said ICIMOD Deputy Director General Izabella Koziell. “What is crucial is that communities have the power to respond and prepare for sudden disasters.”

The agreement is expected to accelerate CBFEWS expansion to other flood-prone basins in Nepal’s Lower Koshi region and inspire similar models in Bhutan, Bangladesh, and India.

This work falls under the HI-GRID initiative, funded by the Australian Government and implemented by ICIMOD with local governments and partners, aimed at building resilience to both flooding and drought in the Lower Koshi River Basin.