KATHMANDU, JULY 3 The Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (ACORAB) Nepal has launched a 100-day nationwide campaign to strengthen community preparedness for monsoon-related disasters by expanding access to localized, reliable and actionable weather and climate information. The initiative, launched under the ongoing #HelloMausam campaign, will run through September and aims to help communities better prepare for floods, landslides and other extreme weather events by promoting easy-to-understand weather information and encouraging informed discussions on climate risks and preparedness. According to ACORAB, the campaign adopts a behaviour-informed communication approach to improve decision-making and support climate-resilient actions in 14 districts across the country. As part of the programme, ACORAB has partnered with 14 community radio stations, two from each province, to produce and disseminate localized weather and climate information through a radio-digital hybrid model. The campaign combines radio broadcasts with community engagement activities to foster dialogue, knowledge sharing and collective action on weather and climate issues. A total of 42 community-based groups have been formed across the 14 districts, each comprising at least 20 members. These groups are expected to meet at least seven times during the campaign to discuss weather forecasts, disaster preparedness, local experiences and traditional knowledge related to climate and weather.

'The initiative aims to engage nearly 1,000 community members in discussions on weather and climate information, encouraging behaviour-informed decision-making. We believe participants will continue to serve as community climate champions, promoting trusted weather information and supporting climate-resilient actions even after the campaign concludes,' said Siromani Dhungana, Director of ACORAB Nepal. Community facilitator Sabita Budha from Sudurpashchim Province said partner radio stations are working closely with local groups to facilitate discussions on weather forecasts, climate risks, preparedness measures and indigenous practices that can strengthen community resilience. Highlighting the importance of localized communication, Bhagya Rekha Thakur, a mentor and community mobilizer from Madhesh Province, said people are more likely to understand, trust and act on weather information when it is delivered in their own language and reflects their local context. ACORAB Programme Manager Bishal Bhattarai said the campaign also seeks to strengthen coordination among meteorological agencies, disaster management authorities, media organizations and local communities to ensure timely dissemination of weather information to those most at risk. The campaign is expected to produce more than 500 radio and digital content pieces, including programmes in local languages, alongside extensive community outreach activities. Nepal remains one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with increasingly frequent floods, landslides and other extreme weather events posing growing threats to lives, livelihoods and infrastructure, particularly in poor and marginalized communities. ACORAB said the initiative is intended to bridge the gap between weather information providers and local communities while promoting greater preparedness and resilience.