KATHMANDU, JULY 20
MetLife Foundation has awarded a grant of USD 120,000 to WWF Nepal to implement a climate resilience and livelihood support project aimed at vulnerable communities living along the Lower Karnali River basin in Bardiya district.
The one-year initiative, titled Joint Efforts for Ecosystem, Wellbeing and Alternative Livelihoods of Local Communities Based on Nature (JEEWAN), will be implemented in Rajapur Municipality and is expected to benefit around 140 low-income households from the Sonaha and Tharu communities.
According to WWF Nepal, the project will focus on reducing flood risks and strengthening local livelihoods in an area frequently affected by flooding, riverbank erosion and declining fish stocks. Nature-based solutions, including bio-dykes, green belts and stream restoration, will be introduced to protect agricultural land and settlements from inundation.
The project will also support alternative income-generating activities such as homestay-based eco-tourism, livestock and poultry farming, and improved market access. MetLife employees are expected to contribute through volunteer-led training on financial literacy, budgeting and small business management.
Speaking on the partnership, Nirmal Kajee Shrestha, Vice President and General Manager of MetLife Nepal, said the initiative reflects the foundation's commitment to helping vulnerable communities prepare for climate-related risks while creating sustainable economic opportunities.
WWF Nepal Country Representative Dr Ghana Shyam Gurung said the project would build on previous conservation efforts in the Karnali basin by combining flood mitigation measures with livelihood diversification programmes for local communities.
The initiative is also expected to contribute to the conservation of the Karnali River ecosystem by reducing pressure on declining fish resources and protecting endangered aquatic species, including the Gangetic dolphin and gharial.
WWF Nepal said the project aligns environmental conservation with community development, aiming to improve both ecosystem health and the long-term resilience of flood-prone households in western Nepal.