Since the beginning of the three-year initiative that began in May 2024, CIER, Salasan Consulting Inc. (Salasan) and partners have made strides on the Climate Leadership Action for Indigenous Women in Nepal (CLAN) project.

This initiative aims to mentor 50 Indigenous Women and Girls (IWGs) in rural Nepal to become climate leaders in their communities. The initiative also works to support the development of community climate action plans (CCAPs) in four mountain regions of Nepal, along with 25 small-scale climate projects. These nature-based projects, designed by the IWG in collaboration with Salasan, will help to support each community in their effort to improve their resilience to the unique climate change impacts they face.

Challenges such as landslides, drought, water shortages, food scarcity, and severe flooding have previously afflicted these communities, causing physical and mental health issues for vulnerable community members, along with increased workload for women left behind in their villages. By working with CIER and Salasan on this initiative, challenges related to these impacts will be addressed, boasting healthier lives for the members of these communities.  

CIER is also continuing to work with three Canadian Indigenous Women Climate Experts to empower the IWGs, share climate challenges and insights with partners in Nepal, and support the development of the CCAPs and climate projects.   

Some of the key impacts from the initiative include the following:  

• 25 women-led Climate Action groups formed across four rural municipalities in Nepal.  
• Ongoing capacity building and training for 25 field-led groups.  
• Established an advisory committee with Canadian Indigenous Women Climate Advisors and Nepal partners.  
• Meetings with Canadian and Nepalese climate experts are arranged to build cross-border connections and share climate insights.  
• Community climate action plans have been assessed for participating communities.  
• Climate project proposals have been reviewed by CIER and climate experts to help strengthen proposals and ensure the implementation of meaningful climate adaptation initiatives.  
• 20 Climate Action groups have begun implementation of their climate adaptation projects.  

In addition to these milestones, the CLAN initiative, through a partnership with the National Women’s Upliftment Centre, delivered climate change awareness and advocacy training from March to June 2025. The training engaged CLAN members, youth, and other vulnerable individuals, equipping them with meaningful knowledge and resources to better understand climate impacts and adaptation strategies. 

This is just the beginning: the CLAN project is creating lasting change from the ground up, with many more milestones ahead.