CDIA Responds to Call for Ecological and Urban Transformation in Kathmandu Valley

August 29, 2023

CDIA is set to work with Kathmandu and Lalitpur metropolitan cities to undertake the Kathmandu Valley Ecological Urban Renewal Project Preparation Study (PPS). The PPS will support the two cities as they initiate the ecological and urban transformation of Nepal’s largest metropolitan area.  

Kathmandu Valley is home to three million people. Altogether, the valley comprises 18 municipalities, including 5 established and 13 newly formed. 

Historically, people were engaged in sustainable practices, which enabled them to live in harmony with nature, while preserving their culture and pursuing economic development.

In recent years, however, the rapid growth in the valley has led to ad hoc development, land fragmentation, inadequate infrastructure, and degrading ecological and cultural assets. It has also made many communities along the riverbanks vulnerable to earthquakes and climate-related disasters.  

With support from CDIA and the Asian Development Bank, the city governments of Kathmandu and Lalitpur will develop a suitable strategy and investment program toward a comprehensive ecological and urban transformation in the area. In particular, they will connect and improve green open spaces and upgrade poorly serviced urban areas. The solutions will be implemented initially in Kathmandu and Lalitpur to provide a model for other municipalities in the valley and elsewhere in Nepal with the same issues.  

Under the PPS, the CDIA team will review the urban frameworks and identify constraints and opportunities toward a greener and more resilient urban development. They will also conduct surveys on open spaces and cultural assets and prepare a consultation plan to identify the needs and issues faced by local communities. 

They will conduct a rapid climate risk assessment and identify nature-based solutions (NbS) that can be implemented. They will then propose a green urban development strategy that encompasses NbS, ecological renewal, and cultural heritage rehabilitation, among others. They will further consider the development of ecological corridors, and design green spaces that integrate gender considerations and WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) principles. 

Following the approval of the cities’ application by its trust fund management, CDIA has now started the procurement process for the team of consultants who will work closely with the city governments potentially starting in December 2023.