DPNet Koshi Province Board Meets with National Chair
On 20 June 2025 the DPNet convened a full-board meeting of its Koshi Province Committee, in the presence of DPNet Chair, Dr Raju Thapa. Provincial board members opened the session by outlining recent organisational milestones, ongoing partnerships and emerging challenges. After listening to these updates, Dr Thapa commended the team’s energy but urged them to pivot from isolated, project-level interventions toward a broader role as the province’s hub for coordination and collaboration in DRR.
He reminded participants that, at the federal tier, DPNet serves as the Secretariat to Nepal’s National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR). Building on that mandate, the central committee now plans to help every province set up a Provincial Platform for DRR (PPDRR). Dr Thapa therefore asked Koshi board members to study the NPDRR Guideline in detail, brief provincial authorities on its provisions and advocate for swift establishment of a PPDRR. Under the envisioned structure, the Provincial Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law (MoIAL) Secretary would chair the PPDRR, while DPNet Koshi Province would assume the secretariat role.
Once formed, the PPDRR will need to coordinate nine thematic stakeholder groups: government line agencies, semi-government bodies, UN entities and donors, international NGOs, national NGOs, media outlets, academic and research institutions, the private sector, and disaster-affected communities. Dr Thapa stressed that Koshi Province should start mapping these actors and cultivating relationships now, so the platform can function smoothly from day one.
To reinforce learning and visibility, he further requested the board to organise at least one province-wide DRR learning-and-sharing conference each year. He also encouraged the chapter to lead the province’s observances of International Day for Disaster Reduction (13 October) and World Humanitarian Day (19 August), using both events to promote risk-informed development and honour frontline responders.
Speaking on behalf of the Koshi board, the provincial chair Sita Sharma thanked Dr Thapa for the strategic guidance and pledged full commitment to the outlined priorities: supporting the PPDRR’s formation, arranging stakeholder coordination, and hosting annual knowledge-sharing and commemorative events. The meeting concluded with expressions of appreciation from Dr Thapa to all attendees for their dedication to building a safer, more resilient Koshi Province.
