In recent years, the effects of climate change have been deeply felt in Maharajgunj Municipality of Kapilvastu District, Nepal. Prolonged droughts, drying water sources, and erratic rainfall have made water increasingly scarce. When the monsoon does arrive, it often brings sudden floods that damage crops, homes, and livelihoods leaving farming communities trapped between drought and disaster.

*Nazir Miya, a resident of Semari Village in Ward No. 9, has witnessed these changes firsthand. “Water has become seasonal,” he explains. “In the past, water was plentiful. Now, by the end of January, most sources dry up completely, and during the rainy season, we live in fear of floods.”

For years, Nazir and other farmers struggled to survive. During dry periods, underground water levels dropped so low that drilling was ineffective and expensive. Many households were forced to rely on shallow borings and tube wells, draining their limited income while still facing uncertainty about irrigation.

Recognizing this growing crisis, INF Nepal, in joint partnership with Maharajgunj Municipality, established a rainwater collection centre in the 2025. INF contributed NPR 235,000, while the municipality invested NPR 1,000,000 to build a sustainable, community-managed solution.

Located centrally among vulnerable communities including Semari, Bhagwanpur, Aurhawa, and Bhanpur the centre spans over six kachhi bighas of land. It captures excess monsoon runoff and stores it for use during the dry season, transforming a once-destructive force into a life-saving resource.

Today, more than 1,000 kachhi bighas of farmland receive reliable irrigation, directly benefiting over 300 households. Farmers are now able to grow paddy and wheat more productively and no longer spend scarce time and money installing and maintaining tube wells. The saved resources are reinvested into farming and other income-generating activities.

For Nazir, the change has been signifiant. “Now we don’t worry about irrigation,” he says with relief. “We get water when we need it. Even when fields nearby are dry, ours receive regular irrigation.”

The collection centre will soon be reinforced with iron outlets to improve water regulation and protect the structure, ensuring long-term use. The municipality has committed to maintaining the facility as a permanent climate adaptation measure for the community.

For families like Nazir’s, this centre is more than infrastructure it is a lifeline. This is how INF is collaborating with local communities and government to create practical, low-cost solutions to climate change. As Nazir puts it, “Hundreds of people like me can now say no to an uncertain future of misery and yes to relief, resilience, and hope for a better life.”

*Name changed for anonymity

Her eldest daughter, now 26, has a severe physical disability and requires constant care. Sumi’s sons were still children when their father passed away. With no income, no livestock, and no savings, Sumi struggled daily to feed her family. They lived in a makeshift shed, spending half the year in a remote cattle shelter high in the hills, where rain leaked through the roof and nights were cold. Without support, Sumi’s daughter endured isolation. There were times when Sumi had to tie her daughter outside while fetching water; walking over an hour to the river returning to find her hungry, soiled, or injured. Despite these hardships, her daughter’s intelligence and potential shone through, waiting for an opportunity to be realized.

In 2024, INF Nepal arrived in Sumi’s village with a resilience and disability inclusion project. The initiative revived the inactive community forest user group and formed a new self-help group (SHG), prioritizing households affected by disability and food insecurity. Sumi and her daughter were selected as members.

INF encouraged direct participation of persons with disabilities in community meetings. To enable her daughter’s involvement, the group decided to hold a meeting at Sumi’s home. That day changed everything. When her daughter realized the group had come to listen to her, she first cried—but then smiled. For Sumi, it was the first time in 20 years she had seen her daughter’s smile, and it gave her a renewed sense of strength and purpose.

Following the visit, Sumi was proposed for an income-generating initiative. She chose goat farming a livelihood she could manage while caring for her daughter. With a revolving fund of NPR 15,000, Sumi bought two hybrid goats. Within a month, one goat gave birth to twins, increasing her herd to four. She also received ten fruit saplings as additional support.This small beginning transformed her life. Sumi now plans to grow her herd, sell goats, replace her leaking thatch roof with corrugated iron sheets, and buy new clothes for her daughter. More importantly, she has regained her dignity and her family’s place in the community.

Today, Sumi’s daughter participates actively in community activities, and their SHG continues to support vulnerable households like theirs. Sumi reflects, “INF Nepal didn’t just support a livelihood. They restored our dignity, resilience, and hope. We are no longer just surviving we are living with purpose.”

This story shows how targeted, and inclusive interventions can transform lives providing not just material support, but also emotional strength, social inclusion, and a sustainable path toward independence.

*Name changed for anonymity