Climate Leadership and Action for Indigenous Women in Nepal (CLAN)

The Climate Leadership and Action for Indigenous Women in Nepal (CLAN) project is a transformative three-year initiative designed to empower Indigenous Women and Girls by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and leadership abilities to drive meaningful climate action in their communities. Through this project, 50 Indigenous Women and Girls will be trained and mentored as climate leaders, providing them with the tools to advocate for climate justice and resilience. The project will be implemented in Bhumlu and Chaurideurali Rural Municipalities in Kavrepalanchowk District, as well as Balephi and Indrawati Rural Municipalities in Sindupalchowk District.

A key aspect of the CLAN project is its focus on community-based approaches. In collaboration with SALASAN, National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF), and the Indigenous Women Uplift Centre (IWUC), the initiative aims to foster grassroots leadership by working directly with Indigenous women and girls. This effort not only builds individual capacity but also promotes collective action within Indigenous communities. Over the course of the project, CLAN will develop four comprehensive Community Climate Action Plans, which will serve as blueprints for addressing local climate challenges. These plans are developed through participatory processes that include Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) to ensure that the needs and priorities of Indigenous communities are fully integrated. Each plan will be tailored to reflect the unique environmental and cultural contexts of the respective communities, ensuring solutions that are relevant, sustainable, and rooted in traditional Indigenous knowledge.

The CLAN initiative is deeply committed to gender equality and seeks to elevate the voices of Indigenous women and girls in the climate dialogue. By empowering them to raise awareness, advocate for climate justice, and engage their communities in meaningful ways, the project aims to create a ripple effect of positive change. Through mentorship and peer learning, Indigenous women and girls will not only develop leadership skills but will also inspire others within their communities to take action. By the end of the three-year project, CLAN will have directly benefited over 8,000 Indigenous and marginalized community members, with more than 5,500 Indigenous Women and Girls being empowered to play a central role in climate action. The project’s Indigenous-to-Indigenous approach, supported by the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER) in Canada, ensures that Indigenous knowledge systems are respected and utilized in developing solutions that are both culturally appropriate and environmentally sustainable. Through collective efforts, collaboration, and the leadership of Indigenous women and girls, the CLAN project is poised to create lasting impacts, ensuring that climate action is both inclusive and transformative at the community level.