Community-based climate change adaptation and local institutions in Nepal: A social exclusion perspective

Community-based approaches to climate change adaptation are considered important to enhancing the adaptive capacity of local, vulnerable communities. Within this approach, the role of local institutions in enhancing the adaptive capacity and facilitating adaptation is highlighted. However, in a semi-feudal society such as Nepal where hierarchy and patriarchy prevail, those at the bottom of social hierarchical structures are often excluded from mainstream society. Despite this, a critical analysis of community-based approaches is lacking and little is known as to whether local institutions support the socially and economically disadvantaged groups (such as women, the poor and Dalits) in the process of enhancing adaptive capacity within the rural agrarian community of Nepal. This thesis aimed to critically analyse community-based adaptation to climate change, by focusing on whether and how local institutions facilitate or hinder social inclusion in local adaptation processes in the Nepalese agriculture sector. Given that enhancing capacity to adapt is closely linked to improving livelihoods, this thesis primarily assessed the activity of institutions that focus on livelihood improvements. It also examined how disadvantaged groups may be excluded in this process of enhancing adaptive capacity. The study provides a valuable opportunity for drawing experiences and lessons useful in planning and implementing community-based climate change adaptation in the future. The study was designed using a mixed method approach. An in-depth case study analysis was conducted in Nepal’s Chitwan district. Data collection methods included 216 household questionnaire survey interviews, 66 semi-structured interviews, 6 focus group discussion, as well as observations and informal conversations.The results indicate that local institutions do support the local community to reduce vulnerability and enhance adaptive capacity. However, they neglect a significant section of the community in the process of enhancing adaptive capacity. Despite increased attention to the issue of exclusion, local institutions have failed to effectively address the issue of social exclusion. Social relations largely affect the performance of community institutions. Government institutions are almost inactive, while Non-governmental organisations’ (NGOs’) performances are mixed. Poverty has become the overarching determinant of exclusion, more so than the traditional caste system. Unequal power relations and local party politics heavily influence institutional decisions and capacities, and these issues are sustaining and exacerbating social exclusion. Hence, the thesis advances the theory of community-based climate change adaptation by highlighting the need for the issues of power and economic inequality to be placed at the centre and that they must be understood and addressed in order for the local communities to be able to pursue more inclusive climate change adaptation. The thesis calls for an urgent need to critically assess the nexus between institutions, power and wealth inequalities to understand and address whether and how local adaptation can become more inclusive. The thesis further contributes to a policy agenda that unlike conventional policy intensions, climate change policy initiatives in developing countries must be placed within the broader poverty alleviation and development imperatives. The thesis suggests that incremental inclusion can be achieved in practice by rethinking the role of local government – the level of government to be further empowered and made downwardly accountable to the people, particularly the poor and minorities