The primary contextual motivators for articulating climate change as a national development agenda in Nepal included the need to address the challenges posed by climate change impacts to Nepal’s socioeconomic development goals; the need to effectively engage with, implement and maximize the benefits of the UNFCCC; the need to make socioeconomic development practices and natural resource management practices climate friendly; and the need to mobilize and manage climate finance effectively (Ministry of Environment, 2010; Climate Change Policy, 2011).

The Government of Nepal’s engagement with the climate change agenda began in earnest in 2007. Since then the country has established a planning architecture, comprising of policy frameworks, institutional and financial arrangements, aimed at articulating and implementing a country driven climate resilient development agenda.