Raju Chauhan, Sudeep Thakuri and Charles Pradhan
Nepal is exposed to multi-hazard risk and is highly prone to disasters such as earthquake, flood, landslide, and drought. The climate, topography, nature-based livelihood, and…
Abstract
Nepal is exposed to multi-hazard risk and is highly prone to disasters such as earthquake, flood, landslide, and drought. The climate, topography, nature-based livelihood, and weak economy and institutional capability to deal with such disasters put the country at frontline of the highly vulnerable countries in the world. Majority of the population of Nepal live in rural areas which are characterized by poorly developed infrastructures. Several disasters in such areas induce temporarily or permanently displacements of the people. Vulnerable communities, households, and individuals lack the capacity to withstand shocks, while more resilient communities are able to reduce the associated risks. Migration during disasters is itself an adaptive response which is both the opportunity and challenge for developing a resilient community. This chapter presents the trends and patterns of disaster-induced displacements in Nepal and explores how disaster-induced displacements could be an opportunity to build back better to enhance the resilience of the vulnerable communities. This chapter also highlights the existing institutions and disaster management framework of the national policies and strategies at the federal, provincial, and local levels in the light of disaster-induced displacement, and recommend actions that need to be taken to manage the risk of disaster-induced displacements and enhance resilient livelihoods in Nepal.
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R B Shrestha and Stephen Ogunlan
This paper describes the experiences and the contentious issues on eight existing PPAs in Nepal with varying type of investment, the key areas where IPPs are treated fairly and…
Abstract
This paper describes the experiences and the contentious issues on eight existing PPAs in Nepal with varying type of investment, the key areas where IPPs are treated fairly and the areas where IPPs are discriminated against by the clauses are highlighted. Power Purchase Agreements on IPPs in Nepal are of three types: with foreign investment, local investment and investment in JV with the Utility. A critical issue in designing power purchase agreements is to create a level playing field for the players to secure successful and sustainable IPPs and PPAs. To create this environment, discriminatory clauses or unequal treatment to IPPs in the key issues of the PPAs should be avoided; the key issues being power purchase guarantees, force majeure guarantees, financial and foreign exchange guarantees, operation guarantees, and guarantees concerning insurance and dispute resolution. The analysis shows that discriminatory clauses and unequal treatment are present in the key issues of the agreements.
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Luma Nidhi Pandey, Michael Kam, Shambhu B. Pandey, Chet R. Upreti, Netra P. Osti and A. Allan Degen
Tree fodder is an important constituent of livestock feed in the mid‐hills of Nepal, particularly so during the dry winter. The purpose of this paper is to compare the ranking of…
Abstract
Purpose
Tree fodder is an important constituent of livestock feed in the mid‐hills of Nepal, particularly so during the dry winter. The purpose of this paper is to compare the ranking of tree fodders by indigenous goat raisers to the selectivity of fodder by goats.
Design/methodology/approach
Fodder from six trees, namely, khanayo (Ficus semicordata), sal (Shorea robusta), kabro (Ficus lacor), pakhuri (Ficus globerrima), katus (Catannopsis tribuloides) and aanp (Mangifera indica) are used. Goat raisers rank the six fodders, giving 1 as the most preferred by goats and 6 as the least preferred. In addition, a feeding trial is carried out in which the six fodders are offered simultaneously to adult, castrated male and lactating, female local khari goats and intake of each fodder is determined.
Findings
Khanayo (1.00) is ranked highest by the goat farmers, followed by kabro (2.47), pakhuri (3.58), sal (4.16), aanp (4.56) and katus (5.21). Selectivity by the goats is highest in khanayo and kabro, intermediate in aanp and pakhuri and lowest in katus and sal. The correlation between farmer ranking and goat selectivity approaches significance (r=0.48; Mantel P<0.09). A significant correlation is found between fodder selections of male and female goats (r=0.68; Mantel P<0.01). Among components, fodder selectivity of goats is highly correlated (P<0.01) with calcium concentration only. Generally, goats select fodders high in calcium and crude protein and minimize intakes of fodders high in lignin and condensed tannins.
Originality/value
The indigenous population is knowledgeable about the fodder preference of goats but, in practice, they generally offer only one fodder species to the goats at a feeding. However, this paper shows that the goats consume and, most likely, require a mixed diet of tree fodders in satisfying their requirements of nutrients and energy while minimizing their intake of detrimental. This should be taken into consideration by the farmers when feeding their livestock.
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Mountains provide more than 40% of global goods and services. The ecosystem services arising from the Hindu Kush-Himalayas (HKH) in the form of water, biodiversity and niche…
Abstract
Mountains provide more than 40% of global goods and services. The ecosystem services arising from the Hindu Kush-Himalayas (HKH) in the form of water, biodiversity and niche products, hydroelectricity, timber, mineral resources, and recreation are enormous. The HKH region is enriched by a diversity of cultures, ethnic groups, and traditional knowledge systems. Thus, it is a paradox that, in spite of rich natural resources and cultures, poverty is rampant. Additionally, the HKH is a hotspot for climate change impacts, but the region has been identified as a data deficient during the 2007 assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Since then, some progress has been made to fill the data gap, specifically relating to biodiversity, cryosphere, and climate change. This chapter introduces the HKH region and elaborates the need for modeling in the context of dealing with climate change.
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The purpose of this paper is to explore the financial and economic aspects of the renewable energy sector aiming to develop and present a project feasibility analysis model that…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the financial and economic aspects of the renewable energy sector aiming to develop and present a project feasibility analysis model that allows the public sector to master plan socially beneficial infrastructure projects and to find financially viable options for private investments. This paper develops a general frame that can be harmonized to a certain project by applying relevant country specific schemes.
Design/methodology/approach
The cost-benefit analysis (CBA) approach is used to develop relevant formulas aiming to compare the economic internal rate of return (EIRR) and financial internal rate of return (FIRR) of the possible investment options. The IRR method is used for the development of a platform that will allow comparing different project alternatives and choosing an optimal model for both public and private partners. A case study approach from Uzbekistan is used to highlight the implementation possibilities of the model based on a certain country example.
Findings
This paper develops a decision-making frame allowing the public sector to find organizational options that provide economically viable projects and at the same time attract private investors in the latter. The designed map of possible benefits, costs and revenue mechanisms allows practitioners to analyze the economic and financial viability of the existing combinations by using the developed model.
Practical implications
The developed model will allow the public sector to use the needed data on different possible design models in the developed formulas in order to identify the EIRR and FIRR of each option. Nevertheless, the application of the model will be possible after considering country specific options needed for CBA. The private sector can use the model to identify the financially acceptable options for the investments.
Originality/value
The paper provides the decision makers with a sound tool to identify the possible combinations of the options to conduct a relevant project with private investments in the renewable energy sector and to choose the model that generates the highest social welfare.
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M. Kabir Hassan, Muneer M. Alshater, Hasanul Banna and Md Rabiul Alam
World legends and the scientific community have taken the devastating impact of poverty issue seriously which has been reflected in the growing trend of research in this area…
Abstract
Purpose
World legends and the scientific community have taken the devastating impact of poverty issue seriously which has been reflected in the growing trend of research in this area. Hence, this paper aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis on poverty alleviation literature, discuss the various dimensions of poverty alleviation and deliver some ideas for future research.
Design/methodology/approach
This study deploys a combined quali-quantitative method familiar as meta-literature review on 454 articles collected from the Web of Science (WoS) database with Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) coverage over the period 1971–2020. Using Rstudio, VOSviewer and Excel, the collected data have been analysed from different lenses.
Findings
This study considers the most contributing scientific actors like authors, journals, topics, institutions and countries as parameters for analysing articles. Based on the analysis from various perspectives, it determines five main research streams upon which it provides some potential research directions to be considered in future research.
Research limitations/implications
This study solely relies on the articles available in the WoS database with index in SSCI. However, it excludes analysing thousands of articles on the same topic available in other platforms.
Originality/value
This study provides a retrospective on the scientific works and collective efforts of scholars germane to poverty alleviation from the highest ranked journals, which would help better understand the literature development and the intellectual structure of this field.
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Bhishma R. Dahal, Sudip Adhikari and Aditya R. Khanal
In Nepal, crop insurance is at initial phase. However, since its implementation seven years ago, the adoption rate has been fairly low even with the government's lucrative subsidy…
Abstract
Purpose
In Nepal, crop insurance is at initial phase. However, since its implementation seven years ago, the adoption rate has been fairly low even with the government's lucrative subsidy on premium. There have been very limited studies on specifics of insurance for different crops, and farmer's acceptability on insurance. This study examines WTP for tree-based insurance, a potential insurance scheme on fruit crops in hilly areas of Nepal.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used a contingent valuation method to estimate farmer's willingness to pay (WTP) premium for insurance. They used a double-bounded dichotomous choice (DBDC) framework to elicit WTP and an interval regression method to estimate the WTP model.
Findings
The authors found that the farmers revealed WTP for tree-based insurance is three times higher than the premium they would pay under government's current subsidy plans of insurance. The authors’ result from interval regression also suggests that the factors such as farm size, farmer's adverse experience about invasive pest and weather, awareness of crop insurance, farming experience, and family involvement in agriculture significantly influence farmers' WTP.
Research limitations/implications
A distinct modality of insurance, like tree-based insurance for fruit crops in mid and high hill areas, may enhance the adoption rate rather than a broad area-based plan generalized for all crops.
Originality/value
Only a few studies have examined specifics of insurance in fruit crop insurance in developing countries. The authors’ estimated WTP factors influencing WTP on citrus fruit-crop insurance in Nepal indicates that there is a scope for extending this insurance program. However, the authors also found that there is a gap in understanding of crop insurance and have limited awareness on the government's subsidy programs among farmers.
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The study aims to identify the severe socioeconomic, environmental, and ecological impacts caused by the construction of mega and large hydro-power plants in Uttarakhand, India…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to identify the severe socioeconomic, environmental, and ecological impacts caused by the construction of mega and large hydro-power plants in Uttarakhand, India. In addition to identifying the attributes, the study creates an integrated index that will assist in the development of sustainable hydro-power.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology used for this impact identification was based on extensive literature review, focused expert discussions and further validation through a primary survey among the stakeholders in the hydropower sector. The sustainability index (SI) was estimated using the fuzzy logic theory.
Findings
The study area SI shows that few projects are in extreme zones, and through suggestive measures, few project sites can be made viable for long-term sustainable project site. A Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol–based conceptual model is also proposed for mitigation of impacts.
Originality/value
Hydropower plays an essential role in access to cleaner and cheaper sources of energy; it defines the usage of water resources toward inflation-free green energy and holds spectacular operational flexibility. Despite the significant advantages associated with hydroelectric power projects, there are adverse side effects as well. The water-based power sector industry contributes to any nation through both economic and environmental ways. Although one-third of the power business in India is carried out through water-based hydropower projects, recent trends in water-based hydropower projects show significant socioeconomic and environmental impacts that create a debate about the sustainability of these projects.
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This study aims to identify and gauge the sustainability indicators (SUSIs) for sustainable Hydroelectric Power (HEP) project development. It examines major SUSIs under the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to identify and gauge the sustainability indicators (SUSIs) for sustainable Hydroelectric Power (HEP) project development. It examines major SUSIs under the social, economic and environmental (SEE) fronts and categorizes them under push and pull impacts which helps to identify challenges and opportunities associated with projects. Additionally, the study calculates an empirical sustainability index (SI) to assess the sustainability level of HEP. Finally, the study suggests mitigation measures across stakeholders, which will optimize government/developer/investor investments.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper examines the interaction of sustainable HEP development with SUSIs using Uttarakhand as a study area. Additionally, SI has been developed quantitatively. For the indicator classification, the authors conducted a literature review and secondary survey of all affected parties, including investors, developers, NGOs and villagers. The fuzzy logic theory (FLT) is used to determine the SI of the study area and classify projects in their level of sustainability. On the basis of expert opinion and literature review, mitigation measures are proposed across stakeholders.
Findings
The authors found that there is a mixed effect of SUSIs on HEP development across various projects in Uttarakhand. Furthermore, the authors suggest that index-based assessment and planned collaboration play a significant role in sustainable HEP development. Mitigation measures should be suggested to all affected stakeholders based on specific project issues, i.e. collaborations, training, public awareness campaigns, and initiatives by the government that would improve sustainability conditions.
Research limitations/implications
In addition to supporting the ongoing and upcoming initiatives launched by the Government of India, including the Green Energy Corridor, independent power producers (IPPs); and the India-Renewable Resources Development Project with IDA and participates in Net zero target.
Practical implications
The structured, sustainable HEP planning suggested in the study will help to conserve society, economy, save resources and in parallel reduce the cost and time of developers and policymakers. This will also help to improve the socioeconomic status of the villagers and prolong the life of the project.
Originality/value
The innovative SI-based push-pull approach identifies a sustainable HEP project planning.
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Muhiuddin Haider and Avinandan Mukherjee
Neonatal healthcare is a critical issue in public health management. The purpose of this paper is to analyze neonatal health in South Asia. This paper specifically examines the…
Abstract
Purpose
Neonatal healthcare is a critical issue in public health management. The purpose of this paper is to analyze neonatal health in South Asia. This paper specifically examines the neonatal period of an infant's development, the time from birth to the first 28 days, and the importance of providing each newborn with the necessary vaccines, treatments, and care they may require. In addition to examining neonatal health and those diseases/problems that afflict children without proper care, a closer look will be taken at Southern Asia, where research shows nearly 75 percent of the neonatal deaths that take place in the world, occur.
Design/methodology/approach
An extensive literature review using recently published works, government documents, and organizational reports is employed. The research is based on case studies of six South Asian countries and several international participating agencies and non‐governmental organizations working on the improvement of neonatal health.
Findings
The research shows that the majority of the countries in this region lack the funds necessary to provide aide, health services, and other preventative care to their populations. Without the global attention, intervention, and resources provided by these organizations, any progress made in the area of neonatal health in these regions will continue to be hampered. A social marketing framework designed to address this critical public health challenge is presented.
Originality/value
In the modern world, much advancement has been made in terms of neonatal and maternal health and well‐being. As the years have passed, the world has seen many improvements on clinical procedures, health policies and regulations, the quality of training for doctors, nurses, and related specialists, and the various pieces of medical equipment used throughout those hospitals and clinics located within the developing world. Unfortunately, data provided by various research efforts have shown that neonatal mortality continues to occur at high rates throughout countries in South Asia. Individuals in these countries lack access to health care, health education, and other essential components that influence a mother's ability to produce a healthy child and keep that child safe and illness/issue free throughout this fragile period.