Nepal
Background and News
Nestled between India and China, Nepal has a population of nearly 30 million and remains one of the most vulnerable countries in South Asia when it comes to poverty and natural disasters. Despite significant progress in education, health and human development over recent decades, more than 20 per cent of the population still lives below the national poverty line, with limited access to essential services such as healthcare, education and social protection.
The country is also highly exposed to the effects of climate change. Earthquakes, landslides, floods and extreme weather events regularly affect the most vulnerable communities, further undermining livelihoods and exacerbating inequalities. In rapidly growing urban areas, particularly around Kathmandu, rapid urbanisation is placing increasing pressure on infrastructure and public services.
Children from disadvantaged families are particularly affected by these challenges. Among them, children with disabilities face numerous barriers that limit their access to education, healthcare and full participation in social life. Despite the existence of national policies promoting inclusion, infrastructure often remains inadequate and specialist services insufficient, whilst stigma and a lack of information continue to fuel their exclusion.
The Bagmati province, home to the capital Kathmandu and more than six million people, is a prime example of these issues. Although it is the country’s main economic and administrative centre, rapid population growth and internal migration have led to an increase in urban poverty and exacerbated difficulties in accessing basic services for the most vulnerable groups. In the municipality of Kageshwori Manohara, east of Kathmandu, many children with disabilities and their families therefore continue to face major obstacles in their daily lives.
SOS Children’s Villages in Nepal
SOS Children’s Villages has been working in Nepal since 1972, supporting children who have lost or are at risk of losing parental care through an extensive network of programmes offering alternative care, family strengthening, education and community support. The organisation is currently active in several regions of the country, including Kathmandu, Sanothimi, Jorpati, Pokhara, Bharatpur, Surkhet and Itahari.
Beyond the SOS Children’s Villages, the organisation works with families and communities to prevent family separation and enable children to grow up in a safe and protective environment. Its work focuses in particular on access to education, healthcare, skills development, child protection and the inclusion of the most vulnerable groups.
Faced with persistent challenges linked to poverty, rapid urbanisation and natural disasters, SOS Children’s Villages Nepal is also developing close partnerships with local authorities to strengthen community services and improve children’s access to fundamental rights. Particular attention is paid to children with disabilities, who remain among the groups most at risk of social and economic exclusion.
Through its alternative care, family strengthening and community development programmes, SOS Children’s Villages Nepal helps to improve the living conditions of thousands of vulnerable children, young people and families across the country every year.
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