Abstract

The April 25th, 2015 earthquake and its aftershocks in Nepal significantly shaped many aspects of life in impacted communities. Three years later, many individuals are still working to rebuild their homes; at the same time, Nepal has a high likelihood of future earthquakes. In this context, disaster risk management (DRM)– including preparation, response, and reconstruction– remains a crucial component of Nepali society. This thesis examines the work of the National Society for Earthquake Technology (NSET), a Nepali non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 1993 and a leading organization in DRM in Nepal. Through an analysis of the organization itself, and its relationship with the Government of Nepal (at both the national and local level), other NGOs, development agencies, and local communities, I argue that NSET is able to reach across different perceptions of risk to implement effective DRM programming due to its diverse programming, its social mobilizer position, and the relationships it has established with the aforementioned entities. However, it faces limitations in its ability to affect lasting change within some communities in Nepal due to its focus on scientifically conceived methods of risk at the expense of other culturally shaped perceptions.

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