- Our office: Kathmandu
- Our areas of focus: Health, humanitarian response, disaster risk reduction, resilience, political participation and accountability, bridging divides
- Our partners: UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Options, Mercy Corps, Mott MacDonald
About our work
In Nepal, our work supports good governance, provides effective humanitarian relief, encourages healthy behaviours and improves disaster resilience, all while strengthening local and national media partners.
Our primetime TV and radio debate programme, Sajha Sawal (‘Common Questions’), has been helping citizens hold their leaders to account, and covering important topics including healthcare provision and gender equality, since 2007. We have also recorded in all of Nepal’s 77 districts to reflect the country’s rich diversity and ensure no voice is left unheard. In 2019, we trained six local media organisations to produce their own inclusive programmes supporting good local governance.
When the country was rocked by devastating earthquakes in April and May 2015, we launched our lifesaving broadcasts within hours, sharing critical information for survival. Our radio show Milijuli Nepali (‘Together Nepal’), provided listeners with practical advice on surviving the immediate aftermath, stories of community spirit to help people stay connected, and as time went on, helped people to build back better with information about recovery and reconstruction. We’re proud that this programme has relaunched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, sharing trusted, timely and accurate health information.
Other work in Nepal includes our innovative mobile health tool, Mobile Chauturi, supporting female community health volunteers to provide effective primary care, as well as a brand new project in far-Western Nepal aimed at fostering safer and more supportive education for children.
Latest news from Nepal
Our projects in Nepal
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Mobile innovation to improve the health of mothers and children in Nepal
Through an innovative mobile-phone based tool, we’re supporting families in Nepal to make healthier decisions around reproductive, maternal, new-born and child health. -
Improving knowledge of health and hygiene practices through radio
We’re supporting local radio stations in remote districts of Nepal to help improve local knowledge of important health and hygiene practices. -
Tackling sexual violence through drama in Nepal
Powerful dramas – helping challenge attitudes and behaviours leading to sexual violence – are produced and broadcast across two local FM stations in Nepal with editorial and technical support from ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Media Action. -
Helping save lives through radio in Nepal
Milijuli Nepali (Together Nepal) is a radio programme providing people affected by the Nepal earthquake with practical, actionable information – on shelter, sanitation, food, water, health and employment – for survival and recovery. -
Weekly debate programme Sajha Sawal
The primetime question and answer programme brings people and their leaders together. -
Katha Mitho Sarangiko
From 2008 to 2013, radio drama Katha Mitho Sarangiko (Sweet Tales Of The Sarangi) and its sister magazine show used personal stories and improvisation to tackle tough issues in Nepal.
Our insight and impact
Use our research library-
What do people in Nepal need to prepare better for disasters?
We conducted studies to understand what people need to better prepare for natural hazards. The findings have been used to inform the co-design of the National Disaster Risk Communication Strategy and provide valuable information to others communicating with people in Nepal on how to prepare for disasters. -
Media usage in Nepal 2022
This briefing provides an overview of media usage amongst people living in Nepal. It provides data on how media usage has changed overtime, and outlines what media platforms are most popular with whom and in which locations. -
Online violence against women and girls in Nepal: what we have learned
Cases of online abuse against women and girls have spiked in recent years. However, the legal and policy initiatives to address it do not seem to delve deep enough into the grave and changing dynamics of online violence in Nepal, or how this perpetuates gender-based violence in the offline world. -
My Media Action films: Dipika Shrestha, Nepal
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Media Action in Nepal broadcast a radio show which gave people greater access to information on health. -
Stories from our work: Narayan Shrestha, Nepal
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Media Action's Narayan Shrestha presents a TV debate show in Nepal that gives people access to information that can transform lives. -
Policy briefing: Accountability, nation and society: the role of media in remaking Nepal
This briefing provides an overview of the issues facing Nepal’s media in the context of the country’s current political and development challenges. -
Research report: How do political debate programmes influence political participation? A case study from Nepal
After speaking to 4,000 Nepalis, this study finds that exposure to a political debate programme is significantly associated with an increase in political participation and discussion. -
Research summary: Encouraging peace and good governance through the media in Nepal
Research summary of findings about the impact of debate programme Sajha Sawal in increasing levels of civic knowledge and political engagement in Nepal. Published in May 2012. -
Policy briefing: From the ground up - changing the conversation about climate change
This briefing aims to inform ongoing global policy initiatives to highlight to role of communication in climate change adaptation. -
Research summary: Narrowing the gap between citizens and government in Nepal
This research summary explores how exposure to three debate programmes influences people’s knowledge of and engagement with political issues. -
Research summary: What role do localised debate programmes play in addressing local issues? Case studies from Nepal
How local discussion radio shows can produce positive change - case studies from eight Nepali communities. -
Stories of change: Dr Kedar Budhathokii, Nepal
Farmer Dr Kedar Budhathoki shared his pioneering techniques on Nepal’s TV and radio debate show Sajha Sawal – and transformed people’s livelihoods across the country.