The Birth Of The Network

Following the years after the 2015 earthquake, many CBOs who had implemented a large amount of relief on behalf of national and international organizations found their organizations drained of capacity. As the bigger NGOs had little knowledge of the affected areas local CBOs were often saturated with funds and unrealistic demands. Often losing their key staff to better-paid jobs to NGOs / INGOs to temporary working in their area.

CWISH with its partner Alternatives to Separation with support from CISU- Civil Society in Development, Denmark conducted two workshops in 2021- 2022, collecting experiences from a wide sector of local CBOs. Discussions were opened on how small organizations in the future can best utilize and at times protect their capacity. Many reported a form of post-institutional stress. They identified a need for capacity building of own organizations and the necessity of cross-sectorial collaboration.

Their experience was that as integrated parts of the local society they were on the spot when any calamity occurred whether it be an earthquake or covid -19. One of the results of these workshops was the establishment of The Everest Network.

The vision of The Everest Network                 

1. To create an inclusive network of local, implementing CBOs who will inspire and utilize each other's resources to better cope with the challenges presented by climate change.
2. To better understand how to support our communities to adapt to the growing insecurities of climate change, to secure preparedness to decrease the consequences of natural and climate-related disasters.
3. To advocate for local communities so they are key players in the designing, planning as well as implementation of interventions. 
4. Transforming disaster interventions and financing from a reactive model to a proactive model.