On November 3, 2023 a devastating earthquake struck Nepal’s Jajarkot and Rukum West districts, claiming 150 lives and leaving widespread destruction in its wake. An estimated 26,000 houses were completely destroyed and, 35,000 more suffered severe damages. In the aftermath, Buildup Nepal conducted a detailed damage assessment to evaluate the structural integrity of buildings constructed using their interlocking Compressed Stabilized Earth Bricks (CSEB) which revealed that, unlike those built with alternative materials, all their structures had withstood and earthquake and were undamaged.

In light of this finding, USAID Clean Air supported Buildup Nepal in producing compelling video collaterals and designing marketing/outreach campaign that highlighted the disaster resistant, eco-friendly and cost-effective nature of CSEB interlocking technology, inspiring potential entrepreneurs to join the reconstruction efforts by setting up CSEB brick enterprises in Jajarkot and Rukum West.

One such entrepreneur is Nar Bahadur Bharati, a young civil engineer who has been involved in reconstruction efforts since Nepal’s catastrophic 2015 earthquake. Nar embarked on his entrepreneurial journey with the goal of creating a lasting positive impact. After the 2023 earthquake, he came across Buildup Nepal’s video and was deeply inspired by their innovative approach to reconstruction and community empowerment.

Intrigued by Buildup Nepal’s model—which provides aspiring entrepreneurs with the machines, training, and long-term support to establish successful eco-friendly CSEB brick manufacturing facilities—Nar saw a unique opportunity to make a difference. With determination in his heart, he decided to set up his own CSEB micro-enterprise in Jajarkot to support the reconstruction efforts.

With a modest investment, Nar purchased a multi-mold interlocking brick machine, which is ideal for small-scale production and can produce 800 bricks per day. Buildup Nepal also provided comprehensive on-site training, covering every aspect of brick production, from mixing locally available materials to machine operation, production techniques, quality control, and business management.

Just six months into production, Nar’s hard work and dedication began to pay off. He has constructed 13 houses in Jajarkot using CSEB interlocking technology, providing eco-friendly and affordable disaster resistant houses for the earthquake-affected families, resulting in CO2 emissions reduction by 70.9 metric tons.  His success story is a testament to the potential of this eco-friendly, sustainable building practice that helps to uplift communities.

Nar is just one of 15 entrepreneurs currently supported by Buildup Nepal, who have launched micro-enterprises for the reconstruction of houses in Jajarkot/Rukum West area. Buildup Nepal’s goal is to establish 150 new enterprises in the area, with the target of rebuilding 10,000 houses over the next few years, leading to reduction of CO2 emissions by over 55,000 metric tons.

USAID Clean Air is supporting Buildup Nepal in forming  partnerships with financial institutions for providing access to finance for micro-entrepreneurs to purchase CSEB machines, developing better evidence for CSEB bricks, and piloting innovative Compressed Concrete Bricks (CCB) that mimic the size and shape of traditional fired bricks, presenting  an eco-friendly alternative for construction of houses in Kathmandu valley and other urban areas.