Following the 2015 major earthquakes in Nepal it was recognised that any re-construction of damaged rural houses would be home-owner driven using local masons and labour. Traditional and locally based masons would need practical training on Earthquake Resistant Building Construction Techniques.

Part of UMN’s Dhading Disaster Response is to provide such training to 500 masons. The first phase of this training is under way and in each of the 5 local areas (called VDCS) in Dhading district, 125 masons are undergoing this training programme, which they will complete on 17 February. The training is being conducted as per the standard curriculum designed by National Society for Earthquake Technology–Nepal NSET Nepal.