The Challenge

Lack of safe housing.
Polluting fired bricks.

Nepal is one of the world's most disaster prone countries, but poor families cannot afford to build safe homes, most of which are still built with bricks. The coal-fired brick industry is responsible for 27% of CO2 emissions from coal combustion in Nepal, dangerous air pollution and poor working conditions.

The Challenge
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The Challenge
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The Challenge
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Our Solution

Local entrepreneurs
building safe homes

We train local entrepreneurs to make climate-friendly Eco-bricks, build safe, affordable homes, and create jobs in low-income communities.

Build up Nepal recruits local entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs invest in low-cost machine

Entrepreneurs are trained to make Eco-bricks

Entrepreneurs build safer, cheaper, greener homes and schools

The Results

The Technology

Eco-bricks & Climate Smart Homes

We are on a mission to replace polluting fired bricks with eco-friendly ones, and to make safe housing affordable for poor communities. Our interlocking Compressed Stabilised Earth Block (CSEB) Eco-Bricks are made off-grid with local materials and minimal cement. Build up Nepal is piloting Climate Smart Homes, to strengthen adaptation. They feature flood-resilient raised foundations, insulated roofing, and passive design to increase safety, manage extreme temperatures and improve comfort.

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75% less CO2, 90% less pollution

25% lower cost for a safe home

Proven in 2023 earthquake & 2024 floods

Our Work in Action

Building better for people & planet.

In 2015, a deadly earthquake struck Nepal, destroying over 800,000 homes. Build up Nepal was founded to help affected communities rebuild sustainably. We are now a nationwide movement that reimagines construction as a force for climate action, opportunity, and a better future for all. Communities are trained to build affordable houses and create job opportunities for disadvantaged groups, and women. Families are able to finance a safe, climate-resilient home, using a government approved technology. We are the proud winner of the 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize for Climate Action - watch our work in action below!

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Our Impact

Building a sustainable future

We are proud of our entrepreneurs, who create jobs and build long-term resilience in remote communities across Nepal. They are helping to create a greener, safer, more equitable world.

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Over half our entrepreneurs are from disadvantaged groups. (CERAD, 2025)

12 143

All our structures withstood the 2023 earthquake in west Nepal, and saved lives.

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73% of jobs in production and construction are held by those from disadvantaged groups. (CERAD, 2025)

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By replacing coal-fired bricks with our Eco-bricks, we cut CO2 emissions by 75%. (Max Fordham, 2021)

More impact data

Basanta Kapilvastu, Entrepreneur

Nar Bharati, Entrepreneur

Rebuilding after West Nepal's 2023 earthquake

Building Back Better

Get in touch to build back better, together.

All Eco-brick structures withstood the earthquake, building trust in our technology

Rebuild 10,000 homes and become the leading solution for low-cost, safe housing

Looking Ahead

2030 Targets

We urgently need to get more people in safe homes, and transition away from carbon-intensive building materials, to an affordable, eco-friendly alternative that strengthens disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation.

Safe homes built

enterprises started

green jobs created

Save 300,000 tonnes CO2 emissions and become the leading solution for low-cost housing in South Asia.

Featured in Media

Reuters Plus: ‘Building for Good: Earthquake Beating Eco-Bricks.’

The Climate Tribe: ‘Rebuilding Nepal, Eco-Brick by Eco-Brick’
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The Earthshot Prize

Build up Nepal is extremely proud to be a 2024 Earthshot Prize Finalist in the Fix Our Climate category. Watch this stunning short film that captures the spirit of our work.

September 12, 2024

Impact Entrepreneur

November 4, 2024

Awards

2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize for Climate Action

2024 Earthshot Prize Finalist

2025 Wilkes Climate Launch Prize

Partner with us

Get in touch to find out how we can build better, together.

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