The past year was an exciting time to be part of ICIMOD and its network of partners. It marked the final year in our third medium-term action plan, and we have many things to be proud of over the last five years. This report documents several stories showing the cumulative impact of ICIMOD’s work over the last five years. They show how we combine efforts on multiple fronts – from working with communities, engaging policy makers and promoting collaboration across borders to generating new knowledge and building capacity – to create positive change in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH). During this timeframe many important lessons have emerged to help us chart the way forward.

During 2017, we had extensive consultations with governments, partners and many stakholders; and took into consideration our Quinquennial review to revise our Strategy and Results Framework, and new Medium Term Action Plan to better respond to the region’s most pressing challenges.

Gender equality and social inclusion has always been a priority for ICIMOD, and now our commitment to this is included as a strategic result in our strategy and action plan. To transform this commitment into action to support gender transformative change in the region, we are developing gender action plans for each initiative and for the institution as a whole.

We have also introduced a new regional programme on Mountain Knowledge and Action Networks (MKAN) that brings the South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics, a long-standing partner of ICIMOD, within the organization. It also houses the Himalayan University Consortium, which made huge strides during 2017, and the Hindu Kush Himalayan Monitoring and Assessment Programme (HIMAP). HIMAP will soon publish the first comprehensive assessment of the HKH. This flagship report is already enhancing our understanding of the region, filling critical data gaps and providing evidence for climate action at national, regional, and global levels. HIMAP has enabled the inclusion of HKH researchers in global assessments like those of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) an important means to ensure that that mountains are part of global conversations on climate change.

ICIMOD plays a unique role in the region as a meeting place for ideas, dialogue, and collaborative action. As new challenges emerge and existing ones become more complex in the face of change, the need for regional cooperation to create sustainable development outcomes will continue to grow. Our regional niche and ability to bring countries in the region together to address shared challenges and work toward common goals will become an even more valuable asset in our mission to improve the lives and livelihoods of mountain men, women, and children of the Hindu Kush Himalaya.

Let me take this opportunity to thank you for your support of the vision, mission, and activities of ICIMOD and its partners.