Integrated River Basin Management for Water and Climate Resilience in the Hindu Kush Himalaya Region

Organizers: River Basins Intervention

About the training

The Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) approach enhances coordination across scales and sectors, actively engaging diverse stakeholders in managing water resources. This is particularly critical in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, where fragmented governance and limited cross-sector collaboration have long hindered effective river basin management. Persistent knowledge and capacity gaps restrict the successful implementation of IRBM. To address these gaps, ICIMOD has developed a comprehensive IRBM resource manual and organises annual multi-scale IRBM trainings in the HKH.

The 2025 IRBM training will foster inclusive leadership by actively engaging youth and integrating Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles into river basin management. Participants will gain the tools and skills needed to lead equitable, adaptive, and community-responsive water governance initiatives. Using an intersectional lens, they will explore the root causes of social and gender inequality, strengthen leadership capacities, and design inclusive strategies that reflect the diverse realities of river basin stakeholders.

Regional case studies and peer learning will showcase how inclusive leadership drives innovation and strengthens resilience in water management systems.

To expand access and impact, the 2025 training will be delivered as a blended Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), integrating flexible online modules with in-person experiential learning. TParticipants from across the HKH and beyond can follow the high-quality content at their own pace, while gaining hands-on exposure during cross-regional exchanges. The approach enhances learning outcomes and fosters long-term knowledge sharing and collaboration among growing regional network of IRBM practitioners committed to inclusive, climate-resilient river basin governance.

The training is organised by ICIMOD’s Cryosphere and Water under Climate and Environment Risks, supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) through the TROSA Phase-2: Rivers, Rights and Resilience (T2:3R) project.

Objectives:

• Deliver a blended IRBM training through a a MOOC platform that integrates flexible online learning with practical field-based experiential components.
• Strengthen the capabilities of emerging IRBM professionals particularly youth and GEDI representatives by equipping them with the skills, knowledge and leadership qualities needed for inclusive and effective basin management. Foster regional collaboration and knowledge exchange by highlighting inclusive water management efforts and encouraging diverse stakeholder participation across the HKH region and beyond.

Expected outcomes:

• Improved understanding of inclusive IRBM principles, with a strong focus on sustainable and equitable water governance.
• Enhanced leadership and technical among participants to confidently apply tools, facilitate processes, and drive meaningful river basin initiatives.
• Greater youth and women’s leadership in basin management, addressing social and gender inequalities while fostering inclusive engagement with diverse stakeholders.

Background

The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region faces growing challenges related to water management, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability. Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) offers a holistic framework to address these complex and interconnected issues by integrating technical knowledge with governance principles. Over the past five years, ICIMOD has led IRBM trainings that have generated a wealth of learning resources, including technical materials, case studies, and field-based experiences, while also incorporating thematic focuses on gender equality, social inclusion (GESI), and youth leadership. To broaden the reach and impact of these efforts, ICIMOD proposes establishing a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platform on water and climate in the HKH region. Building on its previous work, the MOOC will highlight inclusive leadership as a key driver of basin resilience and seek to engage a wider network of professionals across the region. This blended learning approach, combining online modules with real-world field exposure, will ensure flexibility, scalability, and deeper engagement, while promoting practical, solutions-oriented practices that strengthen decision-making, encourage cross-sector collaboration, and support the development of adaptive, locally grounded solutions.