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Conference

International conference on Development and environmental economics: SANDEE@25

Venue

Hotel Himalaya, Kathmandu, Nepal

Date & Time

12 December 2025 to 14 December 2025

Contact
Mani Nepal
Programme agenda

About the event

In celebration of its 25 years of service to the region, the South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE) is organising an International conference on development and environmental economics: SANDEE@25.

The theme of the conference is ‘development, environment, and mountains’ with the key areas being biodiversity, climate, ecosystem, environmental pollution, forest restoration, livelihoods, and mountains and people.

South Asia in general, and the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region per se, are facing the escalating and severe impacts from climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. In this context, socio-economic challenges, including inequality, poverty, unemployment, population growth, rapid urbanisation, and land use changes, are among the most pressing issues. At the conference, leading researchers from the HKH region and beyond will share insights to aid governments, policymakers, and communities to understand and address these pressing challenges.

The conference features three distinguished scholars as the keynote speakers, alongside several engaging panels and parallel sessions.

Keynote speakers

Sir Partha Dasgupta

Frank Ramsey Professor Emeritus of Economics

Cambridge University

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Ruth Meinzen-Dick

Research Fellow Emeritus

International Food Policy Research Institute

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Adil Najam

President of the World Wildlife Fund International

Dean Emeritus and Professor, Frederick S Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University

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Objectives of the conference

  • Facilitate the sharing of research on development and environmental economics across countries and institutions
  • Provide a platform to explore how research can inform policy and practice on the ground
  • Encourage mentorship and networking of early-career researchers by and with established scholars from across regional and beyond
  • Reflect on SANDEE’s 25-year journey in fostering research and capacity-building in the region

Expected outcomes

  • Exchange of ideas for future research, policy engagement, and collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from within and outside the region
  • Generation of suitable knowledge products for greater uptake by policymakers and practitioners on the ground
  • Increased visibility of SANDEE’s contributions over the years leading to greater visibility of environmental challenges facing the region
  • Highlight under researched areas and research gaps within the region for better designing of future capacity-building and mentoring initiatives

About SANDEE

The South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE) is the research capacity and academic leadership development network of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) that uses economic tools and analyses to address environmental challenges faced by South Asia and its HKH region. SANDEE supports ICIMOD’s programmatic work and strengthens its economic and policy analysis, provides research and technical support, and offers mentorship to young researchers for enhancing their research capacity and academic leadership. Established in 1999, it works in ten countries in South Asia and the HKH region: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

To learn more about SANDEE@25 conference please visit: https://www.icimod.org/initiative/sandee/sandee25/