Learning from Nepal’s approach to integrating agroecology in higher education curricula

About the event

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is organising an exposure visit to bring a delegation from Pakistan to learn from Nepal’s experience of working with universities and government institutions on institutionalising agroecology within higher education curricula. The delegation aims to draw lessons from Nepal’s experience to replicate similar work in Pakistan, where Department of Agriculture, Government of Pakistan and the universities are targeted to integrate GESI-responsive agroecological practices into their training and academic curricula.

The visiting delegation will comprise four faculty members from Pakistan universities, expert from the Higher Education Commission – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (HEC-KPK); Department of Agriculture, and from the National Institute of Disaster & Agriculture (NIDA).

The visit is being supported by ICIMOD’s Himalayan Resilience Enabling Action Programme (HI-REAP), funded by United Kingdom International Development through its flagship Climate Action for a Resilient Asia (CARA) initiative.

Objectives

The specific objectives of the visit are to:

• Learn from Nepal’s experience in institutionalising agroecology, climate-resilient agriculture, and nature-based solutions (NbS) within university curricula.
• Understand the process followed by Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU) and Tribhuvan University (TU) in developing and updating their curricula, from design through implementation.
•  Explore approaches for embedding GESI-responsive practices into academic and government training programmes.
•  Strengthen institutional linkages and foster future collaboration between Nepal and Pakistan academic and government institutions.

Background

ICIMOD has been actively engaged with Nepal’s academic institutions to strengthen integration of agroecology, climate-resilient agriculture and NbS into higher education curricula. Through its engagement with Nepal’s academic institutions, ICMOD has supported evidence-based knowledge and supported curriculum development. Notably, it has contributed to curriculum revisions at Mid-West University and Agriculture and Forestry University in Nepal. In 2025, ICIMOD with support from HI-REAP helped TU in developing a Master’s curriculum in agroecology, laying the groundwork for structured academic engagement in sustainable mountain agriculture.

These experiences have encouraged curriculum design, institutional collaboration into higher education programmes. AFU has already launched a bachelor’s programme with a revised curriculum that integrates agroecology, climate-resilient agriculture, and nature-based solutions, while TU has introduced a master’s programme in agroecology.

One key focus area of HI-REAP is the wider-scale adoption of NbS and promoting them as key climate solutions. This requires close engagement with national and sub-national government institutions, communities, and regional and international partners to secure buy-in. Recognising the growing interest in advancing similar efforts on curriculum integration in Pakistan, we are organising this exposure visit for university faculty and government representatives from Pakistan.