Advancing Water and Climate Resilience in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

River Basins Intervention

Rivers are the lifelines of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), supporting millions of people, vibrant ecosystems, and entire economies. But today, these rivers are under threat from climate change, rapid population growth, and environmental degradation.

The River Basins Initiative is ICIMOD’s flagship effort to protect and strengthen these vital waterways. Through science, cooperation, and innovation, we are helping governments and communities work together for a more resilient future.

Opportunities and challenges along the upstream-downs stream continuum in HKH river basin

What we do

We help protect river basins through four key strategies:

1. Fostering Regional Cooperation

To manage transboundary rivers effectively, countries must work together. We facilitate science diplomacy and multi-country cooperation through river basin networks that foster trust, knowledge exchange, and joint action.

Real-time learning and shared science are creating solutions beyond borders.

2. Delivering Scientific Assessments for Action

We generate the data, models, and studies that guide smarter planning.

Science-based tools empower better water management and climate resilience.

Indus River Basin Assessment

This ongoing collaborative study integrates data from four countries to examine climate vulnerabilities, water availability, and governance issues. It will inform a regional cooperation framework and policy dialogue in 2026.

Climate-Resilient Hydropower Guidelines

Helping secure future hydropower investments in Nepal. Co-developed with the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS), Government of Nepal, to address risks such as Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and permafrost thaw using climate models and earth observation data.

Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus Study (Mahakali Basin, Nepal–India)

Through community engagement and field visits, this study develops integrated climate and resource management strategies in a transboundary basin shared by Nepal and India.

Agro-Ecological Zoning in Pakistan

In partnership with the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, ICIMOD updated outdated climate-agriculture maps, supporting policies for climate-smart agriculture and food security.

3. Building Skills and Knowledge

We strengthen regional expertise in Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM).

Strong institutions and inclusive planning are key to sustainable water futures.

Annual IRBM Training for water professionals. This annual training equips professionals from across the region with skills in water modelling, stakeholder engagement, and gender and social inclusion. In 2024, it incorporated field visits to promote inter-basin learning with the Mekong region.

Inclusive Water Modelling Toolkit to address gender, disability, and social equity. Developed in collaboration with CSIRO, this toolkit integrates gender, disability, and social inclusion principles into water modelling processes, ensuring that data-driven decisions are also socially inclusive.

4. Unlocking Climate Finance for Resilience

We turn knowledge into action and investments. Proven solutions can attract major funding to scale resilience across the HKH.

SAFER Pakistan Project: With US $10 million secured from the Adaptation Fund, this project strengthens climate resilience in the Indus Basin through nature-based solutions, water conservation, and gender-inclusive adaptation strategies.

The Glaciers-to-Ocean Project (2025–2027) with Sasakawa Peace Foundation through Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI) to deliver science, action, and impact for a resilient Ganges Basin.

Our impact so far

Secured US $10 million climate funding for river basin resilience

Built networks across 8 countries for shared river governance

Launched studies and tools empowering evidence-based decisions

Looking ahead

Together we can protect the rivers that sustain life today, and for generations to come.

We are scaling up:

🌎 Regional cooperation

📡 Use of cutting-edge digital tools for Earth observation

🌱 Promotion of nature-based solutions and gender-responsive planning

💧 Mobilisation of investments for a water-secure future across the HKH

📚 Accessible learning. A new e-learning platform is under development to make ICIMOD’s IRBM curriculum accessible to a broader audience through a blended approach: combining self-paced learning with in-person exchange.

Our donors

ICIMOD and its Regional Member Countries gratefully acknowledge the generous support of Austria, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland for core and programme funding, and Australia, Canada’s International Development Research Centre, the European Union, Finland, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Adaptation Fund for project funding.

Learn more about HKH rivers

Collective action for water-secure future is urgent. Visit the link below to learn more about how can you be part of the effort to build resilient river basins in the Hindu Kush Himalaya.

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