Preparatory meeting for setting the agenda of the fourth science–policy–finance dialogue (SPFD) 

Organisers: ICIMOD, World Bank and Asian Development Bank

About the meeting

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), in collaboration with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, is convening a preparatory meeting with key partners and representatives from the Regional Member Countries (RMCs) to help shape the agenda, objectives, and expected deliverables of the fourth science policy finance dialogue (SPFD). This meeting aims to ensure broad ownership among the Indo Gangetic Plain and Himalayan Foothills (IGP-HF) countries, participating institutions while strengthening collective commitment towards regional cooperation on air quality management.

The meeting will review progress on the 2025 SPFD outcome document and SPFD platform document and seek agreement on a roadmap, stakeholder engagement strategy, and preparatory milestones leading up to the upcoming SPFD.

The meeting 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 key objective of this preparatory meeting are to: 

• Engage senior government officials and technical representatives from the RMCs in shaping the agenda, thematic priorities, and expected outcomes of the upcoming SPFD 
• Consult with participating countries and partner institutions to identify thematic areas of priority for air quality management at the national level and confirm appropriate keynote speakers, moderators, and resource persons for the technical, policy, and financing sessions of the dialogue 
• Review and discuss the status of endorsement, implementation, and follow-up actions related to the 2025 SPFD outcome document and the SPFD platform document 
• Ensure that the SPFD agenda reflects regional air quality management priorities and emerging policy needs, while strengthening science–policy–finance linkages and fostering greater regional cooperation, knowledge sharing, and collaborative action across the IGP-HF region

  

Background

Since its inception in 2022, SPFD has evolved into the region’s flagship platform for advancing cooperation on air quality management across the IGP-HF region. Through successive editions, the SPFD has convened policymakers, scientists, development partners, and financing institutions from IGP-HF countries to facilitate evidence-informed decision-making, strengthen regional cooperation, and identify opportunities for mobilising investments and accelerating action towards cleaner air.

As part of its continued commitment to fostering regional collaboration on air quality management, ICIMOD, in collaboration with the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, is planning to convene the fourth SPFD in the month of September 2026.

The SPFD provides a unique platform for bringing together representatives from government agencies, research institutions, development partners, and financing organisations to exchange knowledge, discuss emerging challenges, and identify collaborative solutions to address air pollution in the region. Building on the outcomes and lessons from previous dialogues, the fourth SPFD will seek to identify emerging regional priorities, advance concrete actions to support delivery of national Air Quality Management (AQM) programs, strengthen science–policy–finance linkages, reinforce regional partnerships, and explore pathways for mobilising resources to support the implementation of air quality interventions across the IGP-HF region.