Cryosphere changes and social Dynamics in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) Region

Context

Changes in the cryosphere (frozen water systems) of the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region are profoundly reshaping community dynamics, deepening existing inequalities, and threatening the safety, mobility, and resilience of disadvantaged groups. These groups include women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and those reliant on natural resources and traditional livelihoods.

Rising temperatures and cryosphere-induced processes such as permafrost thaw, accelerated glacier melt, and snow cover loss are contributing to secondary hazards. These hazards include landslides, rockfalls, avalanches, soil erosion, and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), which increasingly jeopardize lives, infrastructure, and livelihoods.

However, their impacts are not gender neutral. Women and disadvantaged groups often bear a disproportionate share of the burden due to unequal access to resources, limited decision-making power, and structural exclusion from climate and hazard governance.

About the fieldwork: The GESI-Cryosphere Framework

A Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI)-responsive approach is essential to ensure that scientific understanding and policy responses accurately reflect the diverse vulnerabilities and capacities of affected populations.

To address these gaps, ICIMOD has developed a draft GESI–Cryosphere Framework that explores the interlinkages between cryosphere change and societal systems through a GESI lens. The framework identifies:

• Gender-differentiated roles, exposures, responsibilities, and vulnerabilities.
• GESI-responsive entry points for risk reduction and adaptation.
• Institutional mechanisms required to promote inclusive, equitable governance through research, policy, and practice.

The GESI and Cryosphere team has planned field testing to incorporate broader regional and contextual insights. Testing will be conducted in Sankhuwasabha, Nepal, and a second site planned for Sikkim, India, next year. This fieldwork aims to validate the framework’s applicability, ensure its relevance to mountain contexts, and strengthen its alignment with community realities and local priorities.

 Objectives: 

• Test the draft GESI–Cryosphere Framework in selected mountain communities to assess its applicability, clarity, and contextual relevance.
• Capture community insights on lived experiences, needs, and expectations related to cryosphere-induced changes, hazards, and their social implications.
• Consult local authorities and key stakeholders in validating the framework and identifying pathways for institutional ownership and integration.

Expected outcomes: 

• Integration of context-specific insights to improve the framework’s usability and effectiveness.
• Incorporation of local perceptions, gendered experiences, and community priorities.
• Strengthened engagement of local government and partner institutions for the framework’s eventual adoption and scaling.