Yarlung Zangbo-Brahmaputra River Basin Network (YBBN) Stakeholder Meeting

Organiser: River Basins, Cryosphere and water

About the event

The Yarlung Zangbo-Brahmaputra River Basin Network (YBBN) is entering a pivotal stage of its development. Following the successful stakeholder meeting in Dhaka in July 2024, which laid the foundation for regional collaboration and established four thematic technical working groups, this upcoming stakeholder meeting aims to build on that momentum by formalising YBBN’s governance structure, operationalising country chapters, and initiating key regional studies. 

 This meeting will take place in Dhaka, Bangladesh, bringing together national and regional stakeholders from Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, and India. It will also engage with global partners including the World Bank, OXFAM, and relevant development and climate adaptation actors. 

 The event is being organized in partnership with the Bangladesh Water Development Board, ICIMOD’s River Basins Intervention, and the Transboundary Rivers of South Asia (TROSA) programme, with support from the Government of Sweden. 

Objectives

• Initiate the four thematic working groups: Hydrology and Climate, Environment and Ecosystems, Socio-Economic and Infrastructure, and Policy and Outreach.  

• Facilitate the setting up of a YBBN country chapter in line with the agreed governance structure and shared regional vision. 

• Agree on the structure and scope of the report on “Building Basin-Wide Climate Resilience through Collaborative Approaches in the Yarlung Zangbo–Brahmaputra Basin” to serve as the foundation for YBBN’s activities. 

• Gather insight on opportunities and challenges for science-based cooperation at the HKH level to support ICIMOD’s goal of strengthening transboundary basin collaboration. 

Background

Originating from the glaciers of Tibet, the Yarlung Zangbo-Brahmaputra River flows through some of the world’s most complex and contested ecological and geopolitical landscapes. This river sustains over 114 million people across Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, and India, providing vital resources including water, food, energy, and livelihoods. However, the region remains underdeveloped and vulnerable to climate-induced risks and socio-political challenges. 

 Transboundary issues such as increasing glacier melt, erratic precipitation, and extreme weather events have exacerbated regional water insecurity and impacted marginalised communities—particularly women and indigenous groups. Realising the river’s potential for shared prosperity necessitates strong regional cooperation. 

 In July 2024, a key milestone was reached in Dhaka where 37 stakeholders from three riparian countries came together to establish the YBBN and define its working group structure. Supported by ICIMOD’s Resilient River Basins initiative and SIDA under TROSA Phase-2, the meeting set the foundation for future collaboration. Building on this, the upcoming stakeholder meeting aims to strengthen YBBN’s governance, foster cooperation, and launch technical activities.