At a glance

Initiative goal

The project is addressing water issues by reviving springs and improving access to water for domestic and agricultural use in the regional member countries of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

Regional Programme

River Basin and Cryosphere

For mountains and people

Spring & solar pumps, Clean energy

Our Focus

Solar powered irrigation

Impact assessment of solar-powered irrigation pumps (SPIPs) in the Nepal Terai, studies on benefit sharing in hydropower – case studies from Pakistan (mostly Upper Indus) and India (Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim)

ICIMOD’s solar-powered irrigation pumps activity started in January 2015 under a grant from CGIAR’s WLE programme through a competitive bidding process. It proposed to undertake research on:

  • Understanding the demand for SPIPs under different financial packages for men and women, especially when additional financial incentives are provided to women farmers
  • Understanding  the impact of SPIPs on agricultural outcomes for SPIP owners

In 2015, ICIMOD worked with the Niti Foundation, a think tank based in Nepal on the issue of benefit sharing in hydropower in the country. In 2018, the project will carry out similar studies to look at benefit sharing in hydropower in Pakistan and the three Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim.

Featured Publication

Protocol for Reviving Springs in the Hindu Kush Himalayas

This handbook takes on the earlier attempts of RM&DD, and modifies it to suit the generic requirement of all ICIMOD RMCs. ICIMOD and ACWADAM, following a consultative process with major partners came up with detailed steps, which were then vetted at a workshop held in Gangtok, Sikkim, India in November 2015.

Read More
sandee 1366x981

NEWS AND FEATURES

Around the HKH

WE EMBRACE DIVERSITY

Meet the team

Both internally and externally, our multicultural staff and partners are our greatest asset. They provide us with a broad perspective across disciplines, and offer us localized knowledge like no other.

Learn More
Bhutan

EVENTS AROUND THE HKH

Our involvement

For mountains and people

spring 1366x681

Spring and Solar pumps

People in the Hindu Kush Himalayas face economic and institutional water scarcity in areas where water is plentiful, but inaccessible. The inaccessibility is caused by a lack of rural electrification or irrigation infrastructure in the plains and because springs are increasingly drying up in the Himalayan mid-hills.

read more

Clean energy access

Low access to electricity and heavy reliance on traditional solid fuels for domestic cooking and heating are the hallmarks of poverty in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH).

read more

SPIP Farmer's Profiles

Fifty-three farming families in the Terai districts of Saptari, Bara, Rautahat, and Sarlahi in Nepal have enjoyed uninterrupted supply of water for irrigation since they installed solar-powered irrigation pumps (SPIPs) in their fields.

Learn More
Mountain Environment Regional Information System (MENRIS)

Other Initiatives

River Basin and Cryosphere

HKH Cryohub – In the spotlight – Ulfat Majeed
HKH Cryohub – In the spotlight – Ulfat Majeed
read more
KDKH TbWG Hydropower
KDKH TbWG Hydropower
read more
HKH Cryohub – In the spotlight – Arbindra Khadka
HKH Cryohub – In the spotlight – Arbindra Khadka
read more
Story competition: Stories of climate change from across the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Story competition: Stories of climate change from across the Hindu Kush Himalaya
read more
HKH Cryohub – In the spotlight – Iram Bano
HKH Cryohub – In the spotlight – Iram Bano
read more
Integrated River Basins Management
Integrated River Basins Management
read more
HKH Cryohub – In the spotlight – Qiao Liu
HKH Cryohub – In the spotlight – Qiao Liu
read more
Country Chapters and Strategic Committee
Country Chapters and Strategic Committee
read more
HKH Cryohub – In the spotlight – Sonam Lhamo
HKH Cryohub – In the spotlight – Sonam Lhamo
read more
Indus Knowledge Partnership Platform
Indus Knowledge Partnership Platform
read more
Kabhrepalanchok district conservation pond enhancing women’s capacity
read more
Sindhupalchok district conservation pond enhancing women’s capacity
read more
Cryosphere e-Bulletin
Cryosphere e-Bulletin
read more
Koshi Basin Programme-Media
Koshi Basin Programme-Media
read more
Indus Basin Initiative – Media
Indus Basin Initiative – Media
read more
Cryosphere – In the news
Cryosphere – In the news
read more
Koshi Basin Impact Pathway
Koshi Basin Impact Pathway
read more
Koshi Basin Programme Implementation Arrangement
Koshi Basin Programme Implementation Arrangement
read more
KDKH TbWG KMC
KDKH TbWG KMC
read more
KDKH TbWG Policy Advocacy
KDKH TbWG Policy Advocacy
read more
KDKH TbWG CBDRM
KDKH TbWG CBDRM
read more
KDKH TbWG Drought
KDKH TbWG Drought
read more
KDKH TbWG Floods
KDKH TbWG Floods
read more
KDKH TbWG Landslide and Sedimentation
KDKH TbWG Landslide and Sedimentation
read more
KDKH TbWG GLOFs
KDKH TbWG GLOFs
read more
Koshi DRR knowledge hub members
Koshi DRR knowledge hub members
read more
Koshi Gender Portal
Koshi Gender Portal
read more
Cryosphere – meet CMP alumni
Cryosphere – meet CMP alumni
read more
Cryosphere – capacity building
Cryosphere – capacity building
read more
Cryosphere – monitoring approach
Cryosphere – monitoring approach
read more
Cryosphere – resources
Cryosphere – resources
read more
Indus Basin Initiative – SDIP Achievements and Activities
Indus Basin Initiative – SDIP Achievements and Activities
read more
Indus Basin Initiative – About SDIP II
Indus Basin Initiative – About SDIP II
read more
Indus Basin Initiative – Gender Network
Indus Basin Initiative – Gender Network
read more
Upper Indus Basin Network
Upper Indus Basin Network
read more
Koshi Basin Programme-gender lens
Koshi Basin Programme-gender lens
read more
Koshi Basin Programme-Future of Koshi basin
Koshi Basin Programme-Future of Koshi basin
read more
Indus Basin Initiative – Focus Areas
Indus Basin Initiative – Focus Areas
read more
Indus Basin Initiative – Background
Indus Basin Initiative – Background
read more
HKH Cryohub – In the spotlight – Smriti Basnet
HKH Cryohub – In the spotlight – Smriti Basnet
read more
HKH Cryohub – In the spotlight – Mohan Chand
HKH Cryohub – In the spotlight – Mohan Chand
read more
HKH CryoHub
HKH CryoHub
read more
HI-AWARE
HI-AWARE
read more
DFAT Energy Special Project
DFAT Energy Special Project
read more
DFAT Brahmaputra Special Project
DFAT Brahmaputra Special Project
read more
Koshi Basin Programme-partners
Koshi Basin Programme-partners
read more
About Koshi Basin Programme
About Koshi Basin Programme
read more
Koshi Basin Initiative
Koshi Basin Initiative
read more
Hi-RISK
Hi-RISK
read more
Transboundary Working Groups (TbWG)
Transboundary Working Groups (TbWG)
read more
Koshi DRR Knowledge Hub-Goals and Objectives
Koshi DRR Knowledge Hub-Goals and Objectives
read more
Koshi DRR Knowledge Hub-background
Koshi DRR Knowledge Hub-background
read more
Koshi DRR Knowledge Hub-Publications
Koshi DRR Knowledge Hub-Publications
read more
Koshi DRR Knowledge Hub
Koshi DRR Knowledge Hub
read more
Cryosphere
Cryosphere
read more
Indus Basin Initiative
Indus Basin Initiative
read more
HI-AWARE in the media
HI-AWARE in the media
read more