Back to news
2 Aug 2016 | News

Knowledge Forum in New Delhi Called for Stronger Regional Collaboration Among Countries in the Himalayas and Downstream Countries

2 mins Read

70% Complete

Countries in the Himalayan and downstream areas of the Hindu Kush Himalayas need to strengthen their collaboration to address food, water and energy issues. Unless this happens, the region’s agricultural development could be at risk. This was the key message during the ‘Knowledge Forum on Climate Resilient Development in Himalayan and Downstream Regions,’ held in New Delhi from 16-17 June. The two-day regional knowledge forum brought together policy makers, scientists and development partners from Himalayan and downstream countries including Bangladesh, China, India and Nepal. The event was jointly organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MOAFW), Government of India, ICIMOD and Institute of Economic Growth, India.

“We need to work hard to make sure that mountain issues and their downstream linkages are well reflected in regional and global discussions,” said David Molden, ICIMOD Director General. He explained that there was a need for new knowledge to guide in the development of effective strategies in the region. “The knowledge is critical to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” explained Molden.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) require integrated solutions, efficient and sustainable use of land, water and ecosystems, strengthened linkages between communities in upstream and downstream areas, and increased regional and sub-regional coordination and connectivity. These key issues were discussed during the forum.

Vice Chairperson Yuba Raj Khatiwada of National Planning Commission, Government of Nepal explained how the mountains are left behind in the whole SDG process. “But there is a space for this and the mountain countries need to develop their own targets and mechanisms to address climate change and sustainable development,” he said. He also highlighted ICIMOD’s pilot project on climate smart villages and adopted by the Nepal government and included in the national planning process.

Social equity and diversity were also highlighted given that the level of impact and coping mechanisms was different in low and high income areas of all countries. “Inclusiveness is not enough for sustainable development but we need equity and equitable development that lets all men, women and children benefit equally,” said Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, chairman of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation, Bangladesh.

There is a great opportunity for the Himalayan and downstream region especially through a river basin approach in a coordinated manner, said Harinder Sidhu, Australian High Commissioner, India. “Australia’s most important water basin, Murray-Darling,  has flourished due to strong knowledge and management support for two decades and Australia is ready to share their experience and expertise to take appropriate measures in three Himalayan basins – Ganges, Indus and Brahmaputra,” she added.

The forum concluded with direction for appropriate policy and institutional options, and regulatory mechanisms to foster science-policy-practice interactions, and a conversation about how all countries in the region can work together through a meaningful collaboration on issues surrounding food, water and energy security issues.

The forum provided some meaningful take-home messages. “Climate change is not just a cause for alarm, but also provides us an opportunity to work together beyond our national borders,” said Molden. He hoped that the region would have its own Himalayan “Council”, like the Arctic Council, a notion that was echoed by Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad and Ajay Narayan Jha, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, India. Ahmad suggested that having such network would give strong stronger voice to the HKH region in international negotiations. Ajay Narayan Jha lauded the critical role played by ICIMOD as a knowledge integrator and requested ICIMOD to initiate discussion on Himalayan Council.

For more details

Knowledge forum calls for strengthened regional collaboration to support inclusive climate resilience in the Himalayan and downstream region

Stay current

Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.

Sign Up

related content

Continue exploring this topic

14 Jun 2016 Water and air
Spring Management in Darchula

At daybreak, the villagers, mostly women and children, come out carrying containers of different shapes and sizes. They walk to ...

E-Paath and E-Paathshala classes for brick workers’ children at Dhading school

Brick workers, both women and men, face numerous vulnerabilities without any form of social protection. The seasonal migration that this ...

12 Jul 2016 News
HIMAP Author Writeshop Held

HIMAP Author Writeshop Held Hindu Kush Himalayas Monitoring and Assessment Program’s (HIMAP) Coordinating Lead Authors' Writeshop was organised by the ...

Brick Entrepreneurs in Pakistan Learn to Construct and Operate Zig-zag Brick Kilns

The events created awareness and trained brick entrepreneurs and workers in operating zig-zag kilns and precise brick stacking practices, and ...

27 Jul 2018 DFAT Brahmaputra
Bhutan’s First Spring Revival Test Site in Lholing Village, Paro

Several rounds of joint scientific investigation were carried out in Lholing to understand the hydrogeology of its springs and devise ...

24 Sep 2015 News
Helping flood information reach communities

Strengthening the capacity of satellite-based flood forecasting using near real time Jason-2 satellite altimeter data under SERVIR-Himalaya Small Grants Programme, ...

ICIMOD and Global Biodiversity Information Facility Asia Nodes

  The 7th GBIF Asia Nodes meeting was organised in Tagaytay, Philippines 28 – 30 June, 2016 to review progress, elect ...

Bio-briquettes and Bio-composting in Khar

More than a hundred local community members participated in a training workshop in late January to learn about management of ...