ICIMOD Board of Governors calls for enhanced financial support and stronger regional cooperation

Gangtok, Sikkim | 4 June 2026 – The 57th Board of Governors Meeting of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), hosted by the Government of India in Gangtok, Sikkim, concluded with a strong and unanimous call for enhanced regional cooperation and increased financial support to address the escalating environmental and development challenges facing the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region.

The meeting brought together Board members and representatives from Regional Member Countries (RMCs), members of the ICIMOD Support Group, and Board observers to deliberate on ICIMOD’s Annual Progress Report 2025, the Annual Plan and Budget 2026, and the Budget Outlay for 2027. Discussions focused on strengthening collective regional action in response to accelerating climate change impacts, biodiversity loss, air pollution, disaster risks, water insecurity, and socio-economic vulnerabilities across the HKH.

Board members and partners highly appreciated ICIMOD’s growing role as an important regional intergovernmental platform that advances science, fosters regional dialogue, enables innovation, and promotes transboundary cooperation for sustainable mountain development. Participants acknowledged that at a time of increasing regional and global uncertainty, ICIMOD’s convening power and knowledge leadership are more critical than ever for the future resilience and prosperity of the HKH region.

Recognising the urgency of scaling up regional responses and the importance of effectively implementing ICIMOD’s upcoming Medium-Term Action Plan VI (MTAP VI), the Board of Governors unanimously agreed to consider enhancing core and programme funding for the organisation. The Board underlined the importance of securing sufficient and predictable financial resources to enable ICIMOD to effectively deliver its mandate, strengthen regional cooperation, and support holistic, inclusive, and sustainable development across the HKH region. The Board further emphasized the need to reinforce long-term institutional sustainability in order to respond to emerging regional and global challenges.

Chairing the meeting, Mr. Tanmay Kumar, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, called upon Regional Member Countries, bilateral and multilateral development partners, and international financial institutions to work together for the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region in the true spirit of “One Earth, One Hindu Kush Himalayas and One Common Goal.” He mentioned that we need to work collectively with the local community, civil society organisations following “Whole of Government” and “Whole of Society” approach in the true spirit of ” Himalayas for Humanity and Humanity for Himalayas” . With this objective in mind, he informed the meeting that India would like to consider enhancing its contribution to core funding as well as in programme activities subject to concurrence among the regional member countries and formalization of project approval mechanism in India. He called upon all other members and development partners to consider increasing their contributions to ICIMOD’s institutional core funding and regional programmes to enable ICIMOD perform its designated role. He underscored that stronger investment in regional cooperation mechanisms is essential for securing climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and shared prosperity for the people of the HKH.

During the session, Dr. Teresa Fogelberg, Chair of the Programme Advisory Committee, emphasized the importance of collective ownership, regional solidarity, and strengthened commitment from all member countries and partners. She strongly supported the ardent call from the Chair of the Board of Governors and encouraged Regional Member Countries to approach their respective governments to mobilise stronger support and enhanced contributions for ICIMOD.

The Board agreed to hold an extraordinary meeting in September in Nepal to firm up funding commitments from both regional and international sources in tandem with the approval of ICIMOD’s Medium Term Action Plan VI (2027-2030).

The meeting concluded with renewed political commitment and strategic consensus among member countries and partners to deepen regional cooperation, strengthen collective action, and reinforce ICIMOD’s role as a leading regional institution working towards a resilient, sustainable, and prosperous Hindu Kush Himalaya region.