The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), in partnership with WWF Gilgit-Baltistan, organized a three-day training of trainers (ToT) workshop in Islamabad as an activity under its Himalica programme. Part of the initiative’s action research component, which is funded by the European Union, the training focused on identifying climate-smart livelihood diversification options, and developing value chains to generate additional incomes for poor and vulnerable households in rural pockets of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The focus of the training was on value chain development for mountain communities. It sought to help upgrade local skills and introduce innovation to the existing livelihoods of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. Specifically, the ToT was designed to help identify new livelihood options for women where the investment of remittances might improve their earning capacities at the community level. It also hoped to find ways of building women’s capacities so they might be able to use part of their savings to plan flood disaster preparedness measures.

The training helped identify dried fruits, and wool-based handicrafts as two products for which work on value chain development should commence in the region. Further training sessions on value chain development are required at the village level, specifically targeting women, if Himalica is to achieve the twin goal of facilitating additional income generation and further adaptation against climate change risks and natural calamities for poor and vulnerable households in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Anu Joshi Shrestha, value chain and enterprise development specialist at ICIMOD, facilitated the training in Islamabad. Ten participants, including professionals, as well as village and district coordinators from Gilgit-Baltistan currently engaged in Himalica’s action research, attended the ToT.

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