International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is an independent ‘Mountain Learning and knowledge Centre’ serving the eight countries of the Hindu Kush – Himalayas; Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Mayanmar, Nepal and Pakistan(Regional Member Countries)- and the global mountain community.

ICIMOD , with headquarters at Kathmandu Nepal was set up in 1983 , is an intergovernmental but independent organization in the heart of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas (HKH) with objective of promoting the development of an economically and environmentally sound mountain ecosystem in the extended Himalayan region, and to improve the living standards of its mountain communities. It brings together a partnership of eight regional member countries namely and institutions within and outside the region.

ICIMOD, has objective of promoting the development of an economically and environmentally sound mountain ecosystem in the extended Himalayan region, and improve the living standards of its mountain communities. ICIMOD aims to assist mountain people to understand ongoing environmental changes, adapt to them, and make the most of new opportunities. Three key strategic areas – water, environmental services, and livelihoods – have been identified through intensive consultations with the member countries, and the stakeholders. The strategic area of work of ICIMOD is: (i) integrated water and hazard management, (ii) environmental change and ecosystem services, and (iii) sustainable livelihoods and poverty reduction.

Salient features of the achievements of ICIMOD under different programmes/projects as per the strategic work areas of ICIMOD so far are

(i) Capacity building of Regional Member Countries (RMC’s) on mountains issues.

(ii) ICIMOD  has worked with various partners in India on a number of projects in the field of forestry , watershed management, flood control, water management , biodiversity, bee keeping, sustainable agriculture and soil conservation technologies technologies, training and capacity building etc.

(iii) Development of Mountain Perspective Framework and partnering in projects in strategic areas as per details in para (a) & (b) above, related to ;

Disaster Risk Reduction, Rural energy, sea buckthorn cultivation, mountain farming systems and mountain biodiversity, People and Resource Dynamics in Mountain Watersheds, the Regional Rangeland Programme, Beekeeping, Gender, transboundary landscapes, vulnerability and capacity assessment on Climate Change, Improving land based livelihood options , Sustainable Mountain tourism, Value chain development for enhancing livelihoods potions to local people, Environment and Sustainable livelihoods and Capacity Building in Geographical Information Systems/Remote Sensing Technologies, organisation of national, regional and global events.

(iv) ICIMOD has signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with G.B.Pnat Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development (GBPIHED),an autonomous institute of Ministry of Environment & Forests to collaborate in achieving the environmentally  sustainable development in the Indian Himalayan.

(v) Strengthening of Regional Collaborative Programmes and Framework.

(vi) Regional Knowledge, learning and enabling centre for Regional Member Countries of Hindukush Himalayan Region. (HKH)

The initial initiatives for setting up of ICIMOD are below:-

i.     UN Conference of Human Environment, Stockholm, 5-16 June, 1972.

ii.   International Workshop on Development of the Mountain, Munich, 1974; recommended the establishment of an institution in Nepal to promote an ecologically sound development process in mountain regions.

iii. Founding Sponsors were UNESCO, Switzerland, Federal Republic of Germany, and Nepal; They were providing an initial annual budget of approximately US $ 1 million.

iv. Agreement signed between Nepal & UNESCO at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris , 30 September, 1981.; the agreement providing the legal basis for this international autonomous centre.

v.   First meeting of the Interim Board of Governors was convened in Kathmandu, Nepal, 11-13, July 1982; The statues for ICIMOD were approved at this meeting by the board.