In order to review and update the current strategic framework and develop the next five-year plan, ICIMOD is proactively consulting with focal ministries and key stakeholders in the member countries on a priority basis
The International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Bhutanese policy planners and experts on mountain development met in Thimphu this week to obtain inputs to the planning of ICIMOD’s future direction toward sustainable mountain development.
This comes at a time when ICIMOD is embarking on its new five-year program (2013-18) beginning next year. ICIMOD is proactively engaged in consulting the focal ministries and key stakeholders in the member countries on a priority basis.
Presenting the strategic framework for ICIMOD at meet, the director general of ICIMOD, David Molden, said the marginal mountain populations are becoming socially, economically, and environmentally more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
He said the meeting was an important event to share knowledge and enhance regional cooperation for sustainable mountains and better livelihoods of its people.
The meeting highlighted Bhutan’s policy and program priorities so that ICIMOD can align with them in the regional and national programs being developed for the next five years.
The secretary of Ministry of Agriculture and Forest, SherubGyaltshen, said environmental conservation has always received top priority in Bhutan and so one of the objectives of the 11th Five Year Plan (FYP) is achieving green socio-economic development through efficient planning.
He added that Bhutan as one of the member countries has benefited a lot from this partnership especially in terms of knowledge, experiences and human resource development that has significantly contributed to Bhutanese livelihoods.
The meeting also provided a platform for exchange of ideas and perspectives towards the achievement of sustainable mountain development.
It also helped to develop a better understanding of relevant national policies, enhanced closer interaction with national partners and to get benefit from the technical expertise available within Bhutan including knowledge about the Hindu Kush Himalayan regions.
ICIMOD and its partners in Bhutan that include both governmental agencies and non-governmental agencies had always been working together in various environmental conservation activities.
Last November, at the regional partnership event held in the Bhutan, the agriculture minister, LyonpoPemaGyamtsho, said ICIMOD provides great opportunities for member country partners to gain exposure to new technologies, methodologies, and practices in the regional context.
At the regional partnership event, Bhutan highlighted the importance of sustainable mountain development where LyonpoPemaGyamtsho, called on the countries of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas to work together on pressing issues of relevance to the whole region.
The ICIMOD’s strategic framework for the year 2008-12 identified three key strategic areas through intensive consultations with the member countries and stakeholders. These include; Integrated water and hazard management, Environmental change and ecosystem services, and Sustainable livelihoods and poverty reduction.
This approach favors trans-disciplinary problem analysis, design, and implementation, and monitoring of the programs. In particular it includes the crosscutting criteria of policy, governance, equity and gender, and mainstreaming information and knowledge management principles. ICIMOD’s strategy is aimed at benefiting the people of the region and at sustaining vital environmental services for the billions of people living downstream.
ICIMOD is a regional knowledge development and learning centre based in Kathmandu, Nepal, which serves the eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
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