Practical Action and ICIMOD are implementing the HI-AWARE programme in the Upper Gandaki River Basin in Nepal. “Himalayan Adaptation, Water and Resilience Research on Glacier and Snowpack Dependent River Basins for Improving Livelihoods” (HI-AWARE) is a five-year research initiative being carried out in three river basins—namely the Indus, Upper Ganga, Gandaki and Teesta in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region. HI-AWARE consortium members PARC, TERI, ICIMOD, BCAS and Alterra-WUR are working to ensure that the research is being simultaneously implemented in Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

The programme aims at developing climate change adaptation approaches, and increasing the resilience of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the four river basins.

As a part of HI-AWARE’s stakeholder engagement strategy, ICIMOD, together with its local strategic partner Practical Action, organised two half-day consultation workshops—on 27 and 28 April at the DDC Hall in Dhunche, Rasuwa district. The 27 April meeting had representatives from district government agencies that are actively working towards reducing livelihood vulnerability and building the adaptive capacities of communities in the Gandaki basin region. Similarly, the consultation on 28 April saw representatives of non-governmental organisations participating.

The objectives of the workshop were:

• To inform stakeholders about the HI-AWARE research programme and engage them in the same while seeking their input on the local research needs
• To seek and develop opportunities that will benefit the local stakeholders through continuous engagement and capacity development programmes