Kathmandu: The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) welcomed Australia’s Ambassador to Nepal, Simon Ernst, along with a delegation from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), for a high-level strategic meeting on the “Building Capabilities for Green, Climate-Resilient, and Inclusive Development in the Lower Koshi Basin” (HI-GRID) project.
Australia and ICIMOD share a long-standing partnership focused on advancing climate resilience and sustainable development across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region. The collaboration began with the Koshi River Basin Transboundary Programme in 2010 and continued through the Koshi Basin Initiative launched in 2013, both supported by the Australian Government to strengthen transboundary water governance and climate-informed decision-making.
The partnership has further expanded under Australia’s Sustainable Development Investment Portfolio (SDIP), with ICIMOD providing scientific expertise and policy support across the region.
The HI-GRID project (2023–2027), funded by the Australian Government, marks a new phase of cooperation. The initiative aims to build inclusive climate resilience across 28 municipalities in Nepal’s Lower Koshi Basin by strengthening early warning systems, promoting nature-based solutions, supporting green and alternative livelihoods, and integrating Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI)-responsive planning and budgeting into local governance.
