ICIMOD board okays new strategic framework

Kathmandu, November 29:

The board of governors of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) approved the new five-year Strategic Framework and Medium Action Plan for 2008-2012, states a press release issued by the ICIMOD here today.

“The new strategy foresees three strategic programmes — Integrated Water and Hazard Management, Environmental Change and Ecosystem Services, and Sustainable Livelihoods and Poverty Reduction — supported by a strong knowledge management group and specialists in gender, equity, governance, and economics, and working together on programmes designed to help people adapt to climate change and improve their livelihoods while protecting the environment,” the press statement of the ICIMOD states.

Globalisation and climate change have been so intensive that coping mechanisms are losing their efficiency. The vast ice reserve of the Himalayas and neighbouring mountain chains — the earth’s ‘third pole’ — is in peril, the release says.

“There is an urgent need to gather reliable information about what is happening and investigate and develop adaptation and coping mechanisms so that people can get the maximum benefit from their environment and minimise the risk of disasters,” it added.

The statement further says that International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development’s new programmes have been designed following consultations with governments and organisations of International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development’s regional member countries — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan.