International Centre for Integrated Mountain Dev. (ICIMOD), 2023-2026

At the overall level, ICIMOD's achievements during 2023 include achieving 55% of their milestones (either as planned or more was achieved than planned), while 36% were partially achieved, and 8% were extended or postponed for reasons outside of the control of the intervention. Examples of results include: * Ambient air quality monitoring stations revived in Bhutan post-pandemic, generating high quality air quality data for informed decision making and policy formulation. * High Mountain Asia Glacial Lakes Outburst Floods Database and Dashboard was launched. Currently used by researchers, but the intention is to expand its usability. * A regional outlook report on Water, Ice, Society, and Ecosystems in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HIWISE) coauthored by 35 researchers and scientists, from 12 different countries, and 23 institutions was published and created a lot of media attention across the globe by e.g. Reuters, AP, AFP, The Washington Post, Al Jazeera, CNBC, New York Times, Bloomberg, CNN and BBC radio. Findings from the HiWISE report also featured in the Paris Call for Glaciers and Poles Declaration for the One Planet Polar Summit, brought together by France, WMO and UNESCO in November 2023. * A checklist for how to mainstream GESI (and disability) into Community Based Early Warning Systems was developed and tested. Training on GESI integration into DRR planning and budgeting for municipalities was conducted. * An ICIMOD regional workshop on rangelands, with representatives from Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Pakistan, reached consensus on priorities, methodologies and partnerships for mapping rangelands, peatlands and reviewing the status of Ramsar (wetland) Sites. * ICIMOD has worked with rural communities and municipalities in Nepal to map springs in seven rural municipalities that are affected by climate change. With the use of a mobile app, trained community resource persons (including from marginalized groups such as dalits and janjati) were able to collect data on nearly 1000 springs in less than two months and validate on the spot. This data and the resulting maps will help communities themselves, the government and other partners prioritize investments for springshed revival. The approach also holds promise for scaling inclusive and efficient springs mapping across the region. * ICIMOD supported the Nepal Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply in its quest to make Nepal a startup friendly nation, encouraging innovation in green, resilient and inclusive development. This has resulted in a new startup policy for Nepal that has been forwarded to the Cabinet for approval, and a new rulebook to facilitate startup loans at a low rate of interest. * ICIMOD has supported villages in India to revive springs and water courses that have been depleted due to climate change. Village Water User Groups, led by women, has directed operation, increased water flow and groundwater recharge, revived abandoned farm terraces and doubled fodder and grass yields thanks to increased soil moisture. ICIMOD plans to scale up the solutions and make use of the experiences as a learning hub for other sites. * ICIMOD has helped to develop a framework for measurement of indicators for SDG15 (Life on Land), as a global partner of the International Research Center of Big Data for SDG Goals. The framework (to be published in 2024) will support the development of appropriate thematic data sets on SDG15, including biodiversity and land degradation in mountain environments. * Mountains and cryosphere issues were for the first time mentioned in the final decision texts of the UNFCCC COP28 Global Stocktake and in the Global Goal on Adaptation, following the work by ICIMOD and partners such as the Government of Bhutan, the Government of Nepal, the Stockholm Environment Institute, UNEP, UNDP and the ADB.

In ICIMOD's fifth mid-term action plan (MTAP V) for the period 2023-2026 their work is divided into three strategic groups and six action areas/objectives: Strategic group 1: REDUCING CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS: Action area A) Managing cryosphere and water risks Action area B) Stimulating action for clean air Strategic group 2: SHAPING GREEN AND RESILIENT MOUNTAIN ECONOMIES: Action area C) Adapting and transforming livelihoods and economies Action area D) Restoring and regenerating landscapes Strategic group 3: ENABLING REGIONAL AND GLOBAL MECHANISMS FOR SUSTAINABLE ACTION: Action area E) Building institutions for regional cooperation and collaboration Action area F) Strengthening global leadership in sustainable mountain development