Period: January 2021 – December 2023
Funder/client: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and Australian Water Partnership (AWP)
Project overview:
The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region spans 3,500 kms from Afghanistan to Myanmar and sustains the livelihoods of over two billion people by serving as the source of ten major river basins. These rivers fuel critical sectors including agriculture, energy, and industry, contributing USD 4.3 trillion in GDP across rapidly growing economies like India and China. However, the region faces escalating challenges from climate change, geopolitical tensions, and social inequities.
This project focuses on strengthening upstream-downstream river basin governance within these basins and fostering inter-basin cooperation between the ten river basins with headwaters originating in the HKH region to promote sustainable and inclusive development while addressing climate resilience, gender equality, and social inclusion.
Services provided by IFSD:
IFSD collaborated with regional partner ICIMOD and Australian partners Aither and eWater to deliver a range of outputs, including:
- Desk review, policy analysis, stakeholder consultations, science-policy dialogues, and policy reports to enhance decision-making frameworks.
- Produced assessment reports for the Brahmaputra, Ganges, and Indus basins, highlighting actionable strategies for inclusive and effective transboundary governance.
- Provided recommendations for strengthening river basin cooperation.
