Sustainable Mountain Development No. 56, ICIMOD, Winter 2009
to contribute to the knowledge on water storage ICIMOD’s ‘Vision’ is to see that the mountain population
capacity, its best practices, and development in the of the greater Himalayas enjoys improved well-being in
Hindu Kush-Himalayan region. The preceding articles a sustainable global environment, and its ‘Mission’ is
in this issue of Sustainable Mountain Development have to enable and facilitate their equitable and sustainable
identifi ed knowledge gaps and highlighted the need to well-being by supporting sustainable mountain
develop institutional capacity for water governance. This development through active regional cooperation.
article will discuss the evolving role of ICIMOD and its ICIMOD’s Vision and Mission are pursued through
knowledge partners in the development of water storage its three strategic programmes: Integrated Water and
capacity in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region. Hazard Management (IWHM), Environmental Change
and Ecosystem services (ECES), and Sustainable
ICIMOD’s strategic programmes and its
Livelihoods and Poverty Reduction (SLPR); supported
knowledge partners
by a cross-cutting Integrated Knowledge Management
section. The programmes are interdependent and
In an era where the effects of global climate change
interlinked. All three conduct activities related to
affect everyone, ICIMOD is endeavouring to bring the
development of water storage capacity, for example,
special plight of mountain people and environments
strengthening upstream-downstream linkages at IWHM,
to the attention of the world. The premises behind the
promoting integrated watershed management at ECES,
water-related activities at ICIMOD are (a) that water is
and crafting mechanisms of rewards and compensation
the single most important resource and source of wealth
for environmental services at SLPR.
for the people of the HKH region, but it is also a source
of catastrophic hazards; (b) that the conservation of In collaboration with its knowledge partners in the
water, its sustainable management, and negotiated region and around the globe, ICIMOD endeavours to
future use are of paramount importance; and (c) that due contribute to meeting knowledge gaps and building
to the crucial role that water has for livelihoods in the the institutional capacity necessary for the development
mountains and elsewhere, there is a need to see that of water storage capacity in the region. ICIMOD’s
livelihoods are adequately adapted to environmental knowledge partners include the nodal agencies in its
changes in general and to climate change in particular. eight regional member countries. Research centres
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