Establishment of a Regional Flood Information System in the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region (HKH-HYCOS)

Floods are a major natural disaster aggravating poverty in the Indus and Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) basins, which is home to over 600 million people and almost half of the world's poor. The project is based on the results of a series of consultative meetings with representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan held between 2001 and 2005, during which the project was recommended for implementation.

The overall objective of the project is to minimize loss of lives and livelihoods by reducing flood vulnerability in the HKH region with specific reference to the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Indus river basins.

The project purpose is timely exchange of flood data and information within and among participating countries through an established and agreed upon platform which is accessible and user friendly.

The planned project results are as follows:
  • Strengthened framework for cooperation on sharing regional flood data and information among participating member countries.
  • Establishment of a flood observation network in selected river basins in the participating countries.
  • Establishment of regional and national flood information systems to share real-time data and information and increase lead time.
  • Enhanced technical capacity of partners on flood forecasting and communication to the end users.
  • Full-scale regional project planned and agreed among participating countries.

The implementation is divided into five major components: a framework for cooperation; a regional flood observation network; a regional flood information system; enhanced capacity and communication; and planning of a scaled-up fully integrated regional project.

The project is designed to provide immediate and full ownership of the project to the participating countries. It will be executed by the relevant national institutions. The ICIMOD will have an implementing and coordinating role. The World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) principal responsibilities will be in the areas of technical and conceptual backstopping.

Geographical Coverage

Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Pakistan

Duration

3 Years (Dec 2009 – Dec 2012)

Core Financial Partners

Government of Finland
1st Phase (2001-2005) – USAID/OFDA and US Department of State, Regional Environment Office for South Asia

Implementing Partners

  • Bangladesh: Bangladesh Water Development Board and the Bangladesh Meteorological Department
  • Bhutan: Department of Energy and the Department of Geology and Mines
  • China: Meteorological Administration and the Bureau of Hydrology, India Central Water Commission, and the India Meteorological Department
  • Nepal: Department of Hydrology and Meteorology and the Department of Water Induced Disaster Prevention
  • Pakistan: Pakistan Meteorological Department and the Federal Flood Commission

Contact Information

Mandira Shrestha
Integrated Water and Hazard Management (IWHM) 
mshrestha@icimod.org

Arun Bhakta Shrestha
Integrated Water and Hazard Management (IWHM) 
abshrestha@icimod.org