Stakeholder meeting for the Yarlung Zangbo-Brahmaputra Basin Network

About the event

Stakeholder meeting for the Yarlung Zangbo-Brahmaputra Basin Network (YBBN) will be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 17 July 2024. The meeting is being organised by ICIMOD’s Action Area: Managing cryosphere and water risks under the Strategic Group – Reducing climate and environmental risks with the aim to foster multitrack and multi-stakeholder dialogue in addressing the diverse challenges and opportunities within the basin. This meeting builds on the momentum from the December 2023 “Initiation of Brahmaputra Basin Network (BBN)” event, where participants from Bangladesh, India, China, and Bhutan recognised the need for an enhanced inter-country engagement. By bringing together stakeholders from academic institutions, government agencies, CSOs, private sectors, and media, the YBBN meeting aspires to establish a structured network that promotes sustainable transboundary river basin management. The focus will be on understanding each country’s positions and perspectives in the context of upstream and downstream linkages, ultimately aiming to build trust and foster basin-wide cooperation. The meeting is supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) through the TROSA Phase-2: Rivers, Rights and Resilience (T2:3R) project.

Objectives

• To discuss and design a functioning structure for the Yarlung Zangbo-Brahmaputra Basin Network (YBBN) to address diverse challenges and opportunities in the basin
• To facilitate inter-country discussions between multi-stakeholders (government, civil society organizations, funding agencies, academia, scientific community, media) in the basin in the context of upstream/downstream linkages

Expected outcomes

• Formulation of the governance structure for the YBB Network
• Workplan outline for the YBB Network (2025-2026)

Background

The Yarlung Zangbo-Brahmaputra River, fed by significant ice reserves and snow precipitation in high altitudes, is crucial for the drinking water, irrigation, hydropower, and ecological sustenance of billions of people across the region. At least 114 million people depend on the river basin for water, electricity, food, agriculture and fishing: 58 million in Bangladesh, 39 million India, 16 million in China and 700,000 in Bhutan. However, the basin’s communities face increasing water insecurity due to inadequate planning and a rapidly changing climate. This meeting will address these issues by advocating for a holistic water management approach that comprehends critical ecosystem processes and services. Through structured discussions, group activities, and strategic planning, the YBBN meeting seeks to lay the groundwork for a more informed and cooperative water management regime. This initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals by promoting sustainable food security, clean water and sanitation, and the preservation of aquatic ecosystems in the region.