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The Koshi River Basin
The Koshi, a transboundary river originating in the Tibetan Plateau, crosses the Himalayas and flows through China, Nepal and India. It is 720km long and drains an area of approximately 74,500 km2. The Koshi is the largest river basin in Nepal, and one of three snowfed watersheds in the country.
The lower part of the river basin in Nepal spans the Terai (Nepal’s southern lowlands), and the Mid-hill and High-hill districts of eastern Nepal. Almost 8 million people living in the LKRB are at risk of being affected by the growing threat of climate change through further changes to the hydrological cycle. These changes can alter the magnitude, timing, and intensity of the region’s precipitation and affect evaporation. People living within the basin already face the challenge known as TMTL water, where communities are faced with floods, droughts and other water-induced hazards.
Key Issues
The challenge of TMTL water has distinct impacts on people in the LKRB. A large proportion of the population in the focus area rely on water-intensive activities like agriculture. With changing water availability patterns and growing hazards, people face greater challenges in building resilience to climate-induced disasters. Disadvantaged groups, particularly people with disabilities, face even higher risks.
Our Goal Is To
People with disabilities, Indigenous groups, Community members, Entrepreneurs, Municipality leaders
Supported by the Australian Government and implemented by ICIMOD
HI-GRID is a collaborative initiative supported by the Australian Government and implemented by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), in partnership with local government organisations and project partners. The project aims to strengthen community resilience against the challenges of Too Much and Too Little (TMTL) water, including floods and droughts, in the Lower Koshi River Basin of Nepal.
