The Himalayan Resilience Enabling Action Programme (HI-REAP) is an ICIMOD project working to promote Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for socio-ecological resilience, low-carbon economies, and improved air quality in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal, and building on knowledge and learning from China. The programme aims to ensure communities are better prepared to cope with shocks and more able to adapt to change.

Communities in the Himalaya are frontline to climate, environmental, and other shocks: extreme weather, floods, avalanches, landslides, droughts, and increasing biodiversity loss and air pollution.

These risks are already compounding very serious existing socio-economic vulnerabilities, especially food and water insecurity and high levels of outmigration, and exacerbating gender and social inequalities.

HI-REAP is a nine-year programme, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), to transform the lives and livelihoods, and reduce exposure to risks, of millions of people in the region.

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    year programme (2022–2031)

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    million pound
    FCDO-funded programme

To drive change, the programme focusses on supporting locally led action in six key areas:

Scale solutions to air pollution, including harmonising regional data
to improve health outcomes and reduce black carbon deposits on the cryosphere

Promote Nature-based Solutions, especially rangeland management, and bioprospecting businesses
to conserve ecosystems and biodiversity

Scale nature-based management of mountain fresh-water sources
to strengthen water security

Implement the nature-based reduction of disaster risks
to protect vulnerable communities

Mobilise climate finance
to accelerate meeting urgent adaptation needs

Strengthen regional cooperation
by supporting policymakers and communities to prepare and adapt

The project, which runs from 2022 to 2031, exists as part of a £274 million FCDO-funded programme to reduce exposure to risks and protect the environment across the Indo-Pacific, called Climate Action for a Resilient Asia (CARA). CARA partners include the Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank (WB), Met Office, and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Where we work

 

 

The HI-REAP programme will be implemented in five of the eight Hindu Kush Himalayan countries – Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, and Nepal, with scope for South-South and North-South knowledge exchange and dissemination of learnings.

Events

Visual Highlights

Publications

Business case for rangelands (poster)

Rangelands need our attention. They are home to iconic wildlife, such as the snow leopard and wild yak, and unique highland pastoral cultures that have evolved in harsh conditions among the world’s highest mountains. This rich natural and cultural heritage is now threatened by climate and environmental change. This poster presents a business case to banks and financial institutions, relevant government officials and interested public-private sectors on why we need to invest in rangelands.

Status of springs in Panchkhaal Municipality - poster [Nepali]

Springs play a vital role in sustaining mountain communities. This poster presents the findings from a collaborative survey conducted by Panchkhaal Municipality and ICIMOD, with the assistance of community resource persons, aimed at establishing a comprehensive database of springs in the region.

Status of springs in Dhulikhel Municipality - poster [Nepali]

Springs play a vital role in sustaining mountain communities. This poster presents the findings from a collaborative survey conducted by Dhulikhel Municipality and ICIMOD, with the assistance of community resource persons, aimed at establishing a comprehensive database of springs in the region.

Business case for springs (poster)

Springs are the lifeblood of communities in Nepal. It is estimated that nearly 80 percent of the population in the hills and mountains are dependent on water from springs for drinking, household use, livestock rearing, and minor irrigation. But these springs are drying up, threatening water and food insecurity, and displacement. This poster presents a business case to banks and financial institutions, relevant government officials and interested public-private sectors on why we need to invest in springs.  

Status of springs in Roshi Rural Municipality

Springs play a vital role in sustaining mountain communities. This poster presents the findings from a collaborative survey conducted by Roshi Rural Municipality and ICIMOD, with the assistance of community resource persons, aimed at establishing a comprehensive database of springs in the region.

बेथानचोक गाउँपालिकामा मुल /मुहानको अवस्था Status of springs in Bethanchowk Rural Municipality [in Nepali]

Springs play a vital role in sustaining mountain communities. This poster presents the findings from a collaborative survey conducted by Bethanchowk Rural Municipality and ICIMOD, with the assistance of community resource persons, aimed at establishing a comprehensive database of springs in the region.

Status of springs in Bethanchowk Rural Municipality

Springs play a vital role in sustaining mountain communities. This poster presents the findings from a collaborative survey conducted by Bethanchowk Rural Municipality and ICIMOD, with the assistance of community resource persons, aimed at establishing a comprehensive database of springs in the region.

Status of springs in Temal Rural Municipality - poster[Nepali]

Springs play a vital role in sustaining mountain communities. This poster presents the findings from a collaborative survey conducted by Temal Rural Municipality and ICIMOD, with the assistance of community resource persons, aimed at establishing a comprehensive database of springs in the region.

Status of springs in Panauti Municipality - poster [Nepali]

Springs play a vital role in sustaining mountain communities. This poster presents the findings from a collaborative survey conducted by Panauti Municipality and ICIMOD, with the assistance of community resource persons, aimed at establishing a comprehensive database of springs in the region.

Himalayan Resilience Enabling Action Programme: Building resilience in the Himalaya

The Himalayan Resilience Enabling Action Programme (HI-REAP) is a nine-year (2022-2031) ICIMOD project working to promote Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for socio-ecological resilience, low-carbon economies, and improved air quality in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal, and building on knowledge and learning from China. The programme aims to ensure communities are better prepared to cope with shocks and more able to adapt to change.

रोशी गाउँपालिकामा मुल /मुहानको अवस्था Status of springs in Roshi Rural Municipality [in Nepali]

Springs play a vital role in sustaining mountain communities. This poster presents the findings from a collaborative survey conducted by Roshi Rural Municipality and ICIMOD, with the assistance of community resource persons, aimed at establishing a comprehensive database of springs in the region.

Status of springs in Namobuddha Municipality [poster]

Springs are a lifeline for mountain communities. This poster showcases a map resulting from a collaborative survey conducted by Namobuddha Municipality and ICIMOD to establish a springs database for Namobuddha.

The multiple benefits of springshed management as a Nature-based Solution [poster]

Springshed management is an integrated approach to protect and maintain the hydrogeological system that sustains springs. It addresses water security in the mountains along with multiple benefits and cobenefits for biodiversity and climate change.

Spring revival and springshed management for strengthening water security and climate resilience: Voices from local government

Reviving springs and managing springsheds – the areas of land that contribute groundwater to spring – is vital to ensure present and future water security in the HKH. At ICIMOD, we ran a four-day training course in April 2023 on spring revival and springshed management, which brought together local governments and institutions from India and Nepal. In this publication, we present key messages and recommendations from the event for future action.

Scaling springshed management in Kavre [poster]

The poster talks about our plan on scaling springshed management as a Nature-based Solution in Kavre district, Nepal.

Facilitating springshed revival with communities: Stories from the ground

Springs serve as a vital lifeline for millions of people residing in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), including the Indian Himalayan region. Spring revival and springshed management are therefore essential to ensure present and future water security in the region. This publication is a compilation of seven success stories on springshed revival shared by paraworkers from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

In the media

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Core team

Surendra Raj Joshi

HI-REAP Coordinator

Sabina Uprety

Programme Officer

Sushmita Kunwar

Communications Officer

Let's talk

For more information, please contact hireap@icimod.org

Contact

The Himalayan Resilience Enabling Action Programme (HI-REAP) is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Government of the United Kingdom under the Climate Action for a Resilient Asia (CARA) programme.