About

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

The Establishment of a Regional Flood Information System in the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region (HKH-HYCOS) project promotes the timely exchange of flood data and information for the reduction of flood vulnerability within and among the participating countries though and established and agreed platform which is accessible and user friendly.

Project activities will work to

• Strengthen the framework for cooperation for sharing regional flood data and information among participating member countries
• Establish a flood observation network in selected river basins in the participating countries
• Establish regional and national flood information systems to share real time data and information and increase lead time
• Enhance the technical capacity of partners on flood forecasting and communication with end users
• Develop a full-scale, fully integrated regional project as planned and agreed among participating countries

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. It is designed to provide immediate and full ownership of the project to the participating countries. It will be executed by the relevant national institutions and 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.

Objective

Minimize the loss of lives and livelihoods by reducing flood vulnerability in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region with specific reference to the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Indus river basins.

Geographical Coverage

• Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Pakistan

Duration

• 5 years (December 2009 to December 2014)

Financial Partners

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Finland
• First Phase (2001-2005) – United States Agency for International Development Office for Foregin Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) and United States Department of State, Regional Environment Office for South Asia

Implementing Partners

• Bangladesh: Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) and Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD)
• Bhutan: Department of Hydromet Services (DHMS)
• China: China Meteorological Administration (CMA) and Bureau of Hydrology
• India: Central Water Commission (CWC) and India Meteorological Department (IMD)
• Nepal: Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM)
• Pakistan: Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and Federal Flood Commission (FFC)

Coordinator

Mandira Singh Shrestha
Senior Water Resources Specialist
Initiative Coordinator: HYCOS

Vijay Ratan Khadgi
Assistant Project Coordinator

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