A short introduction to the Himalayan Climate Change Adaptation Programme (HICAP)

The Himalayan Climate Change Adaptation Programme (HICAP) is an inter-disciplinary research programme which seeks to improve the resilience of mountain communities, particularly women, through improved understanding of vulnerabilities, opportunities and potential for adaptation. Nand Kishor Agrawal, HICAP Coordinator at ICIMOD, explains the programme and how science generated through the programme is channelled through to policy makers.

The climate smart villages approach

Laxmi Dutta Bhatta, Ecosystem Management Specialist at ICIMOD, explains the different climate-smart approaches being implemented in model villages in Kavre Palanchowk district. These approaches include minor changes to their daily work in crop production, water conservation, and communication piloted in several villages in Nepal through the Himalayan Climate Change Adaptation Programme (HICAP).

In ICIMOD and CEAPRED’s CSV approach, farmers are piloting interventions that are nutrient smart, water smart, crop smart, ICT smart, energy smart and future smart. CSV is being implemented in eight villages of Kavre district under the Himalayan Climate Change Adaptation Programme. The programme is working with 981 farmers, 813 of whom are women farmers.

The role of women and gender in adaptation to climate change

Gender research forms a cornerstone of the Himalayan Climate Change Adaptation Programme (HICAP). Dr Suman Bisht, Initiative Coordinator for AdaptHimal and Senior Gender Specialist at ICIMOD, explains how HICAP is generating new gender-specific information and data on the different impacts of climate change on men and women and their different coping strategies.

Enhancing adaptive capacity at the community level

The Himalayan Climate Change Adaptation Programme (HICAP) is working to enhance the adaptive capacity of communities in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region. Dr Suman Bisht, Initiative Coordinator for AdaptHimal and Senior Gender Specialist at ICIMOD, explains the participatory methods and action research through which the programme is working with local communities to assess their own capacities and develop action plans to fill gaps in skills.

Changing climate and hydrology in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region

Dr Arun Bhakta Shrestha, Regional Programme Manager for River Basin Management and Senior Climate Change Specialist at ICIMOD, explains the latest scientific findings on the impact of climate change on water resources and river flow in the Hindu Kush Himalayas.

Regional training workshop for journalists: strengthening reporting on adaptation to climate change for relevant policy approaches

The workshop brought together fifteen independent journalists from television, radio, print and web from China, India, Nepal and Pakistan. Seven women and eight men were selected from an application pool of over eighty applicants. The workshop focused on climate-related environmental issues, with a special regard to adaptation measures.
Over a week-long period, the participating journalists interacted with thematic experts from ICIMOD and partner institutes, government officials, local stakeholders, and community stalwarts. They also underwent a dedicated session on interacting and engaging with senior policy advisors and policy makers on relevant aspects. An editorial round table with editors from leading publishing houses in Nepal, focused on pitches and story angles that journalists could consider, while penning on dense issues like climate change.
The participants also spent time in the field visiting ICIMOD’s ongoing implementation of climate smart villages, and action research site on adaptive capacity in Kavrepalanchok District, facilitated by international facilitators and resource persons from ICIMOD, GRID-Arendal, CEAPRED and DeKMIS.