As climate change and development threaten the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) springs, the need for collaborative, science-based, and community-led action has become critical. On May 5, 2025, SDC India, together with stakeholders from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, convened at ICIMOD in Kathmandu for the HKH Springs Alliance Workshop, co-supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). This important event laid the foundation for a regional alliance to strengthen springshed management through shared principles, joint initiatives, and knowledge co-development.
Government representatives, civil society members, researchers, and development partners came together with a unified vision of safeguarding Himalayan springs. SDC’s SCA-Himalayas project is already advancing scalable, science-based, community-driven models in the Indian Himalayas.
The next step is regional collaboration, involving the sharing of lessons and amplification of local successes to build climate resilience across borders. Highlights from the workshop included co-developing working modalities for the HKH Springs Alliance, aligning on shared principles, and establishing an initial framework for a strategic roadmap for long-term cooperation. This initiative underscores a strong commitment to inclusivity, local empowerment, and sustainable water security in one of the world's most climate-vulnerable regions.
