About

ICIMOD , a regional intergovernmental organization, serves the eight countries of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. It aims to influence policies and practices addressing environmental and livelihood challenges in the HKH region. The institute offers a platform for global researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to share knowledge, support evidence-based decisions, and promote regional cooperation.

ICIMOD’s fifth Medium-Term Action Plan (MTAP V: 2023-2026) outlines a roadmap for achieving a greener, inclusive, and climate resilient HKH. The plan consists of three Strategic Groups (SGs): Reducing Climate and Environmental Risks, Shaping Green and Resilient Mountain Economies, and Enabling Regional and Global Mechanisms for Sustainable Action. Each SG includes two Action Areas (AAs). SG1 includes Action Area A (AAA) and Action Area B (AAB); AAB focuses on stimulating action for clean air by strengthening institutions, capacity, policies, and investments for air quality improvement.

Established in 2013 as part of the regional atmosphere program, the Atmospheric Watch Initiative (AWI) was previously known as the Atmosphere Initiative until December 2019. AWI aims to reduce air pollution impacts in the HKH through enhanced knowledge and capacity. It works on understanding emissions sources, atmospheric processes, air pollution impacts, testing mitigation solutions, building cross-border networks, and contributing to policies at various levels.

The Air Quality Watch-HKH initiative is developing an integrated information platform for air quality data. This platform supports decision-making by professionals responsible for air quality management. It enables users to compare pollutants and observations from different data sources, providing a comprehensive understanding of the situation.