ICIMOD is collaborating with meteorological and
agricultural institutions in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH)
through its SERVIR Hindu Kush Himalaya (SERVIR-HKH)
and Climate Services for Resilient Development ( CSRD )
Initiatives to establish agricultural drought monitoring and
early warning systems.
Faculty of Engineering, Nangarhar University, Afghanistan
ICIMOD in partnership with the Faculty of Engineering, Nangarhar University, is conducting a training workshop on the use of Earth observation and geospatial technologies for water resources management in Afghanistan from 28 July to 7 August 2019.
Training and capacity building are integral parts of the SERVIR-HKH initiative. The initiative organizes trainings in the development and use of science applications for partner institutions and end users to maximize the benefit of Earth observation information and geospatial technology in the region. The initiative provides technical support and conducts customized trainings and shares opportunities according to the need of its regional partners.
Experts working within the SERVIR-HKH Initiative at ICIMOD investigated the 2018 Panjshir flood using remotely sensed imagery in response to a special request from the Department of Water Resources (WRD), Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW) in Afghanistan. They tracked the course of the flood to a glacial lake upstream using a combination of freely available satellite imagery for the days leading up to and after the event. A joint field mission comprising WRD and ICIMOD staff also visited the affected area and conducted a field assessment of the glacial lake. The team deduced that a breach in the natural moraine next to the glacial lake triggered the flash flood and identified it as a glacial lake outburst flood event. Findings from the investigation have been made available as a story map for the general public.
The main objective of SERVIR activities in Afghanistan is to provide technical assistance to the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) by improving the use of technology in water resources, agriculture water use and irrigation management and decision making. The activities are aligned With Strengthening Watershed And Irrigation Management (SWIM) proposal to provide capacity building and technical assistance to improve intra-GIRoA collaboration in natural resource management.
A joint development initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), SERVIR works in partnership with leading regional organizations worldwide to help developing countries use information provided by earth observing satellites and geospatial technologies for managing climate risks and land use. SERVIR empowers decision-makers with tools, products, and services to act locally on climate-sensitive issues such as disasters, agriculture, water, and ecosystems and land use. SERVIR is improving awareness, increasing access to information and supporting analysis to help people in Africa, the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), the Lower Mekong, and Mesoamerica manage challenges in the areas of food security, water resources, land use change, and natural disasters.
![7628 [Converted]_.png](/sites/default/files/7628%20%5BConverted%5D_.png)