SERVIR is a unique combination of science, technology and development programmes established through a joint partnership between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).SERVIR-Himalayais one of the three hubs of the SERVIR programme and hosted at ICIMOD. The SERVIR programme covers multiple sectors related to international development and supports the objectives of the intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO) in the areas of agriculture, biodiversity, climate change, disasters, ecosystems, health, water, and weather. To achieve this goal, the SERVIR-Himalaya programme works to build the capacity of regional institutions in the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH), including government and non-government organizations, universities and other key stakeholders, to integrate earth observation information and geospatial technologies into the decision-making process for sustainable mountain development, with a special focus on climate adaptation, vulnerability, or mitigation. Under the SERVIR-Himalaya programme, ICIMOD has initiated a competitive Small Grants Programme funded by USAID. The overall objective of the SERVIR-Himalaya Small Grant Programme is to help expand the network of organizations, universities, and institutions in the HKH region and enhance the capacity for evidence-based decision making, and to generate innovative ideas for applying earth observation data and geospatial methods/tools for decision making in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region. Agencies in the region responded enthusiastically to ICIMOD’s open call to participate in the SERVIR-Himalaya Small Grants Programme. Out of the 191 concept papers submitted for consideration, 28 were shortlisted. The shortlisted applicants expanded their concept papers into complete proposals, which went through a second round of rigorous evaluation. Finally, 8 proposals were selected for funding. To orient the grantees with various aspects of grant operation including USAID rules and operational provisions, monitoring and evaluation, and communications guidelines, a kick-off workshop has been planned for 7–8 July 2014. The meeting will also create an opportunity to build network among the grantees and mutual awareness of their respective applications. Objectives Specific objectives of the kick-off workshop are as follows:To orient the successful applicants with the project implementation procedures, USAID and ICIMOD rules and regulations, and various reporting tools; To initiate interface between ICIMOD/ SERVIR-Himalaya Grants team and the grantees; To discuss programmatic areas and financial application as outlined in the complete proposal; To develop a networking forum of SERVIR-Himalaya grantees and product users for knowledge sharing;