07 Feb 2023 Grantees join ICIMOD resource persons at a kick-off workshop at the ICIMOD campus in December 2022 in Khumaltar, Kathmandu, Nepal (Photo: Jitendra Raj Bajracharya/ICIMOD) We have awarded grants to four institutions to implement projects in Nepal and Pakistan under our SERVIR-HKH Small Grants Programme. Each grantee will receive up to USD 30,000 to implement their ideas that use geospatial and Earth science tools and services to enhance decision-making at multiple levels. The shortlisted project proposals focus on adapting or mitigating climate risks while addressing sustainable mountain development concerns. The grantees are in the final stages of signing an agreement with ICIMOD. From a total of 112 concept notes received through an open call for submissions launched in February 2022, a panel of subject matter experts from ICIMOD and partners shortlisted four project ideas. Before submitting finalised proposals, the shortlisted project ideas underwent a thorough screening and proposal development process. Projects funded through this cycle of the Small Grants Programme (SGP-01) will be implemented for a period of 24 months and respond to challenges specific to (1) agriculture and food security and (2) disaster risk reduction and emergency responses. Project titles and grant recipients of the ICIMOD/SERVIR-HKH Small Grants Programme (SGP-01) Country focus Project title Grant recipient Principal investigator Nepal Developing a webtool and guidelines for climate-resilient stormwater systems in Nepal Center for Water Resources Studies, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Nepal Bhola Nath Sharma Ghimire Nepal Development of an operational flood early warning system based on SERVIR-HKH flood prediction tools Smart Infra Tech Solutions Pvt Ltd, Nepal Achut Krishna Pandey Nepal Development of a decision-support system for agroforestry suitability on abandoned agriculture land in Gandaki Province, Nepal Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal Rajan Subedi Pakistan Building the resilience of farming communities to drought by mainstreaming climate information in the drylands of Pakistan Climate, Energy and Water Resources Institute, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Pakistan Bashir Ahmad Grant kick-off workshop We invited grantees to a kick-off workshop on the SERVIR-HKH Small Grants Programme at our ICIMOD headquarters in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 21 December 2022. At the workshop, we oriented the principal investigators and finance representatives from selected recipient organisations on the different aspects of grant operation, including ICIMOD’s compliance and financial provisions, monitoring and evaluation aspects of the grant and communication, and visibility guidelines for grantees. The principal investigators presented their finalised proposal and proposed workplans. We worked with the grantees and provided inputs and suggestions towards streamlining their project ideas for successful implementation. The SERVIR-HKH Small Grants Programme has been instituted to help grow a network of organisations, universities, and institutions within the HKH region that utilise geospatial and Earth science tools and services to improve decision-support systems and practical applications related to sustainable mountain development with a special focus on climate vulnerability, mitigation, or adaptation. The grant is open to SERVIR-HKH–focused countries: Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan. ICIMOD funds the proposals through an award from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Author Utsav Maden Knowledge Management and Communication Officer