As an inter-governmental regional learning and knowledge centre, ICIMOD believes that access to timely and high-quality data is essential to promote and accelerate learning on the challenges facing mountain ecosystems and their people; to enable independent research and scientific enquiries; to catalyse the development of knowledge products and innovations that improve the wellbeing and livelihoods of mountain communities; and to empower critical and urgent decision making and efforts in times of regional humanitarian and emergency crisis. In this context, ICIMOD has established a Regional Database System (RDS) that acts as a central data repository for different thematic areas in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region and provides easy access to these data through a web- based portal.