HI-GRID: Building Capabilities for Green, Climate-Resilient and Inclusive Development in the Lower Koshi River Basin

The HI-GRID project, led by ICIMOD with support from the Australian Government, aims to build climate resilience in Nepal’s Lower Koshi River Basin, where nearly 8 million people face increasing risks from floods and droughts due to climate change. Working with 28 municipalities across Koshi and Madhesh provinces, the project addresses the challenge of “Too Much and Too Little” (TMTL) water by strengthening inclusive disaster risk reduction (DRR) governance, promoting gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI), and implementing nature-based solutions, early warning systems, and sustainable watershed management. HI-GRID also supports the development of green, climate-resilient value chains—such as vegetables, mangoes, and Mithila art—to diversify livelihoods and empower women and youth, while advancing gender-responsive budgeting in local governments to ensure equitable resource allocation.