September 01: The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development in Nepal, ICIMOD, conducted a national consultation meeting on its strategy for the next five years yesterday.

The one day consultation meeting was held at the conference hall of the Ministry of agriculture. Officials from Agriculture Ministry, the National Environment Commission, Foreign Ministry and the Planning Commission attended the daylong meeting. Also present were representatives from the private sector and non governmental organization like the Tarayana Foundation.

They discussed the future strategies and programs of the international centre for integrated mountain development.

The organization is based in Nepal. It has eight members –Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.

It builds institutional capacity and facilitates the development of policies for preserving and promoting the mountain ecosystem.

Dr. Madhav Karki, the Deputy Director General of ICIMOD. He said over the next five years, their programs will focus on sustainable livelihood and poverty reduction, environmental change, and integrated water and hazard management.

In Bhutan, ICIMOD will help prepare and adapt to the effects of climate change. With the meeting in the capital, ICIMOD has conducted the meeting in seven countries. The last meeting will be held in Bangladesh.