The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nepal and the Himalayan Consensus Institute (HCI) have entered a partnership to collaborate in the areas of crisis prevention and conflict mitigation.

In an event organised at the Patan Museum on Tuesday, UNDP Nepal Country Director Renaud Meyer and HCI Founder Laurence Brahm signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to mark the establishment of a joint initiative for crisis and conflict mitigation in the Himalayan region, highly impacted by climate change.

The three-day summit covered a wide range of areas where business and finance can directly support achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals—from air travel connectivity to solar and hydro renewable energy systems to agriculture and technology. As per the understanding, the partnership will focus, among other things, on developing systematic early warning systems ahead of environmental catastrophe to aid governments and communities in their response, the HCI said in a statement.

The pilot programme in Nepal is expected to serve as a model for conflict prevention and mitigation in countries affected by climate change and underdevelopment. Nepal is one of the 20 countries that are most vulnerable to climate change and other kinds of hazards. “This initiative has the potential for far-reaching impact beyond the borders of Nepal. It is envisioned that similar programs could be adopted across the developing world in an effort to address conflict at its root cause rather than its effect,” said Brahm, founder of the HCI.

Highlighting the importance of the UN’s Agenda 2030, UNDP Nepal Country Director Meyer said: “Mitigating crisis and conflict requires a multi-disciplinary approach that is holistic, community-based and sustainable in order to sustain long-term peace in our region. The new facility that we plan to put in place will help the Government and people of Nepal take informed decisions, better prepare for climate-induced and other kind of disasters and respond to crisis more systematically.”

Likewise, a second programme, launching the Silk Road Dialogues, is expected to be signed between UNDP China and the HCI in Beijing later this month. This joint initiative will also focus on training local mediators on the principle that community knows best; and conduct second track dialogues through workshops where crisis can be mitigated and avoided.