DCRL held a first technical Working Group (TWG) meeting on March 23, 2022, with the objective of receiving technical guidance from the experts, creating a common platform for bridging the knowledge gaps and maximizing potential opportunities for collaboration and coordination. The meeting was attended by experts from the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation, National Agriculture Research Council, Department of Mines and Geology, Basin Management Centre – Koshi, Institute of Engineering/Tribhuvan University, Hillside College/Purbanchal University, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and United Nations Development Program.
The agenda of the meeting were:
- Introduction, Importance, and Expectations of TWG
- Project Introduction and Expected Frame of Discussion followed by open discussion
Throughout the discussions, the TWG members shared that they would provide their expertise, resources, and information for the proper implementation of the project anytime if required. They urged to organize the next TWG meetings at the project site in order to present a clear picture of the project scenario and understand them for proper guidance. Also, there was a suggestion from the members to discuss the specific thematic topics from the upcoming TWG meetings.
Mr. Uddhaw Bahadur Ghimire, Deputy Director General-DFSC/National Project Director-DCRL, remarked “the first TWG meeting provided the framework to streamline the meeting agenda and discussion points for the upcoming meeting. Also, the available knowledge and information are limited within agencies, therefore TWG can initiate the platform to share, interact and learn from each other institutionally.”
DCRL project document has provisioned TWG formation to guide the cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary institutions. The TWG will provide technical backstopping and guidance in enhancing the resilience of watersheds to facilitate evidence-based policy recommendations for Integrated Watershed Management with emphasis on multi-hazards including drought. The TWG envisions a mix of thematic experts, academia, policymakers, and practitioners to enrich this process.
