UNDP and Himalayan Consensus to establish an early warning facility to help Nepal respond to disaster and prevent crisis

14 November 2017

Kathmandu, Nepal

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

In an event organized at the Patan Museum on 14 November, 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 partnership will focus, among other things, on developing systematic early warning systems ahead of environmental catastrophe to aid governments and communities in their response.

Hon Wai Wai, Institute for the Research of Tibetan Buddhist Heritage, Palace Museum, announced cooperation with UNESCO in digital archiving of Nepal's great religious heritage sites. The collaboration extends to the Department of Archaeology in order to archive the murals, artifacts and architecture of Nepal. Along with the conservation of heritage...

Eckart Roth, Chief Risk Of cer, Peak Re, announced plans to establish an insurance program for earthquake-prone regions of the Himalayas, focusing mainly on emergency relief and reconstruction. As insurance is believed to be essential for stable economic growth, 

Daniel C. Taylor, President, Future Generations University, announced twenty scholarships for students from the Himalayan region undertaking Master’s Degree studies in Sustainable Development. It is a distinctive kind of degree for professionals seeking to create a dialogue..

Mahendra K.Shrestha, Chairman, Himalayan General Insurance (HGI) Co. Ltd., announced establishment of a USD 20 million fund entitled Himalayan Heritage Hotel Fund. It has a vision of conservation, sustainability and economic prosperity which are all very close to the spirit of Himalayan Consensus. The fund seeks to bridge the gap between traditional hospitality and nancial sustainability,

Ryan Nadeau, Director of Special Projects, Galvanize, Inc., announced a USD 300,000 annual award to youth innovators of data applications for farming communities. The project focuses on small farmers and seeks to address the problems they are facing due to various factors such as climate change. It believes that access of data and information regarding change

Christopher Flensborg, Head of Climate and Sustainable Financial Solutions, SEB, announced that SEB will launch a Himalayan Consensus Renewable Energy and Water Conservation Fund in 2017. This would only be possible with the help of people on the ground to reach projects and ensure that there is presence, ownership and conservation.

Himalayan Consensus Secretary General Sujeev Shakya is now undertaking field work in Mekong River states of Laos and Cambodia. The Mekong River has its source from the glaciers of the Himalayas. The initiative is to bring Mekong states into the Himalayan Consensus as participants. Sujeev Shakya in recording studio at Cambodia’s most popular English language show with Sok Siphana, 

Ambica Shresta, Himalayan Consensus Executive Board, and pioneer of historical conservation and preservation in Nepal as founder of the Dwarikas group of heritage hotels, announced the Himalayan Consensus Summit 2017 at the Summit Hotel in Kathmandu this past November. It was a memorable evening attended by many ambassadors and executives of civil society organisations. Ambica announced the themes of this year's Summit focusing on renewable and efficient energy solutions, water resource conservation, community empowerment and the prevention of conflict.

In 2016 the China Social Responsibility Award was given to the work of Himalayan Consensus for its advising of the ecological civilization policy of China which is promoting renewable and efficient energy systems as national policy.

The national geographic air and water conservation fund awarded the Searching for Shangri-la expeditions as the millennial expeditions and their contribution in evolving the concept of Himalayan Consensus which has advised China on its ecological civilization policies. The award was applied to an educational project of a multimedia installation exhibition,

Himalayan Consensus was invited to present its view of how Buddhist values of compassionate capital and conscientious consumption can be applied in building models for social enterprise environmental protection. Prime minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay, received Himalayan Consensus founding director Laurence Brahm, who has personally invited the prime minister to be the keynote speaker at the Himalayan Consensus summit, 2017.

The pontifical Council for Peace and Justice recognized the Himalayan Consensus as the most successful social enterprise model in 2016. Held at the Vatican Impact Investment Conference.

Himalayan Consensus founding director Laurence Brahm presented the Himalayan Consensus Model was invited on behalf of The Himalayan consensus to join the pope for mass, 

The oldest tantric temple in Patan, Kathmandu was severely damaged during the 2015 earthquake. Himalayan Consensus raised funds for its restoration. The intention was to revive one temple and in turn spark an entire restoration effort in the community. This has succeeded with the entire 'bahal" or courtyard around the temple now under full restoration, creating local jobs and preserving heritage and traditional craft knowledge. The Suleman Temple was unveiled at a ceremony presided over by the community Hindu priest for Himalayan Consensus Board members and speakers at the first Himalayan Consensus Summit. The unveiling of the restored temple occurred on March 17, 2016, just within one year of the earthquake's devastating damage and was the opening event of the Summit.

Sujeev Shakya, founder of Nepal Economic Forum and Himalayan Consensus Executive Board has been a leader in organizing volunteers and youth organizations in the post earthquake relief effort in Nepal. Sujeev explains, "We have been trying to through our not-for-profit focus on just one village at Sindhupalchowk comprising of 560 households with 2500+ people and see how we can contribute to bringing their lives back to normal working with communities." 

A defining motivation for the Himalaya-Third pole Circle is to introduce to the region the remarkably constructive and positive experience of the way in which collaboration evolved in the Arctic

"ADOPT A TEMPLE" FUNDRAISER SUCCESS!

On June 12, 2015 a Himalayan Consensus fundraiser "Adopt a Temple" was held at Hong Kong's swanky Kee Club to raise funds as a kick-off for a program of temple restoration in Kathmandu Valley. Special thanks Christian Rhomberg, Chairman of Kee Club and Stilvino who sponsored the selection of wines that evening. 

Nepal’s temples have been devastated by the series of earthquakes that rocked Nepal this spring has destroyed key heritage icons and religious sites. Rebuilding these temples is about community empowerment, craft and artisan revival, employment and identity, all core themes of Himalayan Consensus.

EARTHQUAKE IN NEPAL: 25TH APRIL 2015

2015-05-05

Dear Friends,

Thank you very much for your concern and good wishes since the devastating earthquake that occurred in Nepal on 25th April 2015. We have received an overwhelming number of emails, phone calls and messages, and are are deeply touched by your concern and eagerness to help. It has given us a great deal of strength and comfort in the past 10 days.