ISLAMABAD, Oct 14 (APP): On Monday, Faisal Mueen Qamer, the Country Focal Person for Pakistan and Team Lead for Integrated River Basin Management at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), announced that the Adaptation Fund has approved $10 million in climate financing for the Centre’s nature-based initiative. This funding aims to restore the Indus River, which is experiencing severe impacts from climate change.
Qamer highlighted that this funding comes at a crucial time. The World Meteorological Organization has reported that 2023 marks the driest year for global rivers in three decades. This situation raises concerns for the Indus River, one of the largest rivers in the world, which sustains 90 percent of Pakistan’s population and drives three-quarters of its economy.
“Climate change is already threatening water availability in the Indus Basin, which jeopardizes our progress in reducing poverty and achieving inclusive development,” Qamer explained in a video message to APP. “That’s why ICIMOD has collaborated closely for the past 12 months with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, UN Women, and UNICEF to structure this proposal.”
He emphasized that the $10 million project, titled Sustainable Actions for Ecosystems Restoration in Pakistan (SAFER), will enhance Pakistan’s resilience to climate-driven challenges. Qamer noted that the Centre aims to protect those most at risk, particularly women, children, and youth, who suffered greatly during the 2022 floods.
Qamer identified three main reasons for ICIMOD’s strong interest in this project. First, it builds upon decades of infrastructure investments in the Indus Basin while introducing a fresh nature-based approach. This approach focuses on springs, groundwater recharge, ecosystem-based wetlands, and wastewater treatment, aligning perfectly with the Living Indus Initiative and ensuring that ICIMOD’s expertise supports the national efforts led by the Ministry of Climate Change.
Second, he highlighted the uniqueness of this partnership. ICIMOD will collaborate closely with UNICEF and UN Women for the first time, leveraging their strong connections with local communities and proven track record in water sanitation and health. “This collaboration is vital for delivering sustainable solutions,” he added. “This approval marks a significant step forward in adaptation finance. Our major report, Water, Ice, Society, Ecosystem in the Hindu Kush Himalaya, shows that this region faces serious climate shocks. We urgently need to increase funding to help communities that are already at their limits for adaptation.”
Qamer noted that the Adaptation Fund stands as one of the world’s key mechanisms for climate finance. “We take pride in successfully navigating this process to ensure that the funding reaches the communities that need it most,” he said.
The SAFER project, led by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MOCCEC), with ICIMOD acting as the regional implementing entity, will introduce key inclusive strategies to enhance integrated and adaptive water resource management in the Indus River. The project will focus particularly on nature-based solutions (NbS) and interventions designed to increase the participation of women, youth, and children.
SAFER will address the risks posed by climate shocks by leveraging the expertise of its executing partners, including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and UN Women, who specialize in humanitarian and developmental aid.
The project specifically targets the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector, aiming to build resilience in communities that are disproportionately affected by climate-induced crises, particularly women, children, and youth.
Designed to align with national plans and strategies, SAFER supports Pakistan’s National Adaptation Plan and the Living Indus Initiative, which promote nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation to protect, conserve, and restore natural ecosystems in the Basin.
Over the next three and a half years, SAFER will launch in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh, establishing community-based early warning systems in hazard-risk zones, nature-based spring-water recharge systems in water-stressed communities, groundwater recharge facilities, climate-resilient water infrastructure, ecosystem-based wetlands, and wastewater treatment facilities. The project will also rehabilitate water ponds to reduce surface wastewater and implement capacity-building programs to empower women and youth in climate adaptation and disaster management.
“We’re thrilled to see this project move forward, as it aligns perfectly with the Pakistani government’s priorities in addressing climate challenges and strengthening resilience against increasing climate-related disasters,” said Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination.
