TWG purpose, significance and role in HUC
Thematic working groups (TWGs) are member-led, self-funded and self-organizing clusters, to operate on a resource-sharing basis. The TWGs endeavor to collaborate on regional research and transboundary projects, joint publications and knowledge depository, sharing and dissemination. The groups provide scientific inputs to communities, policy makers, researchers and professionals through better understanding of the complex mountain processes, tackling challenges, and contributing to Sustainable Mountain Development (SMD) in the HKH.
They serve to foster issues-based cooperation within networks that are focused but flexible enough to respond quickly to topical HKH issues. They form an enabling framework for development of HUC education and research providing an optimal structure for increasing the knowledge generation and sharing across the HKH.
HUC full and associate members with strong track records in SMD education and research are expected to provide assistance in capacity building to members with lesser capacity. Thematic Working Groups are envisioned to play an important role in this process.
TWGs also contribute to the HUC’s strategy for fostering regional collaboration on research, education and training among academic and research institutions as well as scholars and to make HUC a vibrant South-South-North consortium. Thematic areas for joint research cover Climate Change, Cryosphere, Glaciers, Water Resources, Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services, Rangeland Management, Mountain Hazards, Disasters and Resilience, Mountain Livelihoods, Cultural Heritage, etc.
Priority will be given to interdisciplinary research that focus on transboundary issues or upstream-downstream/ highland-lowland linkages as well as gender transformative change and social inclusiveness in sustainable mountain development.
