CGIAR and partners launch Scaling Hub South Asia in Nepal with major commitments to strengthen water and agrifood security

Nepal’s push to secure reliable and year-round irrigation and resilient food systems received a major boost today with the launch of the Scaling Hub South Asia.

CGIAR

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Lalitpur, Nepal: - 11 December 2025 - Nepal’s push to secure reliable and year-round irrigation and resilient food systems received a major boost today with the launch of the Scaling Hub South Asia. This new multi-sector platform is designed to accelerate proven agricultural, water and energy innovations to scale as the world tackles climate change and other global crises. The Hub was launched during the Strategic Partner Dialogue, where Dr. Madan Prasad Pariyar, Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.

Led by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) under CGIAR’s Scaling for Impact program, the Scaling Hub brings together government agencies, businesses, research institutions, universities, financing actors, development partners, CSOs and private sector actors from South Asia to close the gap between innovation and impact at scale.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Bank, more than 500 million people in South Asia depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Scaling proven innovations is therefore essential to strengthening regional food and water security.

The Hub will ensure farmers, governments and institutions across South Asia to reliably access the innovations, knowledge and financing needed to modernise irrigation, strengthen climate resilience, boost agricultural productivity and empower women, youth and smallholder farmers.

Despite its centrality to agriculture, irrigation in Nepal remains unreliable for many farmers. Climate change is intensifying droughts, while floods and water variability are all raising urgency for collaborative solutions.

At the launch, Government  partners - Department of Water Resources and Irrigation (DWRI) and Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC)- pledged to advance irrigation modernization, groundwater management, digital advisory tools, clean energy,  climate-resilient technologies and new financing models to strengthen water, energy and food security for all.

Government officials also signalled strong intent to work through the Scaling Hub to expand digital tracking systems, clean energy technologies and improve service provision.

“As Nepal advances irrigation modernization, groundwater management and climate-resilient water infrastructure, evidence-based scaling of innovations is critical to achieving these national goals,” noted Mr. Basudev Timilsina, Deputy Director General of Nepal’s DWRI, while universities – Universal Engineering and Science College and East West University pledged to bridge research with field realities and develop the next generation of agriculture and water leaders.

Private-sector partner- Nepal Investment Mega Bank (NIMB), the first GCF accredited bank in Nepal pledged to invest in business models that help farmers adopt technology sustainably. Ms. Khusbu Thapa, Head of Green Unit affirmed the bank’s commitment to integrating scientific evidence through the co-leaning in the Hub into its climate investment planning and to exploring co-financing and blended-finance opportunities to turn present challenges into opportunities.

Dr. Qianggong Zhang, the Head of Climate and Environment Risks, at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), a knowledge partner of IWMI,  stressed on the need for cooperation and said, “No single institution alone can address accelerating climate and environmental risks in the region. Concerted efforts, through the Scaling Hub South Asia ensure that innovations, pilots and investments do not remain fragmented but evolve into meaningful and lasting solutions that can transform livelihoods, landscapes and economies.”

The Scaling Hub provides a structured space to align incentives across sectors, to ensure measurable outcomes and to maintain a strong focus on long-term adoption. It will also be supported by CGIAR centres, including International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT).

The Hub will begin co-designing joint activities with partners in early 2026 and will function alongside scaling hubs in South Africa and Latin America. Together, these hubs will form an ecosystem to interlink science, innovation, policy and investment to deliver sustainable impacts.