GRP/ICIMOD Hindu Kush Himalaya Innovation Challenge for Entrepreneurs

The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, known as the “Third Pole,” sustains life for over 240 million people in the mountains and 1.65 billion downstream. With its rich biodiversity and vital ecosystems, the region is home to the world’s largest ice reserves outside of the polar regions and supports Asia’s major food-producing river systems. However, the region faces severe challenges, including climate change, ecosystem degradation, and water scarcity, which threaten its agricultural systems, tourism, and overall resilience. There is a significant gap in climate finance to address these issues, and local entrepreneurs lack the resources needed to drive green and resilient innovations.

This initiative, supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is designed to mobilise local innovation and entrepreneurship, driving scalable solutions that address ecological, market, and value chain challenges across the region.

HKH-ICE seeks to empower entrepreneurs from Bhutan, Bangladesh (Chittagong Hill Tracts only), India (Himalayan states only), and Nepal to develop innovative, climate-resilient solutions in the agriculture, water security, and sustainable tourism sectors. The challenge will support initiatives that leverage the region’s untapped potential for sustainable economic growth and environmental conservation while addressing the urgent need for climate adaptation and resilience.

Focus areas

• They are looking for innovative, scalable solutions that enhance resilience for communities and ecosystems across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region. Initiatives can focus on:
  • Resilient Agriculture Innovations for Nature: Supporting agricultural entrepreneurs to tackle climate impacts on mountain agriculture, enhance biodiversity, and create market linkages for niche products and non-timber forest products (NTFPs).
  • Water Security and Resilience: Developing innovations that address water scarcity, improve water services, and mitigate the effects of glacial melt, urbanisation, and demographic change.
  • Climate-Resilient Solutions for Sustainable Tourism: Creating new models of sustainable tourism that benefit local communities while preserving the delicate balance of mountain ecosystems.

Benefits

• Winners will receive tailored mentoring, leadership development, communications, and resource mobilisation support. Additionally, they will receive prizes ranging from USD 5,000 to 25,000 to further develop and scale their solutions. Shortlisted applicants will also benefit from a leadership academy and capacity-strengthening initiatives with regional and global experts.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible an application must meet the following criteria:
  • The solution must contribute to building climate resilience in the most vulnerable communities and ecosystems within the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region.
  • The Challenge is open to for-profit organisations only.
  • Be located in the HKH region, specifically Bhutan, Bangladesh (Chittagong Hill tract only), India (Himalayan states only), and Nepal.
  • The team has proven experience implementing innovative business solutions for resilience in mountain ecosystems and communities in the Hindu Kush Himalaya.
  • Gender, equity, human rights and biodiversity considerations are included.
  • The solution does no harm (i.e., has no negative impacts on communities or ecosystems it is designed to build resilience in).
• GRP and ICIMOD will notify all applicants about the results of the assessment phase. Non-selected ideas may still be considered for alternative promotion within the GRP and ICIMOD network (e.g., matchmaking with other partners better suited for supporting them).

For more information, visit GRP.