HFF 2026

The second edition of the Himalayan Future Forum (HFF) was held on 6-7 February in Lalitpur, Nepal, convening policymakers, entrepreneurs, community leaders, researchers, and students from across the Himalayan region and beyond to examine the intertwined themes of climate, community, and connectivity.

On 6 February, participants explored the region’s most pressing challenges and emerging opportunities through eight thematic sessions during an international conference featuring 32 speakers, including 12 international speakers.

The programme opened with a high-level session of keynote speakers that mapped key opportunities and obstacles and set out a shared vision for cooperation among governments, the private sector, and local communities. Veronique Lorenzo, EU Ambassador to Nepal, emphasised that the Himalayan region is central to global cooperation, particularly as climate vulnerability, migration, and connectivity intersect with security and geopolitical stability concerns.

Ambassador Lorenzo called for inclusive partnerships, informed governance, and sustainable investment to turn shared risks into shared opportunities for peace and prosperity. She noted, “Himalayas matter, not because they're vulnerable, but because they're central, central to climate security, to human security, and increasingly central to regional stability.”

Mahendra P. Lama, a senior professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, underscored that the Himalayan region, caught in a “triple triangular trap” of marginalisation, vulnerability, and knowledge exclusion, must revive and uplift community stewardship and resilience practices. He also noted the need to transform hard borders into cooperative soft border corridors, and leverage technology, community knowledge, and cross-border connectivity for future development.

Meanwhile, Mahendra Krishna Shrestha, Board Member of the Nepal Economic Forum and Chair of Himalayan Everest Insurance (HEI) spoke of the increased climate risks in the Himalayan region and emphasised the importance of cross-border risk sharing.

Throughout the day, sessions addressed a wide spectrum of topics through panel discussions and presentations. In ‘Unlocking the Carbon Market,’ discussions examined Nepal’s evolving carbon market and the potential of high-integrity carbon projects to deliver climate, environmental, and community benefits, while also addressing the regulatory, legal, and operational challenges that must be overcome to unlock meaningful private sector engagement.

Following this, in the panel discussion on ‘Himalayan Disasters: Adaptation and Mitigation,’ speakers discussed strategies to adapt to and mitigate increasingly frequent floods, landslides, and glacial lake outburst floods, emphasising the need to strengthen resilience, anticipatory action, and long-term risk reduction in fragile mountain ecosystems through better data, infrastructure, and community-based approaches.

On the other hand, in his session titled ‘Climbing the Technology Hill,’ Nitin Pai, director of the Takshashila Institute in India, highlighted the deep governance, economic, and social challenges posed by rapid technological change, asking what it means for Himalayan societies to “climb the technology hill” and remain competitive and inclusive in an information-driven world.

In the session right after lunch, titled ‘Why People Move,’ discussants explored why people move within and beyond the region, moving beyond purely economic explanations to consider social, cultural, and climate-related drivers of migration. They also reflected on how policies can better respond to growing mobility, including the challenges of brain drain and the opportunities for more strategic diaspora engagement.

Moving from the topic of migration, the session ‘Taking Himalayan Brands Global’ examined how Himalayan brands can position themselves in global markets, focusing on storytelling, branding, and market access as tools to translate local products into globally recognised identities that benefit mountain communities.

Another panel, titled ‘Digital Futures for Himalayan Languages,’ turned to digital tools and emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications as a means to preserve and revitalise the region’s endangered languages, particularly focusing on Nepal Bhasa, raising critical questions of sustainability, ethics, and long-term support for community-led language initiatives.

The Forum then concluded with a high-level dialogue on ‘Geopolitics and the Himalayas,’ reflecting on shifting global power dynamics, the security and economic implications for Himalayan countries, and the prospects for enhanced regional cooperation to address shared risks and advance collective interests across the region.

Reflecting on the event, Binija Nepal of GIZ remarked, “I truly saw Himalayan countries unite to tackle climate change, share learnings, connect communities, and create lasting sustainable impact, with the HFF team making it a success.”

Beyond the sessions, youth engagement remained a cornerstone of HFF 2026. Following a competitive selection process, 25 Youth Fellows from Nepal, India, and Bangladesh joined the Forum. Among them, 15 will receive scholarships for public policy coursework at the Takshashila Institute.

While the conference on day 1 discussed issues and opportunities facing the Himalayan region, on 7 February, the Himalayan Haat at the International Club in Sanepa showcased 16 selected companies whose locally made products, from felt handicrafts and hemp clothing to artisanal chocolates, skincare, tea, and artistic merchandise, demonstrated creative, locally-led entrepreneurship aligned with HFF’s core principles.

Looking ahead, the Himalayan Future Forum is establishing a permanent secretariat to sustain and scale its work through regular dialogues, flagship events, and collaborative regional programs and projects.

In a rapidly evolving geopolitical context, regional cooperation and sustained dialogue are more critical than ever. As a people-to-people platform, HFF plays a central role in fostering mutual understanding, trust, and cross-border collaboration across the Himalayan region. The Forum is now actively seeking strategic partnerships to advance its shared vision of climate, connectivity, and community.