New York, 22 September 2026 — The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) and the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen collaboration on policy-relevant research, capacity building and knowledge exchange focused on environmental and sustainable development challenges in the Himalayan region.
The five-year agreement, signed by Professor Kaveh Madani, Director of UNU-INWEH, and Ms Anita Arjundas, Executive Director of ATREE, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) in New York City, establishes a framework for the two institutions to work together on initiatives that advance science, policy and practice, drawing on their respective expertise and networks.
The Himalaya is the source of Asia’s major river systems and a global biodiversity hotspot, and its ecological health has consequences that extend far beyond the region. Under the MOU, UNU-INWEH and ATREE will collaborate on the preparation and publication of flagship assessment reports addressing critical environmental, ecological and sustainable development issues relevant to the Himalayan region. ATREE will serve as the Secretariat for the assessment process, including stakeholder engagement and regional consultations, while UNU-INWEH will provide technical leadership in report production and support international dissemination and global outreach.
The two institutions will also develop and jointly deliver in-person and online capacity-building programmes for professionals, researchers and policymakers from the Himalaya and other mountain regions, and will co-develop modular courses and professional credentials through the UNU-INWEH Online Learning Centre.
“The Himalaya is facing complex and interconnected environmental challenges that require strong science, collaboration and informed decision-making,” said Professor Kaveh Madani, Director of UNU-INWEH. “Through this partnership with ATREE, we can bring together regional expertise and global perspectives to advance research, strengthen capacity and translate scientific knowledge into actionable insights for sustainable development across the Himalayan region.”
The collaboration will further seek to mobilize financial and technical resources through partnerships with United Nations agencies, international organizations, governments, foundations and other development partners to support and scale evidence-based regional initiatives.
UNU-INWEH and ATREE also plan to jointly organize policy dialogues and knowledge-exchange activities aimed at strengthening the science-policy interface and elevating Himalayan issues on regional and global platforms.
“The partnership with UNU-IWEH enables the creation of a global platform to advance evidence-based local solutions for a resilient Himalaya. We hope this will catalyse greater visibility, informed investment, and coordinated action for the sustainability of this unique mountain system and its people.” said Ms Anita Arjundas, Executive Director of ATREE.
The agreement builds on shared interests in policy-relevant research and the use of Earth observation science to advance sustainable development policy. The two institutions identified closer cooperation as an opportunity to increase the impact and effectiveness of their respective programmes and accelerate progress toward shared objectives.
About UNU-INWEH
Marking its 30th anniversary of operation in 2026, the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) is one of 13 institutions that make up the United Nations University (UNU), the academic arm of the UN. Known as 'The UN's Think Tank on Water', UNU-INWEH addresses critical water, environmental, and health challenges around the world. Through research, training, capacity development, and knowledge dissemination, the institute contributes to solving pressing global sustainability and human security issues of concern to the UN and its Member States. Headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, UNU-INWEH has been hosted and supported by the Government of Canada since 1996. With a global mandate and extensive partnerships across UN entities, international organizations, and governments, UNU-INWEH leads UNU Hubs in Calgary, Hamburg, New York, Lund and Pretoria.
About ATREE
The Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) is a non-profit environment research institution and think tank based in Bengaluru, India. Established in 1996, ATREE generates rigorous interdisciplinary knowledge for environmental conservation and sustainable socially just development, works to bring that knowledge into policy and practice, and trains the next generation of scholars and leaders through its Academy for Conservation Science and Sustainability Studies. Its work spans biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration, water security, sustainable resource use, livelihoods and human well-being, and climate change mitigation and adaptation, with long-term field programmes across India. The Himalaya Initiative at ATREE is a ten-year program for strengthening the resilience of the Indian Himalayan Region and enhancing the well-being of mountain communities.
MEDIA CONTACT
Marjan Asadullah
Communications Assistant
UNU-INWEH
marjan.asadullah@unu.edu
Jaya Peter
Associate Director - Communications
ATREE
jaya.peter@atree.org
