On 17-18 October 2005, a meeting was organized by the SARD-M Project Regional Focal Point at ICIMOD to develop proposals for the SARD-M policy assessments that are to be conducted in China (Sichuan), India (Sikkim), and Nepal the Hindu Kush-Himalayas. The meeting, which took place at ICIMOD headquarters, was attended by the lead consultants who will be carrying out assessments in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas, other ICIMOD policy experts, and a representative from the SARD-M Team.

The purpose of this technical meeting was to clarify the nature and expectations of the SARD-M policy assessments and develop proposals for each of the above mentioned countries. The meeting allowed for an in-depth discussion regarding the question of selecting entry points for the assessments and ensuring that the final analysis takes into consideration cross-sectoral and rural development issues. The TORs of the consultants were also finalized at the end of this meeting.