International Summer School · April 2026

Summer School on
Climate Responsive
Land Governance

Equipping land professionals for a resilient and climate-secure governance across South Asia and beyond.

21 – 26 April 2026
Dhulikhel, Nepal
6 Days Intensive
Explore Programme ↓
Jointly Organized By
LMTC · Nepal
Landstack · India
ILC · Asia
6
Days of Learning
5
Core Themes
3+
Countries Represented
8+
Partner Organizations
About the Programme

Why Climate Responsive
Land Governance?

This intensive six-day international summer school brings together land governance practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and field experts from across Nepal, India and other countries to explore the intersection of climate change and land governance systems.

As climate change increasingly threatens land tenure security, agricultural productivity, and community resilience — particularly for the most vulnerable populations — there is an urgent need for adaptive and equitable land governance frameworks that can withstand and respond to these pressures.

The programme is hosted at the Caritas Nepal Training Center, Dhulikhel and commences with a formal inauguration in the presence of officials from the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives & Poverty Alleviation (MoLMCPA).

Programme Objectives

  • Build understanding of climate-responsive land governance concepts and frameworks
  • Examine global and regional policy frameworks on land and climate resilience
  • Share case studies and practical experiences from South Asian countries
  • Explore tools, technologies, and innovations for sustainable land management
  • Develop action plans for climate-responsive approaches in participants' contexts
  • Foster a regional network of practitioners committed to climate-responsive land governance
Core Themes

Five Pillars of the Programme

Each day of the school is anchored to a core theme, building from foundational concepts to practical action.

1

Climate Risks & Land Governance in South Asia

Understanding how climate risks interact with land tenure, land use, and governance systems. Exploring regional trends, vulnerabilities, and the rationale for integrating climate action into land policy.

2

Policy & Institutional Frameworks

Reviewing global frameworks including SDGs, Fit for Purpose Land Administration (FFP), FELA, and LGAF and their application in South Asian contexts and beyond.

3

Tools & Techniques for Climate Responsive Land Governance

Exploring GeoICT, GIS technologies, land information systems, and innovative tools being applied to improve land governance under climate stress, with case studies from Nepal and the region.

4

Social Dimension

Examining gender responsiveness, pro-poor approaches, community stewardship, and participatory planning in the face of climate-driven land degradation.

5

Action Planning & Way Forward

Synthesizing learning into actionable plans. Group presentations, panel discussions on transboundary impacts, and commitment to implementing climate-responsive land governance.

Programme Schedule

Day-by-Day Agenda

Six intensive days of sessions, case studies, field visit, and collaborative planning — 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM daily.

Day 1 — 21 April 2026

Theme: Climate Risks and Land Governance in South Asia

9:00 – 10:15Session 1Formal Opening and Welcome — MoLMCPA guests, partners, stakeholders and guests
10:15 – 10:45☕ Tea Break
10:45 – 12:00Session 2Why Learning Climate Responsive Land Governance — Introduction, Mapping Expectations
12:00 – 12:15☕ Tea Break
12:15 – 13:30Session 3Land Use – Land Tenure – Climate Nexus
13:30 – 14:30🍽 Lunch Break
14:30 – 15:45Session 4Land Governance: Concept, Approaches, Trends
15:45 – 16:15☕ Tea Break
16:15 – 17:30Session 5Impacts of Climate Change and Action on Land and Rationale for Climate Responsive Land Governance
The summer school commences with a formal inauguration at LMTC, Dhulikhel. Morning sessions establish the conceptual framework; afternoon sessions dive into the land use-tenure-climate nexus and examine global trends and impacts of climate change on land.

Day 2 — 22 April 2026

Theme: Policy & Institutional Frameworks

9:00 – 10:15Session 1Global Frameworks on Land Policy and Governance — SDG, FFP, FELA, LGAF
10:15 – 10:45☕ Tea Break
10:45 – 12:00Session 2Land Administration in South Asia
12:00 – 12:15☕ Tea Break
12:15 – 13:30Session 3Addressing Informality through Land Issues Resolving Commission: Case of Nepal
13:30 – 14:30🍽 Lunch Break
14:30 – 15:45Session 4Sharing Cases from the Participants: South Asian Context (I)
15:45 – 16:15☕ Tea Break
16:15 – 17:30Session 5Informal Land Markets and Valuation Challenges in Climate-Vulnerable Areas
Day 2 examines policy and institutional frameworks shaping land governance across South Asia. A special session on Nepal's Land Issues Resolving Commission offers a practical case study in addressing informality within a climate-vulnerable context.

Day 3 — 23 April 2026

Theme: Tools & Techniques for Climate Responsive Land Governance

9:00 – 10:15Session 1Sustainable Land Management and Resilient Agriculture Practice — Case Study by UN-Habitat/CSRC/MoLMCPA in Dang
10:15 – 10:45☕ Tea Break
10:45 – 12:00Session 2Application of GeoICT in Land Governance
12:00 – 12:15☕ Tea Break
12:15 – 13:30Session 3Technology (IT/GIS) Innovations for Climate Resilience: Case Study
13:30 – 14:30🍽 Lunch Break
14:30 – 15:45Session 4Sharing Cases from the Participants: South Asian Context (II)
15:45 – 16:15☕ Tea Break
16:15 – 17:30Session 5Innovative Tools and Technology for Sustainable Land Management — Case from Roshi River Basin, Panauti, Kavre, Nepal
A hands-on day focused on practical tools for land governance practitioners. Sessions cover GeoICT applications, GIS-based innovations, and real-world case studies from Nepal's Dang and Roshi river basin areas.

Day 4 — 24 April 2026

🚌 Field Visit — Melamchi Valley, Sindhupalchok

Field Visit: Melamchi Valley

The Melamchi Valley field visit is a cornerstone of this summer school — an opportunity to directly observe the intersection of climate change and land governance challenges in a real-world setting.

Melamchi, located in Sindhupalchok district, experienced catastrophic flooding in 2021 that dramatically reshaped land use patterns, displaced communities, and exposed critical vulnerabilities in land tenure systems.

Topics explored on-site include: post-disaster land governance, community-level responses to climate-induced displacement, rehabilitation and land rights restoration, and integration of traditional and formal land governance systems.

  • Departure: 7:00 AM from workshop venue
  • Transportation: Chartered bus provided for all participants
  • Lunch: Provided on-site
  • Recommended: Comfortable walking shoes and outdoor clothing
  • Return to Dhulikhel: Approximately 5:30 PM
  • Coordination: Jagat Deuja and Ram Kumar Sapkota will lead all field activities

Day 5 — 25 April 2026

Theme: Social Dimension

9:00 – 10:15Session 1Learning from the Field Visit — Land Degradation and Impact on Livelihood
10:15 – 10:45☕ Tea Break
10:45 – 12:00Session 2Pro-poor and Gender Responsive Land Governance in the Context of Climate Change
12:00 – 12:15☕ Tea Break
12:15 – 13:30Session 3Community Stewardship as a Climate Action
13:30 – 14:30🍽 Lunch Break
14:30 – 15:45Session 4Participatory and Risk Sensitive Land Use Planning
15:45 – 16:15☕ Tea Break
16:15 – 17:30Session 5Renewable Energy, Carbon Market and Land Nexus: Case Study
Day 5 brings the human dimension to the forefront with dedicated sessions on gender-responsive and pro-poor land governance, community stewardship, participatory planning, and the emerging nexus between renewable energy, carbon markets, and land rights.

Day 6 — 26 April 2026

Theme: Action Planning & Way Forward · Closing Ceremony

9:00 – 10:15Session 1Land Administration — Practices, Debates and Key Learning from Various Cases in South Asia
10:15 – 10:45☕ Tea Break
10:45 – 12:00Session 2Tenure Due Diligence as a Tool for Tenure-just Land Use Transition
12:00 – 12:15☕ Tea Break
12:15 – 13:30Session 3 (Panel)Transboundary Impact of Climate Change on Land Governance and Way Forward
13:30 – 14:30🍽 Lunch Break
14:30 – 15:45Session 4Group Work and Presentations — Develop and Present a Plan of Action to Mitigate Climate Change Impact on Land
15:45 – 16:15☕ Tea Break
16:15 – 17:30Session 5🎓 Closing Ceremony and Certificate Distribution — MoLMCPA guests, partners, stakeholders and guests
The final day synthesizes the week's learning into forward-looking action, culminating in group action plan presentations and a formal closing ceremony with certificate distribution jointly issued by the organizing partners.
Who Should Attend

Targeted Participants

The school is designed for a diverse cohort of professionals working at the intersection of land, climate, and development.

🏛️

Government Officials

Land administration, urban/rural planning & climate policy

🤝

Civil Society & NGOs

Engaged in land rights and climate resilience

🔬

Researchers & Academics

Focused on land tenure and governance

🌍

Development Practitioners

From international organizations

📊

Private Sector

Involved in land markets and valuation

Cross-Cutting Issues

Woven Into Every Session

⚧ Gender Equity

Ensuring women's land rights and gender-responsive approaches are central to all discussions and frameworks.

🌱 Inclusion

Addressing the needs of marginalized and vulnerable communities facing the frontline of climate-driven land challenges.

🤝 Regional Cooperation

Building transboundary networks for coordinated climate action and shared learning across South Asia.

Topics at a Glance

What You Will Learn

🗺 Land Governance
  • Land Use – Tenure – Climate Nexus
  • Land Administration in South Asia
  • Informal Land Markets & Valuation
  • Tenure Due Diligence
  • Land Issues Resolving Commission
📋 Policy & Frameworks
  • SDGs & Land Policy
  • Fit for Purpose Land Administration
  • FELA & LGAF Frameworks
  • Global Frameworks & South Asia
  • Pro-poor Gender Responsive Policy
🛰 Technology & Tools
  • GeoICT in Land Governance
  • GIS & IT Innovations
  • Remote Sensing Applications
  • Digital Land Records
  • Roshi River Basin Case Study
👥 Social & Community
  • Community Stewardship & Climate
  • Gender-responsive Land Governance
  • Participatory Land Use Planning
  • Land Degradation & Livelihoods
  • Carbon Market & Land Nexus
Organizing Partners

Who's Behind the Programme

A collaborative partnership of leading organizations committed to advancing land governance and climate resilience in South Asia.

Organizing Partner · Nepal
Land Management Training Center (LMTC)

Nepal's premier institution for land management and geomatics education under the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation. Since 1968, LMTC has produced more than 13,000 land professionals at different levels. Certified ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management in 2022.

Organizing Partner · India
Landstack

Committed to advancing sustainable, inclusive, and just land governance serving communities, economies, and ecosystems worldwide. Landstack integrates technology, innovative research, and collaborative partnerships to drive policy analysis, capacity building, and cross-sector initiatives with a focus on gender equity and climate action.

Organizing Partner · Regional
International Land Coalition – Asia

A regional platform of the ILC — a global alliance of over 320 member organizations from 197+ countries committed to people-centred land governance. ILC Asia is a network of 64 civil society organisations in 15 countries advancing secure land rights for people who live on and from land.

Supporting Partners

Community Self Reliance Centre (CSRC) Nepal UN-Habitat Nepal Habitat for Humanity Nepal Kathmandu University (KU) University of Melbourne Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs (MAFRA), Republic of Korea Caritas Nepal
Practical Information

Venue, Schedule & Logistics

📍 Venue & Dates

  • Dates 21 – 26 April 2026
  • Venue Caritas Nepal Training Center, Dhulikhel, Nepal
  • Daily Hours 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
  • Field Visit 24 April 2026 — Melamchi Valley
  • Language English

🎒 What to Bring

  • Notebook and writing materials
  • Laptop or tablet (recommended)
  • Casual outdoor wear for field visit
  • Business/smart casual for sessions
  • Personal medications if needed
  • Business cards for networking

🕘 Daily Programme Structure

9:00 – 10:15
Morning plenary or technical session
10:15 – 10:45
☕ Tea Break — networking
10:45 – 12:00
Thematic deep-dive or case study
12:15 – 13:30
Presentations or panel discussion
13:30 – 14:30
🍽 Lunch — provided at venue
14:30 – 15:45
Participant sharing or group work
16:15 – 17:30
Closing session of the day

🎓 Certificate of Participation

All participants who attend the full six-day summer school will receive an official Certificate of Participation, awarded at the closing ceremony on 26 April 2026. Certificates are jointly issued by the three organizing partners: LMTC Nepal, Landstack India, and ILC-Asia.