African Highlands Initiative

The African Highlands Initiative (AHI) is a collaborative research initiative focusing on key natural resource management and agricultural productivity issues in the highlands of East and Central Africa. AHI was started by The Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) in 1995, is hosted by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), and has contributions from many research organisations.

As a partner of Mountain Forum, AHI hosts African Mountain Forum in Kampala, Uganda. As AHI is itself hosted by ICRAF, this arrangement provides a strong institutional linkage between Mountain Forum and ICRAF.

Visit the AHI website: http://www.africanhighlands.org/

The Banff Centre

The Banff Centre is a globally respected arts, cultural, and educational institution and conference facility. The Banff Centre is a catalyst for creativity for institutional and managerial approaches in holding conferences and events. The Banff Centre alumni create, produce and perform works of art all over the world, take leadership roles in leading institutions, organisations and businesses, and play a significant role in promoting cultural, social, intellectual and economic well-being, and in the preservation of the environment.

As a partner of Mountain Forum, Mountain Culture at the Banff Centre in Canada hosts North American Mountain Forum (NAMF).

Visit The Banff Centre website: http://www.banffcentre.ca

Bellanet

Bellanet promotes and facilitates effective collaboration within the international community, especially through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). It aims to support effective development practices by sharing its expertise in information and communication technologies by endorsing its skills and best practices in facilitating organisational learning and sharing knowledge. While Bellanet does not offer grants or loans, it delivers its programme through three main Program Lines: Online Communities, Knowledge Sharing and Open Development. These three programmes represent the key approaches to building institutional and individual collaboration skills and maximising the potential of ICTs to support collaborative development work.

As a partner of Mountain Forum, Bellanet has been providing its services and resources by hosting Mountain Forum discussion lists and their archives.

Visit the Bellanet website: http://www.bellanet.org

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) leads international efforts to address global hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy. FAO is also a source of knowledge and information. It helps developing countries and countries in transition modernise and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices and ensure good nutrition for all.

FAO has been designated as the lead UN agency for Agenda 21, Chapter 13. FAO and Mountain Forum have worked together as partners with the New York launch of the International Year of Mountains (IYM) in December 2001, notably in the organisation of side events, coordinating speakers, information, and outreach. Mountain Forum has also participated in FAOs Inter-Agency Ad Hoc Mountain Group since 1994.

Visit the FAO website: http://www.fao.org

Fundacio Territori i Paisatge

The Fundacio Territori i Paisatge (FTiP), created by the Caixa Catalunya Social Work in 1997, aims to build cooperation between institutions in the preservation of natural heritage and landscapes, and creating awareness among people to protect their environment.

FTiP promotes Mountain Forum activities in the Mediterranean region.

Visit the FTiP website: http://obrasocial.caixacatalunya.es/osocial/main.html?idioma=3

Global Mountain Program

in 1997 the CGIAR launched the Global Mountain Program (GMP), appointing the International Potato Center (CIP) as convenor of the system-wide initiative. GMP activities include creating or improving existing strategic alliances; developing and/or adapting tools and methods to generate information on ecology, natural resource potential, and socioeconomic activities; empowering mountain inhabitants through the training of local professionals in the use of new tools and methods; and systematising eroding indigenous knowledge to preserve them for future generations.

As a key partner of Mountain Forum, GMP supports African Mountain Forum, along with being deeply involved in all its activities and the development of joint projects.

Visit the GMP website: http://www.cipotato.org/gmp/

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

The primary objectives of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) are to help promote the development of an economically and environmentally sound mountain ecosystem to improve the living standards of mountain people, especially in the Himalayan Hindu-Kush region. Being the first international organisation to make a commitment to improve the living conditions of mountain inhabitants in a sustainable way, its mandate is focused at the interface between research and development and the organisation as a facilitator for generating new mountain-specific knowledge of relevance to mountain development. ICIMOD was established in 1984 following an agreement between His Majesty's Government of Nepal and UNESCO in September 1981. The mission of the organisation is to develop and provide integrated and innovative solutions, in cooperation with regional and international partners, which foster action and change for overcoming mountain people's economic, social and physical vulnerability.

As a partner of Mountain Forum, ICIMOD is the host institution of Asia-Pacific Mountain Forum (APMN) as well as the Mountain Forum Secretariat.

Visit the ICIMOD website: http://www.icimod.org

International Potato Center

The International Potato Center (known worldwide by its Spanish acronym, CIP) seeks to reduce poverty and achieve food security on a sustained basis in developing countries through scientific research and related activities on potato, sweet potato, and other root and tuber crops. Its work is also focused on improving management of natural resources in the Andes and other mountain areas. CIP is part of the global agricultural research network known as the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). CIP's contribution to CGIAR activities include research in areas of commodities such as potato, sweet potato, and Andean root, tuber crops and ecoregions in the Andes.

As a partner of Mountain Forum, the International Potato Center (CIP) in Peru hosts InfoAndina, which is the Latin American node of Mountain Forum.

Visit the CIP website: http://www.cipotato.org

The Mountain Institute

The Mountain Institute (TMI) is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to conservation, community development, and cultural preservation in the Andes, Appalachian, Himalayas, and other mountain ranges around the world. TMIs mission is to preserve mountain cultures and the environment of mountain people. Founded in 1972, TMI is based in Washington, D.C., and has offices and community-based programmes in the Andean, Appalachian and Himalayan mountain ranges, partnering with local people to strengthen their communities and to conserve their natural resources and cultural heritage.

TMI was previously the host of what was then called the Global Information Server Node (GISN) of Mountain Forum, an office which provided the global networking and information services for Mountain Forum members as well as for supporting regions that do not have regional networks. After the merging of GISN services with the secretariat in October 2003, these services are currently provided by the information services staff at the Mountain Forum Secretariat in Kathmandu, Nepal. However, links of Mountain Forum with TMI remain close, with TMI now functioning as the North America liaison office for Mountain Forum. The CEO - President of TMI is a board member of Mountain Forum.

Visit the TMI website: http://www.mountain.org

Mountain Partnership

The Mountain Partnership is a voluntary alliance of partners dedicated to improving the lives of mountain people and protecting mountain environments around the world. Launched at the World Summit for Sustainable Development in 2002 to further implement Chapter 13 of Agenda 21 of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and Paragraph 42 of the Plan of Implementation of WSSD, the Mountain Partnership taps the wealth and diversity of resources, information, knowledge, and expertise of its members and partners to support positive change in mountain areas. A secretariat supports the functioning of the Mountain Partnership, which also acts as a central reference point for networking and liaison. The Mountain Partnership Secretariat is hosted at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN in Rome, Italy.

Mountain Forum and the Mountain Partnership Secretariat work closely together to ensure that there is no replication of effort and utilisation of resources is maximised. Apart from its involvement at that level, Mountain Forum is specifically involved with the Mountain Partnership Secretariat in the design and delivery of key information and communication services to members of the Mountain Partnership.

Visit the Mountain Partnership website: http://www.mountainpartnership.org

Mountain Research and Development

Mountain Research and Development (MRD) is the leading interdisciplinary and development-oriented journal specifically devoted to the world's mountain regions. It is a major platform of communication on mountains, emphasising both research and development, and also including sections devoted to exchanges of experience among institutions and individuals. Mountain Research and Development is published by the International Mountain Society (IMS) and the United Nations University (UNU).

Mountain Forum and MRD have deep synergies in terms of the missions of the two organisations. Contributions from members of Mountain Forum and news about Mountain Forum activities are regularly published in MRD, and Mountain Forum members are notified when each issue is published. Mountain Forum members in developing countries are encouraged to apply to the MRD editorial office for free institutional subscriptions.

Visit the MRD website: http://www.mrd-journal.org

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is part of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Its mandate is based on the Federal Law on International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid enacted on 19 March 19, 1976, and on a federal decree of March 24, 1995, on cooperation with the countries of Eastern Europe. SDC is managed and funded by the Swiss government and operates by financing programmes both directly and in partnership with other agencies in countries around the world.

SDC has been a long time supporter of the mountain agenda and of Mountain Forum in particular. As a close partner of Mountain Forum, SDC has been providing its services and resources to expand the activities of Mountain Forum to effectively support sustainable mountain development.

Visit the SDC website: http://www.sdc.admin.ch

World Agroforestry Centre

The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) - founded in 1978 - has invigorated the ancient practice of growing trees on farms, using innovative science for development to transform lives and landscapes. Its research focuses on four global themes: Land and people, Environmental services, Strengthening institutions and Trees & Markets. The Centres headquarters are based in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, with regional centres throughout the developing world in more than 20 countries across Africa, Asia and South America.

As a partner of Mountain Forum, The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in Uganda hosts African Mountain Forum through the African Highlands Initiative (AHI).

Visit the ICRAF website: http://www.worldagroforestry.org