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International Partnership For Sustainable Development In Mountain Regions
Guiding Principles
As approved by the Members of the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions, commonly known as 'the Mountain Partnership', in preparation for their first global meeting in Merano, Italy, 5-6 October 2003
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
For more than a decade the international community and the United Nations have increasingly focussed attention on improving livelihoods and environmental conditions in mountain regions throughout the world through the implementation of Chapter 13 of Agenda 21: "Managing Fragile Ecosystems - Sustainable Mountain Development".
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2002 as the International Year of Mountains to increase awareness of the urgent need to protect the world's mountain ecosystems and to improve the well-being of mountain people.
The importance of mountains and mountain ecosystems was strengthened by the launch of the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions (herein after referred to as "the Mountain Partnership") at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) Johannesburg, September 2002. The Partnership is a 'Type II' outcome of the Summit, and it aims at fostering the implementation of paragraph 42 of the WSSD Plan of Implementation, requiring actions at all levels to protect mountain environments and support mountain livelihoods through the integration of environmental, economic and social components of sustainable mountain development.
The Mountain Partnership is formally defined by its basic concept paper (herein after referred to as the "Bali Document"), which was discussed and finalized by interested parties during the preparatory process for the WSSD.
At the end of 2002, the significance of mountains was further recognized in UNGA Resolution for the International Year of Mountains (A/RES/57/245). The UNGA Resolution also took note of the Bishkek Global Mountain Platform, a framework for future action for sustainable mountain development, which was issued at the Bishkek Global Mountain Summit (November 2002), the culminating event of the International Year of Mountains.
The initiators of the Mountain Partnership (the Government of Switzerland, FAO, UNEP), as well as the Government of Italy and the Mountain Forum, have since begun a process to pursue the further development of the Partnership. This iterative process has so far included a series of key steps in 2003, including: two meetings in Switzerland, an e-consultation moderated by the Mountain Forum, open to all members of the Mountain Partnership, a side event on the occasion of CSD-11 in New York, as well as the preparatory process for the first global meeting of the members of the Mountain Partnership in Merano, Italy.
OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGY
In accordance with the general goals as defined in the Bali Document, the Mountain Partnership is a voluntary alliance of national governments, intergovernmental organizations, local and regional authorities, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, the academic community and other major group representatives who are working together to "improve livelihoods, conservation and stewardship throughout the world's mountain landscapes". The goals and priority areas are those listed in paragraph 42 of the WSSD Plan of Implementation.
The Mountain Partnership will encourage and promote concrete initiatives and alliances, e.g. in the form of participatory programmes and projects, at global, national and local level which protect mountain ecosystems, safeguard social and cultural traditions and address chronic poverty in mountain regions. An important principle in this context will be to make full use of already existing relevant networks and institutions and to learn and benefit from their experience with a view to promoting synergies, effectiveness and efficiency.
The Mountain Partnership will also contribute to the definition and implementation of policies based on an adequate assessment of natural and cultural resources of mountain populations and support the institutional capacities related to mountain ecosytems. It could also consider other themes like, e.g. mountains as a source of recreation and inspiration, sustainable energy production and use, reducing vulnerability to natural disasters, traditional knowledge and scientific research. Given the transboundary character of many mountain areas, it will be essential to link local, national and global efforts for long-term sustainable development.
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS
As stated in the Bali Document, the Mountain Partnership is conceived as an umbrella alliance under which all partners can enter into specific initiatives according to their interest, competence and willingness. These initiatives constitute the building blocks of the Mountain Partnership and provide its concrete substance.
The Mountain Partnership will serve as a mechanism for networking, communication and information sharing and function as a clearing house for members. It will also complement, support and strengthen on-going initiatives in sustainable mountain development.
The Mountain Partnership will function as a broker for joint initiatives, facilitating contacts between countries and institutions in view of joint activities and creating conditions for cooperation and resource mobilization at the national, regional and global level.
The Mountain Partnership will forge linkages with existing multilateral instruments such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) and other relevant instruments.
The Bali Document stipulates that the Mountain Partnership ought to have a common, easily accessible networking point (herein after referred to as "the Secretariat"). The Secretariat of the Mountain Partnership will help to link existing activities in mountain development and foster synergies and complementarities to promote closer collaboration, avoid duplication and achieve greater coherence and better results in terms of sustainable development. It will however not coordinate the actions of the members nor assign specific tasks and responsibilities to members.
The Secretariat will also be responsible for reporting to the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD).
The Secretariat of the Mountain Partnership will be hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and financed through voluntary contributions. It will be multi-stakeholder in composition. Its main tasks will be to provide communication services, knowledge management and brokering functions, acting as networking point and liaison office for partners.
During an interim period ending in 2004, a temporary arrangement to provide secretariat services has been established at FAO, with inputs provided by FAO, UNEP and the Mountain Forum. During this phase, it will assess the needs of the members. At the end of this interim period the work, structure and organization of the Secretariat will be reviewed and refined in a longer-term perspective.
GOVERNANCE
The Mountain Partnership is an evolving and flexible network of parties committed to working together. Its innovative nature as an umbrella partnership means that it does not require a complex governance mechanism. However, there is a need to guide the Mountain Partnership by a simple governance structure to accommodate stakeholders' interests and concerns and to ensure the legitimacy and transparency of decision-making.
The future governance of the Mountain Partnership will be based on principles, such as: democratic participation of all members; transparency and accountability; responsiveness; effectiveness; and efficiency.
The governance structure of the Mountain Partnership will be further defined through a consultative process open to all members.
MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA AND COMMITMENTS
Membership of the Mountain Partnership is open to all governments, including local and regional authorities, intergovernmental and other organizations whose objectives and activities are consistent with the vision and mission of the Mountain Partnership, and who fulfill the criteria for membership.
The criteria for membership of the Mountain Partnership include:
- Endorsement of the general principles and goals of the Mountain Partnership;
- Involvement in sustainable mountain development;
- Institutional establishment, with some level of stability in terms of funding and organizational long-term viability;
- Capacity to fulfil the membership roles and responsibilities, as defined by the Mountain Partnership. Members of the Mountain Partnership will be expected to fulfill the following core roles and responsibilities:
- Initiating and participating in collaborative activities with other partners;
- Contributing to the Mountain Partnership activities by sharing information and knowledge through various channels, such as: providing links to the Mountain Partnership Web site; contributing success stories, case studies and/or lessons learned to the Mountain Partnership knowledge base; participating in virtual discussions and electronic conferences;
- Attending and contributing to Mountain Partnership meetings and events, wherever possible.
Rights and obligations of members of the Partnership will be further reviewed during the inception period and if necessary refined.
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