NMA & ICIMOD tie up for strategic partnership

Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) and International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) have agreed to work jointly for the betterment of mountains and mountain environment.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Tuesday between the two organizations. The President of NMA, Mr Santa Bir Lama, and the Director General (DG) of ICIMOD, Mr Pema Gyamtsho, signed the MoU at a function organized at the ICIMOD office in Lalitpur.

General Secretary Kul Bahadur Gurung, Secretary Tikaram Gurung, Secretariat Members Vinaya Shakya, Dipendra Pandey, Singi Lama, Shiva Bahadur Sapkota and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kul Prasad Rai were present at the ceremony on behalf of NMA.

The Strategic cooperation director of ICIMOD, Basanta Shrestha, Dr. Arun Bhakta Shrestha and other ICIMOD staff members were also present..

While there will be further discussions between the two organizations, five broad potential areas for collaboration have been finalized already:

1) Promotion of the International Mountain Museum,

2) Organizing the programs of mutual interest jointly,

3) Project development for capacity building and technology transfer,

4) Knowledge development and exchange of information, and

5) Policy advocacy, coordination, networking and communication

CEO Rai and Dr. Shrestha are deputed as focal persons to discuss the further plans.

NMA president Lama expressed his gratitudes towards DG Gyamtsho and the ICIMOD staff for the cooperation.

‘‘We are very much thankful towards the DG, Mr. Gyamtsho, and the ICIMOD family for creating an opportunity of working together for the betterment of the Nepali mountains and environment,” President Mr. Lama said. ‘‘We are hopeful that this signing will be beneficial to all of us. This is a moment of pride. I want to assure ICIMOD that NMA will remain honest to this MoU.’’

DG Gyamtsho also said that ICIMOD will remain committed to the MoU.

‘‘We don’t need any scientific proof to see the mountains melting and affecting us adversely. So, we are trying to raise the issue nationally and internationally,’’ said DG Gyamtsho. ‘‘I believe that our collaboration will be fruitful in achieving our goals. I know that the NMA is the custodian of the Nepali mountains and the right organization to collaborate with.’’

CEO Rai and Dr Shrestha had briefed the ceremony regarding the possible working strategies. They will also be discussing the issues and areas of working and will prepare an Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) with the budget allocated.

CEO Rai said, ‘‘We will focus on advocacy regarding the issues related to the mountains. We will work for mutual benefits.’’

Dr Shrestha also emphasized the importance of advocacy. ‘‘This is a nice moment for all of us. We were waiting for this moment for so long,” Dr. Shrestha said. ‘‘We want to make people understand the situation and issues of mountains.’’