KATHMANDU, APRIL 5
Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) and International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) agreed to work jointly for the betterment of Mountains and mountain environment.
An MoU (memorandum of understanding) was signed on Tuesday to this effect. President of NMA Santa Bir Lama and Director General of ICIMOD Pema Gyamtsho signed the MoU amid a function organized at ICIMOD office Lalitpur.
General Secretary Kul Bahadur Gurung, Secretary Tikaram Gurung, Secretariat Members Mr. Vinaya Shakya, Dipendra Pandey, Singi Lama, Shiva Bahadur Sapkota and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kul Prasad Rai were also present at the ceremony on behalf of NMA.
Strategic cooperation director of ICIMOD Basanta Shrestha, Dr Arun Bhakta Shrestha and other staff were also present in the MoU signing ceremony on behalf of ICIMOD.
Both the organizations will discuss further to finalize specific planning. However, the organizations have finalized the five broad potential areas for collaboration.
Promotion of International Mountain Museum, Organizing the programs of mutual interest jointly, project development for capacity building and technology transfer, Knowledge development and exchange of information and policy advocacy, coordination, networking and communication are the potential areas identified for collaboration. CEO Mr. Rai and Dr. Shrestha are deputed as focal persons to discuss the further planning.
NMA president Lama expressed his gratitude towards DG Gyamtsho and ICIMOD staff for the cooperation.
''We are very much thankful towards the DG Gyamtsho and ICIMOD family for creating an opportunity of working together for the betterment of Nepali mountains and mountain environment'', President Lama said, ''We are hopeful that this signing will be beneficials to all of us. This is the 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. Because, I know that the NMA is the custodian of the Nepali mountains and the right organization to collaborate with in this issue.''
CEO Rai and Dr Shrestha had briefed the ceremony regarding the possible working strategies. CEO Rai and Dr Shrestha will discuss the issues and areas of working and will prepare Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) with the budget.
CEO Rai said, ''We will focus on advocacy regarding the issues related to the mountains. We will work for the mutual benefits.''
Dr Shrestha also emphasized on the importance of advocacy. ''This is a nice moment for all of us. We were waiting for this moment for the long'', Dr Shrestha said, ''We want to make people understand the situation and issues of mountains.''
