The Mountain Partnership is a United Nations voluntary alliance of partners dedicated to improving the lives of mountain peoples and protecting mountain environments around the world. Founded in 2002, the Mountain Partnership addresses the challenges facing mountain regions by tapping the wealth and diversity of resources, knowledge, information and expertise, for and between its members, in order to stimulate concrete initiatives at all levels that will ensure improved quality of life and environments in the world’s mountain regions. Currently more than 250 governments, intergovernmental organizations, major groups (e.g. civil society, NGOs and the private sector) and subnational authorities and members.

In December 2015 the University of Denver-Western Colorado Master Social Work program was welcomed as a member of the Mountain Partnership for the next four years.

Their Mission and Vision are:

Our vision:

Mountain Partnership members envision a world with increasing public and private sector attention, commitment, engagement, and investments in sustainable mountain development that:

 · maintain and enhance the conservation, health, vitality and stewardship of mountain ecosystems for their inherent value and for the mutual benefit of mountain communities and those who live in the larger geographic regions which include mountains;

 · improve the social and economic well-being and livelihoods of, and opportunities for, both mountain peoples – particularly the most vulnerable – and those who live in the larger geographic regions which include mountains; and

 · empower and enable mountain peoples to be fully engaged in the decision-making processes that determine the future of mountain communities and ecosystems, particularly in light of global change and globalization processes.

Our mission:

The Mountain Partnership is a vibrant voluntary alliance of governments and organizations committed to working together with the common goal of achieving sustainable mountain development around the world. By tapping the wealth and diversity of knowledge, information, and expertise of and between its global membership, the Mountain Partnership stimulates concrete initiatives at all levels to address threats, improve quality of life and sustain healthy environments in the world’s mountain regions.