International Mountaineering and Climbing Association (UIAA)
The UIAA unites 80 organizations in 50 countries with about 1.3 million individual members. The UIAA was founded in Chamonix, France in 1932 and is now headquartered in Bern, Switzerland. It represents the interests of rock climbers, ice climbers, skyrunners, mountaineers and mountain enthusiasts. A shared love for the mountains connects the members of both the UIAA and the IFMGA. The two associations have been collaborating in a loose way for many years and support each other on specific topics.
Union of International Mountain Leader Associations (UIMLA)
The UIMLA was founded in November 2004 in France. UIMLA is the umbrella organization for 24 national associations of mountain leaders. Mountain leaders differ from mountain guides in that mountain leaders are qualified to lead treks in all mountain environments except glaciated terrain, permanent snowfields, and places where ropes are required. Those environments necessitate the techniques of alpinism that fall under the mountain guiding profession. The UIMLA’s training for certified mountain leaders meets IFMGA standards. The UIMLA and IFMGA are the only acknowledged worldwide umbrella associations that certify mountain leaders and mountain guides internationally.
International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR)
The ICAR is an independent, worldwide organization based in Kloten, Switzerland and founded in 1948. ICAR serves as the global exchange platform for mountain rescue know-how. In close collaboration with mountain rescuers and rescue equipment manufacturers, ICAR enhances the global knowledge base on mountain rescue in support of people who have experienced an accident in the mountains. Members of the IFMGA participate periodically in ICAR courses. Some national mountain guides associations are members of ICAR.
International Knowledgebase for Best Practices in Mountain Safety
The association MountainSafety.info includes the associative members International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations (IFMGA) and the scientific member SLF/WSL Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research. The NATO Center of Excellence of Mountain Warfare is an institutional affiliate. The International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) is in collaboration with MountainSafety.info. The project has been initiated by Manuel Genswein and has evolved together with the "Best Practice in Avalanche Rescue" pioneer workgroup.
The Zero Water Day Partnership, ZWDP is a non-governmental organization registered in Hannover, Germany. ZWDP is a member of the Mountain Partnership, which is a United Nations voluntary alliance of partners dedicated to improving the lives of mountain peoples and protecting mountain environments around the world. ZWDP is also a member of the Mountain Partnership Secretariat scientific committee.
ZWDP has a focus on policy and advocacy for planetary health and sustainable lives and livelihoods working with partners at global and local levels. A core ZWDP strategy is capacity building through whole schools, whole community approaches using mountains and glaciers as visual indicator for the health of our planet and by extension our own health.
ZWDP is supporting IFMGA policy work on sustainable mountain guiding and advocacy at COP Climate Change Conferences.
The Mountain Partnership is a 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 resources, knowledge, information and expertise within its global membership, the MP engages in advocacy and stimulates concrete initiatives at all levels to address threats, improve quality of life and sustain healthy environments in the world’s mountain regions.
