Background

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the Mountain Forum are proposing to hold an international meeting 'Celebrating Mountain Women' in Kathmandu, Nepal May 28-31, 2002. Various development stakeholders will come together to share the problems and progress of mountain women. Most importantly, the meeting will be a "pinnacle" event in a process, in which mountain women's networks will grow, strengthen, and contribute to more sensitive polices and practices that empower mountain women and communities, in innovative ways.

Activities will be planned around five theme areas: (i) natural resources and environment; (ii) health and well being; (iii) entrepreneurship; (iv) legal, political and human rights; and (v) culture and indigenous knowledge. These will be highlighted in the framework of research, policy, practices through various presentations, songs, stories, theatre, videos, etc.

As part of the effort to collect, present and disseminate state-of-knowledge regarding mountain women's situation, there is a need to identify strategic points where this information exists and in what form (written, anecdotal). To identify what exists and the gaps in information, there is a need for a compilation of databases around the proposed 5 thematic areas.

Terms of Reference

The terms of reference would include, but not be limited to:

(a) Compiling gender information and related studies from agencies, organizations from all available databases;

(b) Categorizing the information into thematic areas, i.e.:

• Natural resources and environment
• Health and well being
• Entrepreneurship
• Legal, political and human rights
• Culture and indigenous knowledge

(d) Examining and identifying gaps in current information;

Proposed Output

1. A detailed database by thematic thrust including abstracts and identified sources

2. Inventory of gaps in information by thematic thrust