Strategies for Development and Food Security in Mountainous Areas of Central Asia PAPER 8: INTERREGIONAL VILLAGES ALLIANCES: A BOTTOM UP APPROACH FOR MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT

The question we wanted to address in this paper is: “To what extent and with what effects has the technology exchange become the instrument of AGOCA / CAMP in empowering those at the “bottom ” to develop their mountain communities?” It is important to draw a distinction between the Central Asian Mountain Partnership Program (CAMP) and AGOCA (Alliance of Mountain Communities of Central Asia) which together make a dynamic, living, and evolving organism that enhances the development of remote rural communities. CAMP is a Swiss developmental program centered on the development of mountain communities that is constantly innovating, improving, and partnering with broader implementation agencies through networking and communication at community level, bridging communication gaps between communities, state organizations, science and businesses. AGOCA is the Alliance of Mountain Communities of Central Asia, a non-profit association of legal entities consisting of public and territorial self-governance organizations of Central Asia