GIKIP Launched

The Global Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation Partnership (GIKIP) was launched in New York on 26 September. This advocacy group aims to give a voice to indigenous knowledge (IK) and grassroots innovation and will bring the attention of global audiences to IK cases that demonstrate tangible outcomes. Dr Mashelkar, the President of the GRA is a founder member of this group.

Dr Benjamin Mkapa, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania is the convenor and chairperson of the group and its founding members include former presidents Martti Ahtisaari of Finland, Mary Robinson of Ireland, Abdul Kalam of India and James Wolfensohn of the World Bank. Other members are Nobel Laureate Prof Wangari Maathai, and former director-general of the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation, Mr Walter Fust