The International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation is an independent intergovernmental organization established in 1997 to develop and promote innovative solutions to poverty and environmental sustainability using bamboo and rattan.
History
INBAR evolved from an informal network of bamboo and rattan researchers set up in 1984 by the International Development Research Centre of Canada. The name "International Network for Bamboo and Rattan" was chosen in 1993. Work to launch INBAR as an independent organization started in 1995, and was completed in 1997 when INBAR became an independent organization with its headquarters in Beijing, China. Bangladesh, Canada, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Peru, the Philippines and the United Republic of Tanzania made up INBAR's eight founding members. Since then, INBAR has grown considerably in strength and scope away from a research-only organisation and towards a more action-focused mandate. In November 2016 the name of the organisation was changed to International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation to reflect this change.
Membership and structure
Membership of INBAR is open to member states of the United Nations and to intergovernmental organizations. INBAR currently has 46 Member States. INBAR's supreme governing body is its Council of representatives of its Member States, which meets biennially. The Board of Trustees, made up of appointed experts from relevant fields from many countries, is the second tier of governance, and develops appropriate policies, oversees management and ensures efficient operations at its annual meetings. The Director General is a member of the Board of Trustees and is responsible for day-to-day running of the organization. The current Director General is Ambassador Ali Mchumo. INBAR's Headquarters is in Beijing, China and it has regional offices in South Asia, Central Africa, East Africa, West Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean. INBAR is managed by its Executive Management team, which comprises the Director General, Deputy Director General, Treasurer, and the Directors of Communications and Outreach, Membership Affairs, and Global Programme.
INBAR publishes a wide range of publications on bamboo and rattan., including: * * * * * * INBAR also publishes a series of fact sheets for the general public about issues related to bamboo and rattan. # # # # # #
