The Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) process identifies a country’s development priorities. These are derived from ongoing policies, programmes and projects, long-term vision documents as well as strategies for climate change mitigation and adaptation already in place. These development priorities are used along with climate mitigation and adaptation criteria for identifying highest priority (sub) sectors, and for prioritising technologies for mitigation and adaptation within these (sub) sectors.

Mountains occupy 24% of the global land surface area and are home to 12% of the world’s population. About 10% of the world’s population depends directly on mountain resources for their livelihoods and wellbeing, and an estimated 40% depends indirectly on mountain resources for water, hydroelectricity, timber, biodiversity and niche products, mineral resources, flood control, and recreation (Schild 2008). Yet despite this important contribution, mountains are still marginalised in the development agenda, and the importance of mountain ecosystem services is not properly recognised.