Mission

The IFMGA is the international umbrella federation for mountain guide associations. 

The IFMGA governs the profession of mountain guiding internationally for our member associations by: 

  • developing and maintaining standards of practice that drive consistency in the mountain guiding profession for our members 
  • developing and maintaining a model code of professional conduct and ethics for mountain guides for ourmembers 
  • facilitating information exchange and fellowship among our member associations and their members 
  • holding member associations accountable to our mandatory training standards 
  • promoting reciprocity of access among member associations 
  • supporting the development of each national mountain guide association, that is member of the IFMGA 
  • actively representing the interests of the mountain guides to national and international authorities and media

Responsibilities to IFMGA Stakeholders

The Public

  • Setting the standards for training of mountain guides who manage risk for their clients
  • Providing a visible and transparent process by which mountain guides are certified
  • Providing information on the mountain guiding profession as requested

Our Member Associations

  • Coordinating the formation of new national associations, provided that there is currently no national association representing the IFMGA
  • Facilitating entry of national associations into the IFMGA, provided no other association already represents the nation within the IFMGA
  • Determining forour member associations mandatory international training standards
  • Facilitating and promoting cooperation and synergies among our member associations

The Mountain Guides

  • Setting the standards for the professional practice and behavior of mountain guides
  • Providing services and assistance
  • Promoting cooperation and collegiality

The Authorities

  • Advocating for the mountain guiding profession with government agencies
  • Providing mountaineering safety and technical consultation

The Media

  • Providing information on the standards and practice of mountain guiding, mountaineering and safety as requested

Our Competitors

  • Protecting the IFMGA brand and recognition
  • Providing clarity on the training and capability of IFMGA mountain guides
  • Cooperation for the benefit of the public

Principles of Conduct

  • The IFMGA understands and aligns itselfwith mountain guides and their professional interests
  • The IFMGA maintains the traditional values of the profession
  • The IFMGA strengthens our traditional values with strategies to help our profession adapt and maintain relevance in a changing world
  • The IFMGA represents itselfand our profession to all stakeholders with honor and integrity
  • The IFMGA strives to support unity of our respective mountain guide associations within their respective countries
  • The IFMGA requires our member associations to adhere to our IFMGA Code of Professional Practice