Alternatives International (AlterInter) and the International Secretariat for Water (ISW), two international organizations (IOs), each with vast networks recognized worldwide, are banking on Montréal to expand their activities.

Montréal’s enviable reputation as a city open to the world is due in part to the 40 NGOs active in international cooperation, which is likely one of the reasons that AlterInter’s Secretariat chose Montréal as its home base. The organization’s founding members from Brazil, Canada, France, India, Israel, Morocco, Niger, South Africa and the Palestinian Territories decided to join forces in order to develop initiatives that will contribute to the attainment of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals.

For its part, the ISW, which was established in Montréal in 1991, is now undergoing a significant strategic expansion. A world-renowned leader in major international forums, the ISW was created to implement the four principles embodied in the Montréal Charter on Drinking Water and Sanitation, which was adopted in 1990. Backed by a board of directors from 12 countries, the ISW coordinates a network of international partners dedicated to the development of local resources. The ISW itself actively collaborates with other international cooperation organizations in various field interventions.