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How to Join the Belmont Forum

The Belmont Forum is a global partnership of funding and research organizations committed to advancing transdisciplinary, solutions-oriented global environmental change research. Members and partners collaborate to develop and deliver multilateral funding opportunities—called Collaborative Research Actions (CRAs)—promote open data best practice, and support capacity-building efforts.

There are several ways to join the Belmont Forum:

Belmont Forum Members

Belmont Forum Members are funding organizations that contribute to the governance and strategic direction of the Forum. They can propose new CRA themes, allocate resources to CRAs, and participate fully in decision-making processes.

Membership benefits include:

Full voting rights
Participation in all plenary and closed sessions
Eligibility to propose and lead CRAs
Opportunity to serve on the Steering Committee or as Co-Chair

To be considered for membership, an organization must:

Contribute either $25,300 USD or an in-kind equivalent annually to support the Secretariat.

Appoint a principal representative to serve as the main point of contact for Forum activities.

Participate in at least one Collaborative Research Action (CRA)

Organizations that meet these criteria must submit a letter of interest on organizational letterhead to the Secretariat, signed by an authorized representative responsible for partnerships. The Secretariat will review the submission, confirm compliance with the requirements, and share the organization’s interest with the current Belmont Forum membership.

At the annual plenary meeting, existing members vote on new membership applications. Upon approval, the organization will sign a non-legally binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining the terms of engagement with the Forum.

Belmont Forum Partners

For organizations that are not funding agencies but wish to collaborate closely with the Forum, a partnership pathway is available. Partners help shape the Forum’s agenda around funding strategies, training, and open data but do not hold voting rights.

Partnership privileges include:

Invitation to all plenary meetings

Collaborative involvement in Forum programs and initiatives

Interested organizations must submit a letter of interest on organizational letterhead to the Secretariat, signed by an authorized representative. The letter should outline areas of mutual interest and potential contributions to Forum activities.

The Steering Committee reviews all partnership applications to ensure alignment with the Forum’s mission and objectives. Approved applications are presented for a vote at the annual plenary meeting.

Note: This partnership in this context refers to formal recognition as a Belmont Forum Partner. Organizations may also join specific CRAs as funding or resource-providing partners by participating in the Group of Program Coordinators.

Other Ways to Collaborate

Beyond formal membership or partnership, organizations can engage with the Belmont Forum through a variety of collaboration opportunities, including:

Advancing Leadership Program

Capacity Development or Training Activities

Coordination Activities/Grants

Task and Finish Teams

Sponsorship of the Sustainability Research and Innovation (SRI) Congress

To learn more about joining the Belmont Forum or exploring partnership options, please contact: