The World Bank asked IEED to assess stakeholder views on a possible Global Forest Partnership. We asked 15 key questions on objectives, possible partners, possible activies, governance and funding. IIED consulted widely on the World Bank's idea of a Global Forest Partnership. More than 600 forest experts responded to IIED's survey or participated in focus groups in Brazil, China, Ghana, Guyana, India, Russia and Mozambique, as well as at international meetings. A majority agreed a new partnership was needed to protect forests and forest-based livelihoods, but pointed out ways it should diverge from the bank's initial idea if it is to really serve local needs on an equitable basis with the rapidly changing global forestry agenda. IIED also reviewed more than 50 existing initiatives to identify the proposed alliance's potential partners and the gaps it could fill.