Civil Society Division

Indigenous Peoples

"UNDP is committed to creating space at the local, regional, national and international level to ensure that local and indigenous voices are heard, that they inform policy making, and that they are acted upon" according to UNDPs Associate Administrator, Ad Melkert, in his address to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on May 22, 2009.

With its access to Governments – its principal partners – UNDP has an important role to play in facilitating dialogue with and advancing the concerns of indigenous peoples, who are often the most marginalized populations in society.

In 2001, UNDP adopted UNDP and Indigenous Peoples: A Policy of Engagement (2001), UNDP believes that ensuring the engagement of indigenous peoples and their organizations is critical in preventing and resolving conflict, enhancing democratic governance, reducing poverty and sustainably managing the environment.

UNDP’s engagement with indigenous peoples has received fresh impetus with the historic adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on 13 September 2007. The United Nations Development Group (UNDG) has developed the UNDG Guidelines on Indigenous Peoples' Issues (Spanish) with the purpose to assist the UN system to mainstream and integrate indigenous peoples' issues in processes and activities.

Projects & Initiatives

UNDP's engagement with indigenous peoples at the country level is extensive and includes initiatives that focus on multiple issues from poverty reduction to sustainable development.

Highlights & Resources UNDPs report to the Eight Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (2009) The report outlines activities undertaken by UNDP over the last years that are relevant to the work of the Permanent Forum. UNDP and Indigenous Peoples - Fast Facts English | Spanish A quick overview of UNDPs engagement with Indigenous Peoples Kemal Dervis on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples A statement from the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme UN-REDD Programme The UN-REDD Programme promotes sustainable management of forests so that countries and communities can benefit from them, while also contributing to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Short Film: Perspectives on Climate Change A 13-minute film about indigenous perspectives on climate change, filmed at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 2008. Short Film: The Baka Peoples of East Cameroon The Baka use cameras provided by UNDP the GEF program to document climate change's adverse effects on their forests. Short Film: Indigenous Paraguayans & Food Security The Mbaya Guaraní of Paraguay work with UNDP to diversify their crops. More resources

UN-RIPP
The Regional Initiative on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Development (RIPP) was launched in 2004. This initiative facilitates cooperations between Governments, UNDP Country Offices and indigenous peoples' organizations. It aims to develop the capacity of Government officials and representatives of indigenous peoples' organizations to integrate indigenous peoples' rights into national policy and strategies. Click here for the March 2009 newsletter from RIPP.

The regional initiative has completed its first phase of activities between 2004-2007; it will continue its work in the Asia-Pacific region from 2008-2011. During this phase, RIPP will strive to address indigenous issues at the regional level to ensure better integration in national development processes and outcomes, with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples providing guiding principles for its work, together with UNDPs policy of engagement. Learn more...

UN-REDD Programme
The United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD) is a collaboration between FAO, UNDP and UNEP. Read the UN-REDD Programme Rules of Procedure and Operational guidance

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) agenda item on “Reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries and approaches to stimulate action” was first introduced at the Conference of the Parties (COP11) in December 2005 by the governments of Papua New Guinea and Costa Rica, supported by eight other Parties. The aim is to generate the requisite transfer flow of resources to significantly reduce global emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. The immediate goal is to assess whether carefully structured payment structures and capacity support can create the incentives to ensure actual, lasting, achievable, reliable and measurable emission reductions while maintaining and improving the other ecosystem services forests provide. Learn more...

Small Grants Programme
The Global Environment Facility's Small Grants Programme aims to deliver global environmental benefits in the GEF Focal Areas of biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, protection of international waters, prevention of land degradation (primarily desertification and deforestation), and elimination of persistent organic pollutants through community-based approaches. Learn more...

The Equator Initiative
The Equator Initiative is a partnership that brings together the United Nations, civil society, business, governments and communities to help build the capacity and raise the profile of grassroots efforts to reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Learn more...

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Partners

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
UNDP has been integrally involved in the work of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, since its inception in July, 2000. UNDP has taken the lead on many issues raised by the Permanent Forum, including the disaggregation and usage of data on indigenous populations and the principle of free, prior and informed consent vis-a-vis development issues. UNDPs report to the Eight Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is out (advanced unedited version). It provides details of activities, projects and programmes undertaken by UNDP over the last years and in 2008 that are relevant to the work of the Permanent Forum.

View the Fact Sheet "Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous Voices" issued by the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (May 2009)

Learn more on the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

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