Call For Expression Of Interest (EOI) On Restructuring The AIPP Secretariat

 Call For Expression Of Interest (EOI) On Restructuring The AIPP Secretariat

Deadline for Submission of EoI: 31 May 2026

A.    Background:

The Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) was formally established in 1992, with its Secretariat based in Thailand, following a 1988 resolution by a group of Asian Indigenous Peoples. AIPP acts as the forum and mechanism for building and strengthening the solidarity and cooperation of Indigenous Peoples in Asia for the promotion and protection of the rights of Indigenous Peoples, particularly their right to self-determination, promoting and defending the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Asia, including rights to their land, territories, and resources.

AIPP has 46 members from 14 countries in Asia, including 18 Indigenous Peoples’ country-level alliances across four sub-regions (South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Mekong). There are sixteen ethnic-based organizations, six Indigenous Women’s Organizations, four Indigenous youths’ organizations, and one organization of Indigenous Persons with Disabilities.

Over the past three decades, AIPP has successfully built a cohesive regional movement of Indigenous Peoples in Asia. Its membership has steadily expanded, supported by seven thematic programmes and six coordinated regional networks and forums focusing on Indigenous Peoples’ human rights defenders, Indigenous knowledge, women, land, media, and youth. Through these, AIPP addresses key issues affecting Indigenous Peoples in Asia by promoting capacity building, advocacy and lobbying, organizational strengthening, movement building, and networking. The key programmes and networks of AIPP are as follows:

1. Organizational Strengthening and Movement Building (OSMB): The OSMB activities include the conduct of the sub- regional meetings of members, country-level assessment and consultation, the regular meetings of the Executive Council, the strengthening and management of the AIPP secretariat in the day-to-day implementation, coordination, and supervision of the AIPP programmes and activities, and organizational strengthening of members. The OSMB program guides and provides coherence of the overall programs of AIPP at the Secretariat through streamlining, inter-program collaboration and integration, building inter-linkages of projects and thematic issues, such as on women and youth, and movement building.
2. Human Rights Campaign Policy Advocacy Programme (HRCPA): The HRCPA programme activities include the strengthening of Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Defenders Network (IPHRDs) by providing capacity building trainings on the rights of Indigenous Peoples and human rights-violation documentation, and regional and international lobby and advocacy using UN mechanisms, bodies and procedures, ASEAN, international financial institutions, and the guiding principles regarding business and human rights. HRCPA is actively engaged in campaign and community mobilization to address human rights issues and violations, particularly those related to extractive industries, large-scale development projects, economic land concessions, and evictions and displacement.
3. Environment Programme (ENV): This programme addresses the issues relating to climate change, biodiversity, and Indigenous Knowledge promotion and protection. In particular, leadership of Indigenous Peoples in biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation at the community level, sustained global advocacy at the UNFCCC and CBD, and promoting the roles and contributions of Indigenous Peoples including Indigenous Women, Indigenous Youth, and Indigenous Persons with Disabilities in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF) and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change are the major focus of this programme, which is done in partnership with member organizations and the network. The program coordinates a regional network on Indigenous Knowledge known as Indigenous Knowledge and Peoples of Asia (IKPA), established in 2019.
4. Indigenous Women Programme (IWP): This programme provides capacity building to Indigenous Women Organizations and networks to increase their participation and engagement in different levels of advocacy work. It also documents and promotes the roles and contributions of Indigenous Women in climate change and sustainable resource management, among others. The signature publication of IWP is Herstory, published every year. AIPP has adopted its Gender Policy and has produced a gender mainstreaming manual as a guide to the regional secretariat and its members. The program also coordinates the Network of Indigenous Women in Asia (NIWA).
5. Land, Territories and Resource (LTR) Programme: Compared to other programmes, LTR is relatively new, although AIPP has been working on the issues since its inception. LTR gained significant momentum, as one of AIPP programmes, following the 9th AIPP General Assembly, which prioritized land and territorial sovereignty as a long-term strategic direction alongside “Upholding Indigenous Vision and Core Values” and “Advancing Indigenous Self-Governance.” The LTR programme also coordinates the Platform for Asian Indigenous Peoples’ Territorial Rights (PAIPT), a regional network of Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations supported by AIPP and the International Land Coalition Asia (ILC Asia), working to strengthen solidarity on land and territorial rights for Indigenous Peoples.
6. Communication Programme (CP): This involves regularly sharing information with members, contacts, and partners on key developments and issues affecting Indigenous Peoples in Asia through various media channels, including digital platforms. It also includes translating relevant documents, producing informational posters, animations, and video documentaries, and managing the Indigenous Voices in Asia Network (IVAN), as a joint platform of journalists, media practitioners, and Indigenous activists to amplify Indigenous Peoples’ voices. The CP also guides and supports the communication strategies of all programs, including campaign strategies and activities related to thematic issues and human rights cases.
7. Regional Capacity Building (RCB): AIPP, as a regional movement of Indigenous Peoples, believes in the self-organizing capacity of member-organizations (MOs) and Indigenous Communities and that they are the drivers of change in solidarity with vibrant democratic forces, including CSOs, institutions, and individuals. Regional Capacity Building program focuses on strengthening Indigenous Peoples’ movements and communities, more particularly Indigenous Youth, by providing coordination support to the Asia Indigenous Youth Platform (AIYP), while fostering inclusive dialogue with state and non-state actors to bring about meaningful change. The RCB programme also aims to strengthen AIPP’s vertical structure, from local organizations to its governance bodies and secretariat. It ensures that member organizations internalize Indigenous values, so that Indigenous identity is reflected across all aspects of the organization’s activities and priorities.

B.    9^th AIPP General Assembly and Proposal of Secretariat Restructuring

The Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) 9th General Assembly, held from 3rd June to 5th June, 2025, at Chiang Mai, Thailand, adopted its Strategic Plan for 2025-2029 with a long-term strategic direction envisioning “Indigenous Peoples in Asia enjoy the right to self-determination, and to their land, territories and resources, which allows their communities to live a life in dignity, and in accordance with their own culture, customs, and traditions.” Members reaffirmed that restoring these rights requires sustained processes of decolonization, healing, transformation, and collective mobilization, and committed to strengthening Indigenous guardianship over their ancestral land, territories, and resources, ensuring equitable access, secure tenure, and meaningful agency for future generations.

The strategic plan 2025-2029 highlights a 6-strategic-pillar framework: i). Mobilizing AIPP Members and Networks; ii). The Strategic Resource Mobilization; iii). The AIPP School of Participation; iv). The Centers of Excellence in Village Governance; v). The Centers of Defenders; vi). Regional and International Advocacy.

Under the strategic pillar “Mobilizing AIPP Members and Networks,” AIPP intends to strengthen its members and networks’ capacity by keeping them at the central focus to realize its strategic direction at the local, country, regional, and global levels. Under this strategic focus, AIPP will not only focus on consolidating and expanding its membership but also on enhancing the capacity of its members and networks by encouraging their active participation and delegating responsibilities for activities at all levels. It is expected that this approach will foster solidarity among members, thereby strengthening the Indigenous Peoples’ movement in Asia.

To achieve this, the Strategic Plan 2025-2029 proposes restructuring, redirecting, refocusing, and strengthening the work in the secretariat to improve its cooperation and coordination with its members and the Executive Council. To enhance coordination and responsiveness at the local level, the Strategic Plan 2025-2029 also proposes shifting from Programme Theme-based structure to Sub-Regional Teams: East Asia, Southeast Asia, Mekong, and South Asia. It is expected that this restructuring will better address the specific needs and contexts of each sub-region.

C.    Purpose and specific objective of this consultancy service:

1. Purpose: The main purpose of this consultancy is to assess the current organizational structure and develop a concrete strategic proposal for restructuring the AIPP Secretariat, ensuring it is accountable, transparent, responsive, and inclusive to AIPP member organizations, promotes co-responsibility, voluntarism and collective decision making, and aligned with AIPP’s Constitution and By Laws, long-term vision and mission, as well as its Strategic Direction and Strategic Plan (2025–2029).
2. Specific objectives: The specific objectives are:
   • To assess the existing organizational structure and evaluate the extent to which it contributes to achieving AIPP’s vision, mission, and strategic goals;
   • To assess the extent to which decision-making within the Secretariat is collective, participatory, and transparent, and recommend mechanisms for strengthening these principles at every level of the organization;
   • To develop a concrete and culturally appropriate proposal for restructuring the AIPP Secretariat, with a clear organizational structure and transitional plan, to strengthen the Indigenous Peoples’ movement by enhancing collective decision making, co-responsibility, voluntarism, ownership, transparency, and accountability at all levels.

D.    Scope of Works

The consultant will:

1. Review of key documents and frameworks: Conduct a comprehensive review of AIPP Strategic Plan 2021-2025, M&E Framework for 2021-2025 Strategic Plan, Evaluation Report, AIPP’s Strategic Plan (2025–2029), the current organizational structure, existing policies and guidelines including job description, line of authority of all the secretariat members, staff proposal on secretariat restructuring, and programme approaches.
2. Assessment of structural models: Assess the effectiveness of the current thematic programme structure in comparison with the proposed sub-regional model. This will involve analyzing the existing structure’s relevance, efficiency, and responsiveness to members’ needs, as well as its capacity to support coordination, ownership, accountability, and impact at different levels.
3. Analysis of internal systems and processes: Examine existing coordination, communication, and decision-making mechanisms within the Secretariat and across AIPP structures. The consultant will evaluate how information flows, how decisions are made (individually, hierarchically, or collectively), and the extent to which these processes are inclusive, timely, collective, effective, and meaningful.
4. Identification of gaps and challenges: Identify key gaps and bottlenecks in engagement, information flow, and organizational alignment. This includes assessing inconsistencies between different levels of the organization, barriers to participation and decision-making, and areas where systems or processes may be limiting effectiveness.
5. Uphold the FPIC Guiding Principle: Follow AIPP’s commitment to applying the principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), as stipulated in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), throughout the internal restructuring process involving AIPP staff, member organizations, regional networks and forums, and governance bodies.
6. Rightsholders consultations and data collection: Conduct inclusive and participatory consultations using methods such as Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with a wide range of rightsholders, including:
   • AIPP Secretariat staff, to understand internal perspectives, roles, and operational challenges
   • Member organizations at the country and sub-regional levels, to capture their experiences, expectations, and needs
   • Indigenous networks facilitated by AIPP, to assess engagement and support mechanisms
   • Executive Council members, AIPP Foundation Board members, and Programme Committees, to gather strategic and governance-level insights
   • Former EC leaders, including former Secretaries General, to benefit from institutional memory and lessons learned
7. Development of key outputs and recommendations: Based on the findings, the consultant will develop:
   • A diagnostic analysis outlining current strengths, challenges, and opportunities for organizational improvement
   • A proposed Secretariat structure aligned with the sub-regional approach, clearly defining roles, responsibilities, and reporting lines, including power and gender analysis
   • Practical mechanisms to strengthen collaboration, participation, coordination, collective decision-making, transparency, and accountability across all levels
   • A phased transition and implementation plan, including timelines, key milestones, and recommendations to ensure a smooth and effective restructuring process

E.    Tentative Timeline, Tasks & Deliverables

The consultancy runs from 15 June to 15 October 2026.

F.     Deliverables

The consultant will provide:

1. Assessment Report (analysis of current structure and key findings)
2. Secretariat Restructuring Proposal, including:
   • Strategic organizational structure
   • Functional roles and responsibilities
   • Coordination and governance mechanisms
   • Implementation Roadmap, including transition strategy and timelines
3. Final Report, incorporating feedback from AIPP

G.   Payment

Payments will be structured as follows:

1. 30% of the total amount will be paid upon the signing of the contract
2. 50% will be disbursed after the assessment report is submitted
3. The remaining 20% will be paid upon the successful and satisfactory completion of all deliverables as specified in the contract.

H.   Required and Desirable Qualifications

The consultant should have in-depth knowledge and understanding of Indigenous Peoples’ issues and priorities, including activities and diversity of Indigenous Peoples’ organizations in Asia, and practical expertise in Organizational Development (OD).

Additionally, the consultant should have the following qualifications and combined expertise:

1. At least a master’s degree in related fields and/or equivalent work experience.
2. Knowledge and familiarity with Indigenous Peoples’ issues and movement in Asia
3. Proven experience in conducting organizational governance reform-related work, involving Indigenous Peoples’ movements, grassroots, and people’s organizations, and constituency-based platforms.
4. Experienced in organizational development, and gender and power analysis
5. Experienced in facilitating FPIC-aligned consultations.
6. Experienced with consensus-based, collective leadership organizations
7. Experience in, and a thorough understanding of, national, regional, and/or international best practices in organizational governance reform.
8. Solid analytical and conceptual skills and the ability to think creatively.
9. Pro-active, independent, and responsible personality.
10. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
11. Demonstrates sensitivity to the cultures of Indigenous Peoples and shows respect to all rights-holders participating in the consultation.

I.      Application

Interested and qualified candidates can submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) with a detailed work plan and consultancy fee. EoI can be submitted to [email protected], with a subject “Restructuring the AIPP Secretariat” on or before 31 May 2026. The application should include:

• Cover letter
• Proposal including methodology and a work plan specifying the number of days required for each task and deliverable
• Financial proposal
• CV(s) and relevant experience
• Two references to whom the AIPP Secretariat may contact.
• Examples of similar assignments

Indigenous Peoples and women candidates are encouraged to apply. The consultancy is also open to individuals or consultant teams that include at least one Indigenous member.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for the interviews.

Click here to download the EOI for AIPP Secretariat