UNPFII23: Agenda Item 5 (g) – Thematic dialogues: financing of Indigenous Peoples’ work and participation in the context of inter alia, development, climate, environment and biodiversity

Joint Statement to the 23^rd Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)
Statement on Agenda Item 5 (g): Thematic dialogues: financing of Indigenous Peoples’ work and participation in the context of inter alia, development, climate, environment and biodiversity
On the report on “Financing the future: the financial needs of Indigenous Peoples to support their actions for biodiversity, climate and the protection of Mother Earth”
17^th April 2024
Statement by Asia Indigenous Peoples Caucus
Presented by: Jenifer Lasimbang on behalf of the Asia IP Caucus

We, Indigenous Peoples of Asia, reaffirm our inherent role as stewards and guardians of nature and Mother Earth, with our intrinsic connection to our lands, territories and natural resources within our diverse ecosystems. We continue to empower ourselves and build our capacities, based on our shared Indigenous Peoples’ principles, values, practices and knowledge systems of sustainable resource management for generations.

We continue to assert that Indigenous Peoples have contributed much to the solutions of the multiple global crises and that we must be treated as rights holders, as active contributors and partners in sustainable development, climate actions, biodiversity conservation and management, as environment and human rights defenders,  and not  as mere vulnerable populations, victims and passive subjects.

With all these Indigenous Peoples initiatives and contributions raised on a global level, we continue to advocate and demand for direct access to financing, technologies and innovations for Indigenous Peoples’-led-and-managed initiatives and meaningful participation in human rights, development, climate, biodiversity and environment processes,  including among other relevant agencies.

With our persistent global advocacy, we have some positive dedicated allocations for Indigenous Peoples, such as the UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples participation in UN processes, the IFAD-Indigenous Peoples’ Assistance Facility,  among others. While these are positive developments, what is still sorely lacking is the support for IP and IP-led and managed initiatives at the community- and national-levels, hence our continuing advocacy for dedicated financing for these.  

The Indigenous Peoples of Asia comprises at least 70% of Indigenous Peoples across the world, yet, we received the least funding. At Cop 26 in Glasgow a group of funders committed 1.7 billion USD for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. In 2021 19% was disbursed, however the report shows that only 7% went to Asia both for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.

 The lack of legal recognition, state’s prohibitive policies, requirements of donors are key factors in the lack of access to funding by Indigenous Peoples In Asia. With this, the Indigenous Peoples of Asia Solidarity Fund (IPAS) was established last year through an inclusive and bottom-up approach including indigenous youth, women and persons with disabilities.

In relation to the above, we recommend the following:

1.   We reiterate our call for direct access to financial support, technologies and innovations to implement IP-led-and-managed solutions according to our priorities and our right to self-determination as enshrined under the UNDRIP.
2.    It is critical for Indigenous Peoples to have direct access to dedicated financial mechanisms to strengthen and support our initiatives and knowledge systems on the maintenance, restoration, protection of our lands, territories and waters, and to enhance our inter-generational resiliency, based on our priorities, culture, values and systems of governance.
3.   These financial resources should be made available to all seven IP socio-cultural regions and all types of ecosystems.  
4.   The transparency and accountability of financial flows must be improved at all levels. This means that both providers and recipients of funds must ensure access to information on available finance and other resource support, with disclosure and distribution of data, and data must indicate thematic priorities where these funds have been allocated.

Thank you.

Click here to download the full statement of UNPFII23 Agenda Item 5 (g)