Indigenous Peoples let-down by the turnout of the GEF policy paper on IPs
Washington DC, June 7, 2012 – The IP representatives who attended the 42nd Council Meeting were disappointed when they were informed that the GEF couldn’t develop a policy paper at the time of the meeting and instead will present ‘Guidelines for Engagement’. At the early stage of the policy development, they have presented to the GEF their main concerns as indigenous peoples and aspirations for a GEF Policy Paper through an issues paper developed by the Indigenous Peoples’ Task Force on the GEF. They have clearly asked that the GEF develop a rights-based policy paper taking into account the developments at the global policy arena and contributing to the realization of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Despite their disappointment in not having a stand-alone policy at that time, they welcome the mechanisms outlined in the paper that have the potential to promote greater and more relevant participation by indigenous peoples in the GEF and believe the mechanisms could be a step towards the development of a better policy by the GEF on indigenous peoples. They also asked that the Council supports the implementation of the mechanisms outlined in the paper by setting a definite time frame for the secretariat to implement it and by allotting adequate financial resources for the continuation of the work on this important process.
View the IPs statement on the GEF Principles and Guidelines on Engagement with Indigenous Peoples.
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