The Permanent Forum takes note of the determination of IFAD — for which it congratulates the Fund — to identify indigenous peoples as a specific target group within the agency’s strategic framework, which, in a significant way, has consolidated and legitimized indigenous peoples’ issues in its work with its partners, other organizations and States. The Permanent Forum finds that identifying indigenous peoples as a specific target group is a standard-setting approach, to be duplicated by the United Nations and other international agencies. It is recommended that IFAD maintain its strong focus on indigenous peoples’ issues in the formulation of the new institutional strategic framework, which is due to commence soon.
The Permanent Forum commends UNFPA for its efforts to build staff capacity on indigenous peoples’ issues and recommends that such efforts continue, together with efforts to recruit indigenous peoples where possible.