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IFAD has from its early years been involved in the development of indigenous peoples thanks to its targeted and participatory approach to rural development. The Fund has so far provided approximately $1.18 million in loans and $15.65 million in grants in support of indigenous peoples. Starting in 2002, in preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, IFAD worked proactively on advocacy with indigenous peoples beyond the confines of its projects. Since then, the Fund has established a close partnership with the Forum and the IASG on Indigenous Issues, and has provided funds to the SPFII to consult with indigenous peoples and communities on the impact of selected IFAD projects and whether the projects were in line with the Forum’s principles, concepts and practices of development. In September 2006, the Chair of the Forum was invited to deliver a speech to the Fund Executive Board on “Enhancing the partnership of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues with IFAD”. In an effort to further enhance and institutionalize its dialogue with indigenous peoples, in 2007 IFAD will develop its corporate principles of engagement with indigenous peoples.
UNESCO reports: “1. Each of the UNESCO Conventions has specific implementation mechanisms, which fall under the authority of sovereign bodies of an intergovernmental nature. Legally, all the decisions regarding the implementation, monitoring and follow-up of the Conventions can be made only by these organs. The role of the UNESCO Secretariat is to assist them in organizing their meetings and preparing the relevant documents, as well as helping in and reporting on the implementation of the decisions taken by these organs. Therefore, establishing an institutional partnership with UNESCO does not automatically imply statutory participation in the intergovernmental monitoring and follow-up mechanisms of the UNESCO Conventions. 2. However, past experience has shown that NGOs maintaining official relations with UNESCO, and holding competencies in the areas of a specific Convention, have been closely associated with the Convention processes as observers. 3. Moreover, the legal and institutional frameworks of the UNESCO Conventions that are relevant to indigenous peoples, notably the 2005 Convention on the Protection and the Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, foresee opportunities for civil society participation, which in principle include indigenous peoples’ organizations and communities. 4. For instance, the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2005 Convention can at any time invite representatives from different interest groups, academia, private and public organizations as well as individuals to participate in its meetings in order to consult them regarding specific issues (Art 23.7). Furthermore, the overall spirit of the 2005 Convention regards civil society – indigenous peoples obviously included - as a key partner. It actually calls for States Parties to reinforce their partnership with civil society groups in order to pursue the Convention’s objectives (Art 11, 12c, 12d). 5. Regarding the 2003 Convention, during the first session of the General Assembly (27-29 June 2006), States Parties initiated discussions about the future involvement of communities of tradition bearers and practitioners (many of which are indigenous communities) in the activities of the Intergovernmental Committee. While for the next year, the Committee will concentrate on preparing the implementation of the 2003 Convention, it will also consider the ways in which communities can be associated in the implementation process. 6. Regarding the 1972 Convention, it should be noted that the recently appointed and first indigenous Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee, places strong emphasis on the importance of a community approach. In June 2007, the World Heritage Committee will thus review a proposal to add “community” to the four strategic “Cs” guiding the action of the World Heritage Center (Credibility, Conservation, Capacity Building, and Communication). This may open new possibilities for strengthened involvement of indigenous communities of present or future World Heritage Sites. 7. The idea of establishing a World Heritage Indigenous Peoples Council of Experts (WHIPCOE) was presented to the 24th session of the World Heritage Committee in Cairns, Australia (27 November – 2 December 2000) by representatives from Australia, Canada and New Zealand who had attended a Forum of Indigenous People in Cairns on 24 November 2000. The initiative was taken in response to the concern of indigenous peoples regarding their lack of involvement in the development and implementation of laws, policies and plans for the protection of their knowledge, traditions and cultural values, within or comprising sites now designated as World Heritage properties. Following further discussions, the World Heritage Committee decided in December 2001 not to approve the establishment of WHIPCOE (World Heritage Indigenous Peoples Council of Experts). The Committee recognized the special role that indigenous peoples have with respect to certain World Heritage properties and the importance of a network that would provide a forum for an exchange of information and experience. The Committee encouraged professional research, an exchange of views on the subject and activities undertaken by individual States Parties.”
