The Global Environment Facility (GEF) held a meeting with nine representatives of indigenous peoples to launch a consultative process related to the adoption of a GEF policy to facilitate the participation and engagement of indigenous peoples in GEF projects.
9 August 2011: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) held a meeting with nine indigenous peoples’ representatives to discuss a future GEF Policy for strengthening its partnership with indigenous peoples.
The meeting took place in Washington, DC, on 9 August 2011, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. The meeting served to launch the consultation process between GEF and the indigenous peoples’ representatives, and was funded by the Government of Switzerland.
The policy, mandated by the last GEF Council meeting, will aim to facilitate the participation of indigenous peoples in GEF-funded projects and activities to conserve the global environment and improve their livelihoods. Minnie Degawan, a leader of the Kankanaey People in Philippines, expressed the hope that the new GEF policy will be developed and implemented by the next year’s International Day. [GEF Press Release]