In response to the request of Indigenous Peoples' groups to have a more systematic dialogue with UN agencies, an Indigenous Peoples’ Forum has been established at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The first global meeting of the Indigenous Peoples Forum at IFAD will be held in conjunction with the IFAD Governing Council. The IFAD Policy on Engagement with Indigenous Peoples, approved by the Executive Board in September 2009, introduces this Forum, which was established in February 2011 during a workshop in Rome, as “an instrument to systematically engage Indigenous Peoples at the local, national and international levels through a process of dialogue and consultation between representatives of Indigenous Peoples, IFAD staff and member States.” The workshop set forth the governance and participation criteria of the Forum as well as the objectives. Resolutions coming out of break-out groups and plenary discussions will be presented to IFAD’s Governing Council.  

dates: 11-12 February 2013   location: Rome, Italy   contact: IFAD   phone: +39-0654591   fax: +39-065043463   e-mail: ifad@ifad.org   www: http://www.ifad.org/english/indigenous/forum/count.htm