Questionnaire to UN system

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues was established by Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Resolution 2000/22. The Permanent Forum is mandated to provide expert advice and recommendations on indigenous issues to ECOSOC and through the Council to United Nations agencies, funds and programmes; to raise awareness and promote the integration and coordination of activities related to indigenous issues with the UN system; and prepare and disseminate information on indigenous issues.

A set of well-being indicators for indigenous peoples to be adopted in IFAD operations will be developed in 2021 as planned in the IFAD Action Plan 2020-2021 on Indigenous Peoples. This process will build on indicators that were suggested by the representatives of indigenous peoples during the second global meeting of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum (IPs' Forum) at IFAD 1 as well as on monitoring and evaluation systems developed and adopted by the regional partners of the Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility (IPAF): Foro Internacional de Mujeres Indígenas (FIMI), Samburu Women Trust and Tebtebba.
Some IFAD-funded projects are already adopting socially disaggregated data and monitoring systems based on specific indicators related to indigenous peoples' well-being. For example, an ongoing project in India 2 will capture the following: number of traditional/indigenous crop varieties recovered and conserved; area under traditional/indigenous crop varieties and changes over the project period; Number of traditional soil and water conservation technologies replicated; and number of traditional settled agriculture technologies replicated. The logical framework for the new project in Nicaragua 3 will track the number of indigenous peoples' communities/territories consulted which gave their free, prior and informed consent for project activities. In Sri Lanka, the number of groups with indigenous peoples in leadership positions has been included among the proposed additional indicators related to climate change adaptation and natural resources management to be adopted in ongoing operations. 4 Data disaggregation in respect of indigenous peoples was already adopted by IFAD in 2017 in its revised Results and Impact Management System framework. In line with this, the monitoring matrix annexed to IFAD's "Framework for Implementing Transformational Approaches to Mainstreaming Themes: Environment and Climate, Gender, Nutrition and Youth (Draft)" 5 includes indicators that are disaggregated by gender, youth and indigenous peoples. ii.
The theme of the 2021 PFII session is "Peace, justice and strong institutions: the role of indigenous peoples in implementing Sustainable Development Goal 16". Please include information on any publications, projects, reports or activities that are of relevance to this theme.
 A policy brief on "Partnering with indigenous peoples for the SDGs" was released in October 2019. It highlights how the involvement of indigenous peoples is key to achieving the ambitions of the SDGs: https://www.ifad.org/en/web/knowledge/publication/asset/41390824  IFAD is directly contributing to the institutional strengthening of indigenous peoples' organizations through the process of the IPs' Forum at IFAD (see paragraph 6.i) and the IPAF (see paragraphs 2, 5 and 6), which supports self-driven development of indigenous peoples' grassroots organizations/institutions.  In January 2020, IFAD's Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion Division (ECG) hosted a "Change Lecture" with Ms. Jessica Vega, representative of the GIYC and the Red de Jóvenes Indígenas de América Latina y el Caribe. She was invited to share her perspective, as young indigenous woman, on climate change, SDGs and intergenerational processes, from community contexts to global spaces.
 The theory of changes included in IFAD's Action Plan on Indigenous Peoples 2020-2021 is directed to the objectives of the Agenda 2030 and refers to the SDGs.

B. System-Wide Action Plan to achieve the ends of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Executive summary: Please provide an overview of actions taken or planned to implement the System-Wide Action Plan on the Rights of Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This summary will form the basis of the compilation report of UN activities to implement the SWAP and the Declaration. [Word limit: 600] In 2020 IFAD, organized and hosted several initiatives where indigenous peoples' knowledge contributions in responding to the COVID-19 crisis were shared. Building on this, IFAD identified specific measures to address the impact of the pandemic on indigenous peoples' communities.
In preparation for the fifth global meeting of the IPs' Forum at IFAD (February 2021), which will focus on "The value of indigenous food systems: resilience in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic", 14 regional consultations were held online between October and November 2020 with the participation of around 500 people representing regional and subregional networks/constituencies of indigenous peoples, in addition to IFAD staff and selected development partners. The meetings provided a key opportunity to share knowledge and capitalize on the experience of indigenous peoples to better address the increased hardships faced in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Together with the IPs' Forum at IFAD, the IPAF continues to provide a key space for self-driven development of indigenous people' communities, building on their knowledge and aspirations, as well as for capacity development and institutional strengthening of their organizations.
In 2020, IFAD's Executive Board approved 6 12 projects (including one additional financing to a project already approved) supporting indigenous and tribal peoples and ethnic minorities in Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean, with an investment of more than US$314 million.
Implementation of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) is being enhanced as well as the participation of indigenous peoples throughout IFAD's project cycle. In this regard, IFAD is currently revising its Social, Environmental and Climate Assessment Procedures (SECAP) and the How To Do Note on Seeking Free, Prior and Informed Consent in IFAD Investment Projects.
Training modules for IFAD staff on the new procedures will be delivered in 2021.
Efforts have been made by IFAD to produce evidence-based knowledge to enhance engagement with indigenous peoples in IFAD's operations as well as to support policy and advocacy actions. This year, the good practices generated in Country Offices have been collected to inform future programmes. In July 2020, IFAD launched the first call for nominations for the Indigenous Peoples Awards 7 to promote best practices, share knowledge and lessons learned, and to replicate and scale up successful approaches in working with indigenous peoples.
In 2020, IFAD promoted and supported the participation of indigenous peoples' representatives in international processes and initiatives (e.g. UN HLPF on Sustainable Development, UN World Food Summit) as well as in IFAD internal processes. Indigenous peoples were invited to participate in the consultations held for 12 th IFAD replenishment (IFAD12) 8 .
To take forward IFAD's engagement and advocacy activities with indigenous peoples, in 2020 IFAD President appointed the Associate Vice-President of the External Relations and Governance Department of IFAD as IFAD Champion on Indigenous Peoples.
Dialogues on resource mobilization to support indigenous peoples' self-driven initiatives have been established with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). Ahead of the side event "Partnering with Indigenous Peoples: Leveraging their knowledge to achieve the SDGs by 2030 while recognizing the challenge to address the outbreak of COVID-19" organized in July 2020 on the margins of the HLPF, IFAD President highlighted the importance of indigenous peoples and their unique knowledge "to address the COVID-19 outbreak and to build a more sustainable, resilient world as we recover from the pandemic". 16 "The value of indigenous food systems: resilience in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic" is the overall theme of the upcoming fifth IPs' Forum at IFAD (February 2021) and the regional consultations held in November/December 2020. Both the regional and the global meetings will provide a key opportunity for IFAD to capitalize on the experience of indigenous peoples to better address the increased hardships faced by indigenous peoples in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic (more information on the Forum provided in paragraph 6.1)

As requested in the Outcome
A document on "Approach and potential actions in response to  was developed by ECG to address the significant threat posed by COVID-19 to IFAD's target group, especially excluded populations including women, youth and indigenous people. The document includes specific measures for indigenous peoples and builds on the results of a survey developed to collect information from IPAF grantees on how their projects were being affected by COVID-19, initiatives undertaken, and support needed.
Because of the multidimensional impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, IFAD has allowed the three IPAF partners to allocate 10 per cent of the grant funds received to seek mitigation and containment of the spread of COVID-19 in communities benefiting from IPAF projects. The three IPAF partners are constantly monitoring the evolution and impacts that the pandemic is having and could have in the future in the IPAF's communities and in the implementation of activities foreseen in their workplan. On 31 July 2020, FIMI organized a webinar on "Indigenous Women Facing COVID-19, Impacts and Strategies to Face the Pandemic" attended by IPAF grantees in Latin America.
The following initiatives have been organized/hosted by IFAD to share and discuss on the contribution of indigenous peoples' knowledge in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic:  Change Lecture on "Food systems, sovereignty and security: Lessons from Indigenous Peoples on the pandemic" (16 July 2020). The event was led by the GIYC and the Harvard Medical School COVID-19 Student Response Team. Experiences from IPAF projects were presented by FIMI.  Side event on "Indigenous Food Systems: Strengthening partnerships and building resilience in a changing world" 17 held in the context of the World Food Prize 2020 Borlaug Dialogue (16 October 2020). The panel, composed of indigenous leaders and experts, including indigenous youth, also addressed the gaps in achieving the SDGs by 2030 from the perspective of indigenous peoples.  Seminar on "COVID: Farmers on the Frontline -Resilience and food security in a postcoronavirus world" (28 May 2020). The event was moderated by IFAD Associate Vice-President of the External Relations and Governance Department, and speakers included an indigenous peoples' representative from the Chin Human Rights Organization.  Side event "Partnering with Indigenous Peoples: Leveraging their knowledge to achieve the SDGs by 2030 while recognizing the challenge to address the outbreak of COVID-19" (July 2020). The side event was organized on the margins of the UN HLPF.  From 7 to 11 December 2020, IFAD participated in the Expert Group Meeting on Indigenous Peoples and Pandemics, organized by UN DESA. 18  Webinar "Indigenous peoples' resilience in confronting the future" 19 As part of Terra Madre 2020, the event was organized in partnership with Slow Food Youth Network and Slow Food. Members of the GIYC members (who are also steering committee members of IPs' Forum at IFAD) and a representative from the IPAF project in Thailand were invited as speakers. ii.

Measures taken or planned to support national partners in reform and implementation of legal frameworks, policies, strategies and plans to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including any joint programming initiatives.
In June 2020, IFAD participated in the third meeting of Friends of Indigenous Peoples Group, which was held to advocate for indigenous issues and to exchange experiences of work with indigenous peoples. The meeting was chaired by Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada and counted on the presence of the UNPFII's Chair for 2020 and the Deputy Permanent Representative of New Zealand.
In March and October 2020, IFAD joined the meetings (held online) of the Inter-Agency Support Group (IASG) on Indigenous Issues. iii.

Support provided to Member States to mainstream the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and ILO Convention No. 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, where ratified, in national development plans and in the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks and Common Country Analysis.
In 2020, IFAD approved nine Country Strategic Opportunities Programmes (COSOPs) and Country Strategy Notes (CSNs) which include or specifically target indigenous peoples and/or ethnic minorities (Bolivia, Central African Republic, Chad, Eritrea, Gabon, Honduras, Mali, Mexico and Panama).
Among these, the new COSOP approved for Mexico aims to "contribute to improving the food and nutrition security of smallholder producers and indigenous peoples" (strategic objective 1). This will be achieved by enhancing the assets and organizational capacities of these communities and by supporting the transition to more inclusive, productive, resilient and sustainable food systems in marginalized territories. Strategic objective 2 -"to strengthen the impact and sustainability of results of the national programmes prioritized by the Government" -will be achieved by adopting and scaling up innovations and working methodologies generated in the context of IFAD operations to provide pathways for the transition from social protection to economic inclusion of young people, women, indigenous peoples and populations of Afro-Mexican descent in the country's southern and southeastern territories.
In the new COSOP 2020-2025 approved for Honduras, particular attention will be given to vulnerable and historically excluded groups, including women, young people, indigenous peoples and Afro-Hondurans, as well as rural populations severely affected by COVID-19. Project beneficiaries have been involved from the outset of the COSOP formulation, through the participation of representative groups in consultation workshops to provide inputs that strengthen the strategy. Strategic recommendation #4 highlights the importance of developing specific investment plans in accordance with demographic, cultural, economic and geographic aspects of indigenous peoples and Afro-Hondurans.
In Central African Republic, the target group for the new COSOP will comprise indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups. Moreover, young people, women, persons with disabilities and indigenous peoples will be targeted with trainings and activities that are adapted to the challenges they face (e.g. provision of capital and financial support, participation in decisionmaking, policy dialogue).
The targeting strategy adopted by the new Country Technical Note in Gabon will continue to apply an inclusive participatory approach that will ensure effective participation of small-scale producers, indigenous peoples, the most vulnerable, and youth and women's groups.
A new Country Strategy Note was approved in 2020 for Panama, a country where IFAD does not currently have active operations. According to the new strategy, IFAD's target group will be those rural population groups that have been left behind from the country's economic prosperity, particularly indigenous populations living in extreme poverty, with a focus on women and youth.
The primary focus will be on the comarca of Ngäbe-Buglé, which houses the largest proportion of indigenous peoples and is home to the most marginalized and remote indigenous peoples' groups living in the country. iv.

Support for consultative mechanisms and platforms of dialogue including under the leadership of the Resident Coordinators.
To implement the 2014 World Conference on Indigenous Peoples outcome document and the UNDRIP, IFAD has supported policy dialogue among indigenous peoples, governments and UN Country Teams led by indigenous peoples' organizations in 10 countries. 20 Such support has taken place since 2015, together with IWGIA and in cooperation with the Secretariat of the UNPFII. As a member of the IASG, IFAD is currently co-chairing a working group on Country Policy Engagement and Capacity Development as part of the implementation of the UN SWAP on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
IFAD's ongoing decentralization process provides a key occasion to further support policy engagement at country level. This is happening mainly through the design of COSOPs as well as IFAD's portfolio reviews, which offer opportunities for strengthening/facilitating the participation of indigenous peoples in policy-making processes, including dialogue at national level. For example, the COSOP approved in Mexico this year, developed also with the participation of indigenous peoples and Afro-Mexican representatives, clearly highlights the importance of collaboration with indigenous peoples and Afro-Mexican populations through the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples. The new COSOP for the Central African Republic will include activities aimed at improving the policy environment and good governance through a variety of platforms where IFAD will play a leading role in "invigorating agricultural sector working groups that assess the results of rural sector performance and define policy actions for increased impact". In this regard, major topics that will be covered include access to and ownership of land by individuals and private entities, including land rights for vulnerable groups (women, youth and indigenous peoples).
Ongoing IFAD operations are also providing space for indigenous peoples' participation in national platforms relevant to them. The IPs Team at IFAD works in close collaboration with regional divisions, the divisional focal points on indigenous peoples, and five Regional Gender and Social Inclusion Specialists hired under the ECG division.
With respect to project design, in 2020 the IPs Team continued to provide inputs on indigenous peoples and an integrated mainstreaming approach in newly designed projects. Building on the lessons learned about the importance of involving indigenous experts at an early design stage, a roster of indigenous experts was developed, updated and incorporated into the IFAD shared roster for consultants. Among the actions recommended by the indigenous participants during the last global meeting, this roster will support Country Offices in the recruitment of experts to provide in-depth understanding of indigenous peoples and their situation and, at the same time, will allow direct participation of indigenous peoples in IFAD operations.
A good example in terms of ECG support provided in project design is represented by the newly designed project in Nicaragua, 28 where the design mission counted on the presence of the IFAD Senior Technical Specialist in Nutrition, whose extensive experience in working with indigenous peoples enabled indigenous peoples to be mainstreamed in the new project. Meetings with representative of indigenous peoples were held, including with the Chair of the Steering Committee of the IPs' Forum at IFAD, to seek their inputs for the new project. As part of the partnership with indigenous peoples and the IPs' Forum, consultations with indigenous peoples' representatives will be held throughout project design and beyond.
Implementation support for the ongoing portfolio, which currently includes 63 projects in areas home to indigenous peoples, is provided by the IPs Team by: participating in supervision missions; providing guidance to Country Teams on indigenous peoples' policy issues for engagement with government, national and regional forums; and closely following the implementation of ongoing projects. With respect to the latter, since 2019 a closer monitoring of ongoing projects is being conducted by the IPs Team with the Country Teams, with special attention being paid to: FPIC implementation; inclusion of disaggregated indicators at project level; compliance with social safeguards; effective participation of indigenous peoples; promotion of indigenous knowledge; and issues related to collective land tenure. All the information captured through this exercise is being collected in a database and represents an important source of knowledge in terms of lessons learned and good practices that will be used and shared to enhance IFAD's work with indigenous peoples, including policy and advocacy activities.
In 2020, a consultant working for the IPs Team participated in the supervision mission of an ongoing project in Sudan. 29 Following the mid-term review process conducted in 2019, the supervision mission of 2020 indicated that engagement of pastoralists groups has been considered and that the inclusion of indigenous knowledge is already paving the way for greater opportunities for strengthened ownership by and engagement from local communities. Lessons learned from the supervision team refer to the importance of recognizing/capturing indigenous knowledge systems of pastoral communities and identifying concrete activities to preserve and support these systems as part of the project.
To support/strengthen design and implementation in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region in 2020, a Technical Analyst on Social Inclusion and Indigenous Peoples joined the ECG Team in the region. Among other initiatives, an analysis was jointly conducted by ECG and LAC on FPIC implementation in IFAD projects, and good practices were identified through interviews and exchanges with IFAD country directors and national project management units. Lessons and critical aspects were also captured to produce useful knowledge for enhancing the implementation of FPIC. Results from the study were presented and discussed with IFAD colleagues during a knowledge exchange session organized by IFAD on 10 December 2020 and will be presented as a publication.

Supporting indigenous peoples' rights in the implementation and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
i.

Has your agency/organization taken any measures to incorporate indigenous issues into policy and programming to implement the 2030 Agenda in line with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples?
Is it worth noting that to take forward IFAD's engagement and advocacy activities with indigenous peoples, in 2020 the Associate Vice-President of the External Relations and Governance Department of IFAD was been appointed by IFAD President as IFAD Champion on Indigenous Peoples, acknowledging her extensive experience in protection of biodiversity, food security and sustainable development.
In line with the 2030 Agenda's approach to leave no one behind, the new IFAD Strategic Framework 2016-2025 30 reaffirms IFAD's commitment to indigenous peoples' self-driven development. IFAD will continue to focus on ensuring that poor rural communities and individuals, particularly women, indigenous peoples and young people, "become part of a rural transformation that is inclusive and drives overall sustainable development". The IFAD12 31 consultation showed the commitment of the Fund to continue to advance social inclusion through its investments, focusing on transformative change for gender equality and women's empowerment, nutrition, youth and youth employment, indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities. Among the planned IFAD12 commitments, a new IFAD Strategy on Indigenous Peoples (2022-2025) will be developed to define how IFAD can best address the specific needs of indigenous peoples within a changing global environment. During IFAD12, the Fund will also ensure that at least 10 new projects include indigenous peoples as a priority target group and that a regular grant is provided to replenish the IPAF. Under IFAD12, the IPs' Forum at IFAD and the Farmers' Forum will continue as core vehicles for global strategic dialogue, advocacy and policy engagement.
IFAD's new "Framework for Implementing Transformational Approaches to Mainstreaming Themes: Environment and Climate, Gender, Nutrition and Youth" highlights that improvement in the economic position and well-being of IFAD's target groups, which include indigenous peoples among others, will result from inclusive rural transformation that "makes it possible for everyone, without exception, to exercise their economic, social and political rights; develop their abilities; and take advantage of opportunities available in a healthy environment". The framework includes data disaggregation for indigenous peoples (see paragraph A).
ii. In relation to SDG indicators for target 1.4 (secure tenure rights to land), it should be mentioned that a project proposal to integrate local communities' lands in IFAD's operations was selected among the winners of the first Innovation Challenge 36 launched by IFAD in 2019. Submitted by IFAD Teams working on Land and Indigenous Peoples and Tribal Issues, and the International Land Coalition, the project aimed to explore innovative geospatial approaches and solutions for collecting/sharing data on indigenous and local community lands. Pilot exercises were carried out in 2019 and 2020 in IFAD Country Offices in the Democratic Republic of Congo, India and the United Republic of Tanzania, where maps/filed data were collected with contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities, government and other national actors, resulting in strengthened tenure and land governance for communities.

Mapping of existing standards and guidelines, capacities, training materials and resources for the effective implementation of the UNDRIP
i. Please provide information on specific standards and guidelines on indigenous peoples adopted or planned by your agency/organization.
 IFAD is currently revising its SECAP, 37 which now includes a specific standard (Standard 4) on indigenous peoples. This also allows the Fund to reach compliance with Minimum Standard in the Environmental and Social Safeguards of the Global Environment Facility.
 IFAD is currently updating its "How to Do Note on Seeking Free, Prior and Informed Consent in IFAD Investment Projects", published in 2015, 38 to incorporate the recent changes in the design process and the SECAP.
 In June 2020, IFAD published the "How to Do Note on Gender and Pastoralism", 39 which highlights the importance of gender in pastoral production systems. Designed for Country Programme Teams, consultants and technical advisors, this tool provides guidance for designing projects with gender-sensitive interventions targeted at empowering pastoralist women so as to achieve more equitable development.
 In 2019, IFAD revised its "Operational Guidelines on Targeting" 40 to operationalize its Targeting Policy while reflecting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the "leaving no one behind" principle, and the commitments of IFAD11.
 In 2019, IFAD published the "How to Do Note on Mainstreaming Nutrition into COSOPs and Investment Projects", in which specific attention is given to indigenous peoples and their food systems.
 In 2009, the IFAD Executive Board approved the IFAD Policy on Engagement with Indigenous Peoples, which established the framework for the institution to engage with indigenous and tribal peoples and ethnic minorities. IFAD is the first international financial institution to adopt FPIC as an operational principle in its policy documents.
 The IFAD Policy on Improving Access to Land and Tenure Security (2008) affirms the adherence to the principle of FPIC for any development intervention that might affect the land access and use rights of communities.

ii. Please provide information on any training materials prepared or planned related to the implementation of the UN Declaration.
Information on training modules that will be delivered by IFAD-ECG in 2021 is provided in paragraph 5. iii.

Please provide information on current resources and funds allocated to effectively implement the UN Declaration. Please also provide information on any joint initiatives with other UN agencies in t he implementation of the UN Declaration.
In 2020, IFAD's Executive Board approved 41 12 projects (including one additional financing to a project already approved) supporting indigenous and tribal peoples and ethnic minorities in Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean, with an investment of more than US$314 million. Of these:  Eight are loans and country grants 42 (including one additional financing to previously approved operations), with a total funding benefiting indigenous and tribal peoples and ethnic minorities of about US$ 308 million, of which the direct contribution from IFAD amounts to about US$ 155 million; 43 and  Four are regional and global grants, for an amount of about US$6.5 million, that include indigenous and tribal peoples and ethnic minorities as part of a larger beneficiary group.
In addition, IFAD is currently supporting indigenous peoples' self-driven development through grant schemes:

new grant "Renewable Energy Solutions for Village Electrification -Transferring Indigenous Energy
Knowledge from Malaysia to Indonesia" (RESOLVE) was approved by IFAD in 2019 to the Indigenous People's Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN). Funded through the Adaptation Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP), 44 RESOLVE aims at improving energy access among Indonesian indigenous peoples through the use of community-based microhydro systems as an environmentally low-impact and resilient technology providing a strong foundation for sustainable community development.
 IFAD is currently funding the fifth cycle of the IPAF through a US$3 million grant that also includes co-funding from Tamalpais Trust, Christensen Fund, IWGIA, FILAC and the Packard Foundation. In 2020, one of the organizations funded by the IPAF in 2015-2018 in Colombia received an additional grant from Pawanka Fund.
 IFAD's partnership with Slow Food is being strengthened through the grant "Empowering indigenous youth and their communities to defend and promote their food heritage", 45 which was implemented by Slow Food in 2017-2020 with IFAD funding of US$0.9 million. Due to the positive results achieved, the project was selected among the best IFAD grants in 2019.
 As a follow-up to the partnership-building mission conducted by IFAD in Sweden in December 2019, discussions are ongoing with SIDA to explore opportunities to support IFAD's engagement with indigenous peoples. 41 As of 15 December 2020 42 See Annex I 43 For some of the projects approved in 2020 (i.e. Brazil, Eritrea, Kenya), it was not possible to estimate the percentage of indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities targeted by the project. These data will be provided at the implementation phase. Therefore, this figure does not include the amount benefiting indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities in projects approved in the abovementioned countries. 44 https://www.ifad.org/en/asap 45 https://www.slowfood.com/our-network/indigenous/ifad-slow-food/

Developing the capacities of States, indigenous peoples, civil society and UN personnel
Please provide information on: i. Any capacity development initiatives that your organization is conducting for indigenous peoples, government officials and UN staff; ii.
Please include information on the participation of indigenous women, children and youth as well as indigenous persons with disabilities in your response.
The newly developed Action Plan on Indigenous Peoples 2020-2021 recognizes that the effective implementation of IFAD's portfolio requires efforts to develop the capacity of different target groups (including IFAD staff at headquarters and in Country Offices, project management staff, consultants and indigenous peoples' organizations). To address these needs, the Action Plan has identified, among its main action areas, "Strengthen implementation capacity".
In line with this, the Social Inclusion Cluster at ECG will develop e-learning training modules that will be delivered to staff and consultants during Operations Academy, regional implementation workshops, start-up workshops, and whenever requested by Country Teams. The modules will focus on: IFAD's Policy on Engagement with Indigenous Peoples; FPIC implementation (based on new SECAP procedures and an updated How to Do Note on FPIC); and integration of indigenous peoples' issues with other mainstreaming themes.
In 2020 IFAD, FAO and ILO confirmed their interest in jointly organizing a Rural Academy on Indigenous Peoples with webinar sessions that will be conducted in the first half of 2021 . In order to identify the needs and expectations of the targeted audience, a survey monkey was developed by IFAD early in 2020 and sent to project management staff, members of indigenous peoples' communities, consultants, UN staff and government staff, among others. The approximately 150 surveys completed indicate the following areas of interests: indigenous women's and youth empowerment; participation of indigenous peoples in national development plans; and indigenous peoples and climate action.
In 2020, specific trainings on FPIC were delivered to IFAD staff, consultants and the project management unit working in LAC region.
As reported by the three IPAF regional partners, the Facility continued to be an important tool to promote capacity development of indigenous organizations. In January 2020, FIMI organized a mid-term workshop in Mexico City attended by partner organizations implementing IPAF projects in Latin America and the Caribbean 46 to strengthen the links between them. The workshop, which was also attended by IFAD representatives, was an important occasion for knowledge-sharing on lessons learned and challenges from IPAF projects.
FIMI has also developed a cycle of webinars to provide training to the IPAF implementing organizations on reporting, accountability, development of logical frameworks, and project formulation, as well as to improve their understanding of the IPAF-IFAD-FIMI linkages. As reported by FIMI, this was also an innovation for the organization itself in terms of interaction and dialogue with its strategic partners. In 2020, FIMI nominated an indigenous woman, a representative of the organization implementing the ongoing IPAF project in Guyana, to participate in the 7 th edition of FIMI´s Global Leadership School.
Mutual learning from the organizations implementing IPAF projects is also occurring through platforms developed by IPAF regional partners, where results and experiences from the projects can be further disseminated through social media (WhatsApp and Facebook groups).
In 2020, supervision missions were conducted to FIMI (Mexico) and Samburu Women Trust (Kenya) by two consultants working with the IPs Team at IFAD to assess their performance in managing the IPAF. One of the common aspects emerging from the supervisions was the key role played by the IPAF for their institutional strengthening, not only in terms of enhanced grant management but also in advocacy and partnership-building (including the capacity to attract additional funds). In addition, the active role played by the three regional partners at the regional and global levels facilitates the link between IPAF-funded projects and regional/global movements of indigenous peoples.
IPAF is also key in capacity development of IFAD staff on engaging with indigenous peoples. The regional consultations held in October-November 2020 in preparation for the fifth global meeting of the IPs' Forum at IFAD provided an important occasion for IPAF regional coordinators as well as IPAF projects to share knowledge on IPAF with IFAD staff.
Under the ongoing IPAF cycles, more efforts have been made to link IPAF projects to IFAD operations in the field. As happened in the previous cycle, country programme managers at IFAD were requested to provide feedback and advice on projects to be selected for the ongoing IPAF cycle, and all of them were informed shortly after projects had been approved. Links were created between IPAF regional coordinators and IFAD Country Offices in order to carry out joint monitoring visits to IPAF/IFAD projects, share regular information about achievements and lessons learned, and identify synergies and the possibility for scaling-up IPAF achievements into the IFAD country programme.
In some cases, IFAD Country Offices are providing support in monitoring the implementation of IPAF-funded projects (e.g. in Pakistan). Opportunities to link IPAF projects to IFAD projects and/or partners (e.g. Slow Food) are also being explored. A positive example has emerged this year in Congo, where the IFAD Country Office engaged with the organization implementing an IPAF project in the country to build on the organization's experiences in engaging with indigenous peoples for the design of an IFAD-funded project in the country. Among the issues discussed, the IPAF grantee stressed the importance of strengthening local governance institutions and adopting tailored methodologies to address land rights, natural resource management and gender-related issues, as well as the effectiveness of indigenous women's and youth cooperatives schemes.
Notwithstanding positive examples and progresses, the development of synergies between IPAFsupported activities and organizations and IFAD-supported projects at country level needs further efforts.
In July 2020, IFAD launched the first call for nominations for the Indigenous Peoples Awards 47 in partnership with the members of the Steering Committee of the IPs' Forum at IFAD and of the IPAF Board. The Awards also respond to one of the recommendations made by the participants in the fourth global meeting of the IPs' Forum. 48 Aimed to promote best practices, share knowledge and lessons learned, and replicate and scale up results in working with indigenous peoples, the Indigenous Peoples Awards are presented biennially to recognize the efforts and achievements of development projects that successfully engage with indigenous peoples living in rural areas; projects can be IFAD-funded projects targeting indigenous peoples or ethnic minorities, IPAF-funded projects under implementation, or other development projects implemented by indigenous peoples' or ethnic minorities' organizations in rural areas. Among the 53 nominations submitted in response to the first call for proposals, the participants in the regional consultations in preparation for the fifth global meeting of the IPs' Forum selected the best project for each category in their respective regions. A Selection Committee composed by members of the Steering Committee of the IPs' Forum at IFAD is responsible for selecting the three Awards winners. 49 The Awards will be delivered in a dedicated knowledge-sharing session in the context of the fifth global meeting of the IPs' Forum at IFAD in February 2021, and the projects will gain visibility and recognition throughout IFAD and its network of partners.
To respond to one of the recommendations 50 made to IFAD by indigenous peoples' representatives during the fourth global meeting of the IPs' Forum at IFAD, in August 2020 IFAD launched a call for interest to select two indigenous interns through the IFAD Enhanced Internship Programme financed through Canadian Supplementary Funds. The selected candidates provide support for six months to the Social Inclusion Cluster Teams working on nutrition and indigenous peoples' and tribal issues.

Please provide information on:
i. Any support provided for the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples at relevant UN processes, including at the country level; Since its launch in 2011, the IPs' Forum at IFAD 51 has provided a concrete platform for IFAD to institutionalize consultation and dialogue with representatives of indigenous peoples' institutions. The Forum focuses on monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the IFAD Policy on Engagement with Indigenous Peoples (2009) and supports IFAD in translating the policy's principles into action on the ground. The Forum also promotes the participation of indigenous peoples in IFAD activities at country, regional and international levels, and at all stages of project and programme cycles. The overall process is guided by a Steering Committee composed of representatives of indigenous peoples' organizations from the different regions and a representative, respectively, from the IPAF, the UNPFII and IFAD. In 2019, indigenous youth
During the course of 2020, regular updates were provided to the Steering Committee of the IPs' Forum at IFAD on the progress made to address the Synthesis of Deliberations agreed upon during the fourth global meeting. Meetings with IFAD's divisional focal points on indigenous peoples took place via Skype to follow up and monitor the implementation of the regional action plans developed during the global meeting held in February 2019.
"The value of indigenous food systems: resilience in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic" 52 will be the overall theme for the fifth global meeting of the IPs' Forum, which will take place (remotely) in February 2020. This was also the theme of the 14 virtual regional and sub-regional consultations which took place in Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, and Africa. 53 The consultation were organized by IWGIA and FILAC (for Latin America and the Caribbean), Mainyoito Pastoralist Development Organization (for Africa), Tebtebba (for Asia) and Partners in Community Development Fiji (for the Pacific) -in cooperation with IFAD Country Offices and IFAD staff.
The regional consultations had outstanding results in terms of participation. About 500 people attended, including: representatives of regional and subregional networks/constituencies of indigenous peoples; representatives from IFAD-funded projects in the regions and subregions; member/s of the UNPFII; participants selected from IPAF-funded projects and IPAF regional implementing partners; and IFAD staff and selected development partners as observers (UN agencies, national/international NGOs working on indigenous peoples' issues and partners such as Slow Food, among others).
Participants assessed the progress of implementation of the IFAD Policy on Engagement with Indigenous Peoples adopted in 2009 and gained an overview on IFAD's work with indigenous peoples in the regions. Experiences and challenges were shared on how indigenous peoples and their livelihoods are being affected by COVID-19 and their response to it. Action-oriented recommendations on the theme of the Forum and draft regional action plans were developed and will guide the discussions between indigenous peoples and development partners and donors (including IFAD staff) during the upcoming global meeting of the IPs' Forum in 2021.
The meetings were important platforms for indigenous peoples' representatives to also discuss how to engage with the 2021 Food Systems Summit and to identify challenges and opportunities to contribute to its objectives and outcomes.
The IPAF 54 was established at IFAD in 2006 as dedicated mechanism for indigenous peoples to finance small projects that foster their self-driven development in the framework of the UNDRIP building on their culture, identity, knowledge, natural resources, intellectual property and human rights. A demand-driven facility, the IPAF is governed by a Board -formed in majority by representatives of indigenous peoples' organizations -which is responsible for providing strategic guidance and making final decision on grants to be approved. At the regional level, the IPAF is comanaged by three indigenous peoples' organizations that are responsible for supporting the Board in the selection of proposals and for monitoring the small projects designed and implemented by indigenous peoples' communities and their organizations. As mentioned above, indigenous peoples' representatives from IPAF-funded projects are also engaged in the processes of the IPs' Forum at IFAD. In response to IPAF calls for proposal made in 2007, 2008, 2011, 2015 and 2018, indigenous communities and organizations in 90 countries submitted more than 4,200 proposals. With available resources, 159 projects have been financed in more than 45 countries for a total of US$5.1 million. Out of these projects 50 per cent of the 120,000 beneficiaries were women.
The ongoing fifth IPAF cycle is funding around 30 small projects ranging from US$20,000 to US$50,000, lasting up to two years, and having a focus on indigenous youth. As mentioned above, IPAF projects and their communities have been strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and a series of initiatives and measure have been taken by the three IPAF regional implementing partners and the IPAF Board to provide support to the organizations. Additional information on the IPAF is provided in paragraph 2. IFAD plans to reinforce its focus on climate mitigation and adaptation with the Adaptation Smallholder Agriculture Programme, and to give greater emphasis to protecting biodiversity and the environment. In this framework, it was established that the programme will have indigenous member(s) in its Steering/Advisory Committee, and discussions are ongoing on the proposal to allocate specific resources to improve the resilience to climate change of indigenous peoples under the programme.
In addition to the processes linked to the IPs' Forum at IFAD and the IPAF, in 2020 IFAD reiterated its commitment to support direct participation of indigenous peoples in relevant forums and institutions at various levels.
In 2021 IFAD will participate in the UN World Food Summit, convened by the UN Secretary-General, by supporting the active engagement of indigenous peoples. As part of the summit preparation IFAD, the UN anchor organization for the Action Track 4 "Advance Equitable Livelihoods", has facilitated the engagement of indigenous peoples' representatives in the event. Through a selection process, a youth member of the Steering Committee of the IPs' Forum at IFAD from the GIYC was appointed Youth Vice-Chair for Action Track 4. In this role, in October 2020, she participated in IFAD's informal consultation on 2021 Food Systems Summit, which was held to stimulate a discussion around the key barriers and solutions to advancing equitable livelihood development in food systems transformation.
IFAD's leadership in engaging with indigenous peoples (in particular through the IPs' Forum and the IPAF) was acknowledged as a key resource to support the efforts of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform. For this reason, in 2020 IFAD took part in a survey developed by the platform to map and report on existing funding within the UN system and additional funding opportunities for the participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in climate changerelated activities.
Early in 2020 IFAD, as IASG member, was requested to provide its contribution to the United Nations Secretary-General Report on "Enhancing the participation of indigenous peoples' representatives and institutions in meetings of relevant United Nations bodies on issues affecting them". The final report, 55 released in July 2020, includes IFAD among the positive examples of existing opportunities for the participation of indigenous peoples' representatives at the United Nations. The report highlights that "accreditation to the processes of the Indigenous People's Forum (at IFAD) is based on the principles of selfidentification and self-determination of indigenous peoples, given that the selection of participants is made by indigenous peoples themselves".
Indigenous peoples' representatives were invited to participate in strategic dialogue with IFAD as part of the consultations held for IFAD12 (more information provided in paragraph 3.ii).
To follow up on the recommendation made during the last global meeting of the IPs' Forum at IFAD held 2019, the Latin America and the Caribbean division at IFAD hired two consultants to develop a report including a strategy and road map for enhancing indigenous peoples' access to international environmental funding including, but not limited to, the GCF. As a follow up, IFAD and FILAC organized the webinar "An assessment of IFAD's potential role in facilitating indigenous peoples' access to GCF funds and other financial resources" held virtually on 16 April 2020. The meeting was attended by members of the Steering Committee of the Forum, UNPFII representatives, authors of the report and representatives from FILAC, GCF, Tebtebba and IFAD. Participants shared their views on the proposed road map as well as on the recommendations addressed to IFAD, GCF and indigenous peoples' organizations. Concrete next steps were also identified.
At operational level, IFAD is strengthening the participation of indigenous peoples throughout the project cycle.
With the aim to concretely promote participation and inclusion for both indigenous peoples and young professionals living in rural areas, IFAD hired a young indigenous sociologist from Miskito communities to take part in the design mission of a new project in Nicaragua. 56 Her tasks was to conduct a socio-economic analysis of opportunities, risks and threats to the effective incorporation of vulnerable groups of rural youth, especially women belonging to indigenous and Afrodescendant peoples, into inclusive rural transformation processes.
Specific provisions have been included in projects approved in 2020 for the effective participation of indigenous peoples/tribal communities and ethnic minorities in projects activities (e.g. Brazil, 57 China 58 , Central African Republic, 59 Ecuador, 60 Kenya 61 ).
Good practices have been identified in ongoing IFAD operations. In Peru, where indigenous peoples represent 66 per cent of beneficiaries for the ongoing project in the Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro River Basins, 62 the elaboration of talking maps was introduced through a participatory process, with the aims of: organizing and communicating the collective decisions of the community through the diagramming of scenarios on territorial maps; enhancing local knowledge and knowhow; and promoting the design and implementation of community development initiatives.
Participation of indigenous peoples in project design is also allowing the adoption of specific arrangements to address the needs of indigenous youth and women, also taking into account gender-related issues (e.g. ongoing IFAD-funded projects in Cameroon, 63 Colombia 64 , Indonesia, 65 Peru 66 ).
Ongoing IFAD operations in Colombia 67 are expanding indigenous and Afro-Colombian women's access to and control over key resources such as land, capital, traditional knowledge and technology, and strengthening their autonomy and role in decision-making processes on community issues and their participation in local institutions. In Cameroon, a project focusing on agropastoral entrepreneurship 68 develops annual gender action plans that integrate arrangements to address the needs of young indigenous women.
In some projects, partnerships have been established with indigenous peoples' organizations and organizations having experience in working with these communities (e.g. Cameroon, 69 Burundi, 70 Indonesia 71 ). For example, one of the ongoing projects in Indonesia 72 established a social mapping focusing on the village traditional social structures and lines of power in order to promote inclusive and sustainable local economic development. The mapping methodology draws on the indigenous food systems appraisal developed by AMAN. The organization is also providing support to conduct district mapping in order to identify indigenous youth who are seeking to create new economic spaces and opportunities. The programme also aims to include representatives of indigenous youth in programme provincial platforms, annual forums and programme campaigns.

ii. Any consultative mechanisms, tools and other measures to obtain free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples in processes that affect them;
A working group has been recently set up to update IFAD's SECAP drawing on the United Nations Model Approach to Environmental and Social Standards for UN Programming, which in turn is based on the UN Environmental Management Framework for Advancing Environmental and Social Sustainability in the UN System. 73 The updated SECAP includes a specific standard (Standard 4) on indigenous peoples and provisions for FPIC.
With regard to FPIC, the current "How to Do Note on FPIC in IFAD Investment Projects" (2017) is being revised to incorporate the recent changes in IFAD's design process and its new SECAP.
In view of this exercise, the IPs Team at ECG developed a survey that was distributed mainly to IFAD staff, project management staff and consultants between April and June 2020. The majority of the 50 respondents were engaged in project design and identified lack of budget and clear guidelines as the main challenges in operationalizing the How to Do Note on FPIC.
In line with the IFAD Policy on Engagement with Indigenous Peoples, during 2020 FPIC provisions were systematically included in the design of new projects (e.g. Bolivia, 74 Brazil, 75 Central African Republic, 76 China 77 , Ecuador, 78 Guatemala, 79 India, 80 Kenya, 81 Nicaragua 82 ).
The project approved in Brazil 83 under the GCF framework represent a very good practice where an Indigenous People Planning Framework (IPPF) has been developed, which sets out the processes for carrying out informed consultation and participation, anticipating the potential inclusion of indigenous groups that could not be identified at project design stage. The IPPF aims to provide guidance for the preparation of the Indigenous Peoples' Plan that will be designed together with indigenous peoples' communities once the project area and the indigenous peoples' groups are identified.
In Nicaragua, 84 the FPIC Implementation Plan was the result of consultations with communities, authorities from territories and municipalities, governors of the autonomous regions, and members of the central government. Specific financial resources were allocated by the project for FPIC implementation. Similarly, the FPIC implementation plan developed in Central African Republic 85 describes responsibilities, timeframes and budgetary considerations to create mechanisms to bring the entire community into the process and create a culture of full participation through deliberate social inclusion. 86 Good practices on FPIC implementation were also identified and collected by the IPs Team in ongoing IFAD-funded projects (e.g. in Colombia, 87 El Salvador 88 , India, 89 Peru 90 ).
In India, 91 a participatory planning process was adopted through elected village councils, a representative body of the local tribal communities that ensures FPIC and a community-driven development approach. Village-and district-level consultations are conducted to obtain and document FPIC of the targeted communities, and the project systematically engages with the tribal communities at all stages of the planning.
In Peru, the ongoing IFAD-funded Sustainable Territorial Development Project supports the participation of indigenous peoples' communities in determining the priorities and strategies for achieving their own development and considers FPIC as a fundamental tool for the empowerment of indigenous peoples' organizations. The project design builds on the existing process of organization to defend the rights and lands of indigenous peoples, not only by seeking their recognition, titling and/or extension of territory, but also by supporting initiatives such as the formulation of life plans and the training of indigenous women and youth leaders. The development approaches adopted respond concretely to the holistic perspectives of indigenous peoples, while promoting equitable access to land and territories and the valorization of traditional knowledge and practices.
In Colombia, the participatory process promoted by the project 92 has made it possible to capture the different opinions of participants, including indigenous peoples and Afro-Colombians, about the planning of the project and the possible benefits. The project design includes consultations with representatives of the organizations and institutions of indigenous peoples and Afro-Colombians present in the project area in order to obtain FPIC for the project activities that affect them.
iii. Any consultation mechanisms established by the UNCT or support to Member States in establishing institutions and mechanisms for consultation with indigenous peoples, as well as ensuring effective participation of indigenous youth and indigenous women, in the COVID-19 socio-economic response and recovery plans.
Information was provided in paragraph 2.i and paragraph 6.i.
Thank you very much 86 The FPIC implementation plan includes the following actions: (i) conduct sociocultural and land tenure assessment including user rights, traditional laws, lifestyles, governance systems and land use of indigenous peoples; (ii) identify decision-makers for inclusion in discussion groups on land tenure and user rights; (iii) undertake a consultation on the inclusion of indigenous peoples in the different components of the project (property rights, land tenure and resource management); and (iv) formalize FPIC and document it. 87