In the context of the IUCN World Conservation Congress, SGP presented at the roundtable “Accessing Global Finances: Funding Opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities”, organized by the GEF at the UNDP Community Kauhale ‘Ōiwi space. The event was moderated by Alejandra Pero, Coordinator of the World Network of Indigenous Peoples and Local Community Land and Sea Managers, Equator Initiative at UNDP.

Yoko Watanabe, Senior Biodiversity Specialist at the GEF Secretariat started the event with a presentation of the efforts undertaken by the GEF to engage with indigenous people including its Principles and Guidelines for Engagement with Indigenous Peoples and the establishment of the GEF Indigenous Peoples Advisory Group (IPAG), a partnership that provides guidance to the GEF Secretariat. The presentation also covered the different types of projects offered by the GEF that can benefit Indigenous Peoples.

Following this presentation, Terence Hay-Edie, Indigenous Peoples focal Point and biodiversity Advisor for the Small Grants Programme-SGP, explained how SGP offers flexible mechanisms to allow indigenous people essay access to grants and technical support. Mr. Hay-Edie also talked about the launch of the Global Indigenous Fellowship Initiative, an initiative aimed at improving the leadership and organizational capacities of Indigenous People. Johnson Cerda, Director of the Dedicated Grant Mechanism for Indigenous People and Local Communities -DGM a special window under the Forest Investment Programe of the Climate Investment Fund-CIF, highlighted the objectives and structure of the DGM and what it aims to accomplish in the countries it operates.

Michael McGreevey. Senior Grant Manager of the Global Conservation Fund at Conservation International highlighted that the GCF has helped conserved 19 conservation areas accounting for over 12 million hectares through their work with indigenous people and local communities and explained that their interventions ensure the long term management of protected areas. Meanwhile, Michele Zador, Grant Director of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, explained how their grants help protect critical biodiversity hotspots that often overlap with lands owned or managed by indigenous people. As such, they provide support to indigenous peoples for conservation activities.

Ms. Kyra Busch, from the Christensen Fund and Ms. Galina Angarova, from the Swift Foundation closed the sesion.