In its role for improving the recognition, support and overall effectiveness of ICCAs, the Global Support Initiative to Indigenous Peoples and Community-Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCA-GSI) organized a consultative workshop to create awareness and provide inputs to the initial draft of the Indigenous Peoples (IP) policy of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The workshop was held in Nairobi, Kenya on 03 August 2017 and was co-organized by SGP's partners, NGOs Indigenous Information Network (IIN) and Indigenous Livelihoods Enhancement Partners (ILEPA) and the UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (UNREDD).

As a response to various and repeated calls from indigenous peoples for an IP Policy, the current draft was developed through a series of consultations with indigenous peoples and captures the key elements contained in various submissions made to the GCF. This 1-day workshop brought a total of 23 participants including representatives of indigenous communities, civil society organizations (CSOs),UNDP, SGP and National Designated Authority/ies (NDA) to collaboratively assess the current draft GCF IP Policy and provide necessary inputs.  The GCF Secretariat has further developed the policy and announced the second call for inputs on October 2017.

The engagement of indigenous peoples themselves and support from relevant IP initiatives in the policy planning process ensures that the GCF, in its contribution to the climate adaptation and mitigation agenda, is consistent with UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and with the standards of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). Therefore, the Indigenous Peoples Policy will be a crucial instrument to guide the implementation of the UNFCCC Agreements, including the Paris Agreement and particularly, interventions supported by the GCF.

For more information on ICCA-GSI, please click here.