Seventh Global Meeting of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD

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Excellencies,

Representatives of Indigenous Peoples, Partners and friends,

A warm welcome to this Seventh Global Meeting of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum. It is an honour for IFAD to host this meeting again.

The realisation of Indigenous Peoples’ rights to self-determination, food security and sovereignty requires that we decolonize our mindsets.

This means, in part, actively questioning the inherited systems that reinforce inequalities and injustices and taking action where needed.

At IFAD, this is how we work. All of our work with rural communicates similarly requires humility and an openness to learning from the stewards of the land.

And we believe our partnerships with Indigenous Peoples and organisations gives us a unique perspective, and a level of knowledge, connection and expertise that we need - and never take for granted.

The knowledge, values, and practices embedded in Indigenous Peoples' food systems are vital and irreplaceable.

Supporting Indigenous Peoples’ leadership in stewarding the environment, biodiversity, and ways of life rooted in spiritual and ecological balance is therefore a perquisite to realising food security and sovereignty.

And it requires access to land, territories and resources, and nothing less than the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples in political and legal processes that concern you and your land.

We also take the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent to heart, not as a means for approval but as a shared mechanism to co-create projects that are sustainable and culturally relevant - and that play their part in ensuring indigenous Peoples self-determination.

IFAD is very proud to host the Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility (IPAF), a unique fund that has supported Indigenous Peoples’ organizations to strengthen their communities all over the world. It has been instrumental in IFAD’s ongoing learning.

IFAD has been working with Indigenous Peoples for more than 40 years and we continue to learn from you.

During the 12th IFAD replenishment, which just finished in December, we significantly exceeded our targets on the number of projects prioritizing Indigenous Peoples - not simply engaging Indigenous People, but providing targeted initiatives that incorporate identify, knowledge and food systems.

This is a commitment we have carried through to this next cycle, IFAD13.

We also continue our efforts to mobilize funds for the Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility.

Our policy now states very clearly that IFAD works with Indigenous Peoples as equal partners to co-create strategies and design and monitor investments.

We will also continue to focus on the needs and roles of women and youth, especially in supporting their intergenerational transfer of knowledge and culture

Indigenous Peoples are the best stewards of nature, on the frontlines defending mother earth. Your mission is IFAD’s mission.

We will keep working with you and your organizations to achieve self-determination, food sovereignty and food security. And so that your knowledge and wisdom informs all of our work around the world.

I wish you every success over these two days as you chart a bold path forward. And I assure you of IFAD’s continued commitment and partnership on that road.

Thank you.