UNDP (United Nations Development Programme): About Indigenous Peoples


The recognition of the relation between environment, sustainability and development has drawn positive attention to indigenous peoples' ways of life, their cultures, land, nature and resource management, indigenous sciences, knowledge and healing practices. Developmental policies, strategies, projects and activities, however, often do not take into account the specific wishes and capacities of indigenous peoples. Therefore, indigenous communities customarily resist being forcefully integrated into mainstream society and losing their cultural identity and distinctiveness for 'developmental reasons' or take part in developmental processes that are alien to their ways of life. However, the conceptions of development of and for indigenous peoples are slowly changing. Increasingly, the principle of self-determination and/or components of this, such as the right to indigenous lands, territories and their natural resources, autonomous development, prior informed consent, the right to objection, and right of full and effective participation is being accepted and respected, if not yet implemented. In addition, practices are being modified by acknowledging that we need to revisit past mistakes, build upon existing resources and capacities, and create new opportunities. In other words, an increased culture of learning is permeating our practice.

The intention of this site is to respond to some of the suggestions indigenous peoples have been making to improve indigenous peoples' involvement in UNDP as well as in the UN system. Over the years indigenous peoples have requested more open access to UNDP and the UN system at all levels. They have requested that UNDP and other UN agencies alike, ensure that documentation and information reach their communities and organizations. Most importantly, indigenous peoples have emphasized the importance of transparency in UNDP's activities. Furthermore, they have also urged UNDP and other UN agencies to reach out to indigenous organizations. In turn, indigenous peoples have also recognized that their own networks need to be strengthened. Networks will facilitate indigenous processes for decision-making and empower their presence within UNDP and the UN system so to ensure their points of view and recommendations are treated seriously.

This site introduces the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Programme in some detail and attempts to provide support for indigenous peoples' development initiatives by focusing on the aspirations, the knowledge and the expertise of indigenous men and women. It was developed to provide information about indigenous peoples, and their relationship with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The site is to bring transparency to UNDP's activities with indigneous communities and serves as a tool for both internal and external advocacy.

The IP programme is housed within the Civil Society and Participation Programme of UNDP's Bureau for Development Policy (BDP)/Social Development and Poverty Elimination Division (SEPED). SEPED is responsible for providing guidance and programme support in the following areas:

* Poverty eradication
* Employment and Sustainable Livelihoods
* Civil Society and Participation
* Gender
* HIV/AIDS and health

The United Nations includes indigenous peoples in UNDP's development strategy because UNDP's mandate of Sustainable Human Development (SHD) focuses on the reduction of poverty, sustainable development and the use of participatory approaches to achieve these aims. Although indigenous peoples are among the most resilient of peoples in the world, through the centuries, indigenous peoples have been systematically marginalized and have thus become in many cases, extremely vulnerable and poor. Indigenous peoples have been excluded from decision-making processes, have been victims of armed conflict and rapid economic development without their consent, have been deprived of their basic needs like education and healthcare, and have been repeatedly violated of their human rights. Therefore, if SHD views development as a process that must enlarge the range of people's choices and enable them to participate in the decisions that affect their lives, it is crucial to work with indigenous peoples in order to successfully carry out UNDP's mandate.