New York, 15 July 2025 - In a gathering at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), Indigenous leaders and global stakeholders converged for the official side event “Direct Partnerships with and Financing for Indigenous Peoples: Key to Strengthening SDG Implementation.” Held at the United Nations Headquarters, the event focused on strengthening Indigenous-led development through direct access to finance, data sovereignty, and inclusive governance.
Organized by the Indigenous Peoples Major Group (IPMG), Indigenous Navigator Consortium, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Indigenous Peoples International Centre for Policy Research and Education (Tebtebba), United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR), and the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC), the dialogue underscored the necessity of shifting from donor-driven models toward Indigenous-led financing mechanisms.
Ellen Dictaan-Bang-oa of Tebtebba presented compelling data on the Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility (IPAF), a grant program administered by Indigenous Peoples through a regional board structure with representatives from all global regions. With six calls for proposals and over 5,000 applications, IPAF has awarded 212 grants across 45 countries, totaling USD 8.5 million and reaching over 110,000 beneficiaries. Grant sizes ranged from USD 20,000 to 70,000, reflecting the flexibility and scale of community needs.
From Bangladesh, Uzzal Azim of the Kapaaeng Foundation shared insights on using IPAF funding to advance Indigenous land rights. Their initiative centered on awareness campaigns and youth engagement, including the formation of five youth groups and hosting 20 community awareness meetings. A policy paper submitted to the Human Rights Commission marked a notable advocacy milestone. Efforts to build partnerships with local and national government bodies were highlighted as achievements, though Azim also underscored the challenge of non-recognition of Indigenous Peoples in Bangladesh, calling for systemic reforms and formal recognition.
Robie Halip, Executive Director of Right Energy Partnership and the Global Coordinator of IPMG, emphasized the power of Indigenous-led data gathering to drive self-determined development. Through the Indigenous Navigator, communities collect disaggregated data by ethnicity to monitor rights and implementation across frameworks like UNDRIP, SDGs, and the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (WCIP). Halip noted that 98 small grants have been implemented under the initiative, funded by the European Union, reinforcing the importance of direct funding and advocacy rooted in evidence.
Institutional reflections came from Claudia Scuriatti of IFAD, who outlined five pillars guiding IFAD’s engagement with Indigenous Peoples. Her remarks reinforced the importance of co-designing financing models and centering Indigenous governance throughout the development process.
The second panel, moderated by Halip, explored systemic barriers to Indigenous inclusion in SDG implementation. Rio Hada of OHCHR called for embedding Indigenous rights in all SDG frameworks, stressing the critical role of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), participation in Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), and financing designed to respect Indigenous data and knowledge systems. Hada addressed the prevalence of systemic discrimination and the need for accountability mechanisms, particularly for defending Indigenous human rights defenders.
Roberto Mukaro Borrero of the International Indian Treaty Council focused on SDG 14 and ocean governance, underscoring the importance of community-driven climate justice. He called for ratification of the BBNJ Treaty, support the moratorium on deep-sea mining, and recognition of Indigenous Peoples' central role in ocean stewardship through frameworks grounded in FPIC.
Jimrex Calatan addressed the intersection of SDG 8 and Indigenous labor migration, while Ruth Kissam of Papua New Guinea delivered a powerful presentation on SDG 5 and the leadership of Indigenous women and girls. Kissam argued that their empowerment is vital to sustainable development, drawing on her work in 15 provinces across Papua New Guinea and her international advocacy to combat sorcery-related violence and promote legal and economic access.
The event concluded with a resounding message: direct finance, Indigenous-led data systems, and structural inclusion are essential to realizing the 2030 Agenda. Stakeholders were urged to shift power by partnering directly with Indigenous Peoples and embedding Indigenous priorities at every level of SDG governance.
