Project profile — UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples

• Africa, regional (16.67%)
• America, regional (16.67%)
• Asia, regional (16.67%)
• Oceania, regional (16.66%)
• Europe, regional (16.67%)
• Developing countries, unspecified (16.66%)

• Democratic participation and civil society:
Democratic participation and civil society (15150) (40.00%)
Ending violence against women and girls (15180) (30.00%)
• Conflict Prevention And Resolution, Peace And Security: Civilian peace-building, conflict prevention and resolution (15220) (30.00%)

• Gender equality (significant objective)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (not targeted)
• Participatory development and good governance (not targeted)
• Trade development (not targeted)
• Biodiversity (not targeted)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (not targeted)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Children's issues (not targeted)
• Youth Issues (not targeted)
• Disaster Risk Reduction(DRR) (not targeted)
• Indigenous Issues (principal objective)
• Disability (not targeted)
• Nutrition (not targeted)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)

The project supports the United Nations (UN) Voluntary Fund to enhance the meaningful participation of Indigenous peoples at the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. These two key UN bodies are devoted to Indigenous issues, as well as the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). These UN bodies facilitate the mechanisms to build the expertise of beneficiaries, enabling them to be effective participants in UN human rights mechanisms and more effective duty bearers within their respective communities through mentoring programs, information sessions and training.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased number of Indigenous peoples' participation in UN meetings and in decision-making processes; (2) increased representation of Indigenous women in UN meetings and processes as a means of empowering Indigenous women, including emerging leaders at the international level; (3) enhanced effectiveness of diverse information and views submitted to Treaty Bodies system and the UPR leading to the international Human Rights Mechanisms providing targeted expert advice on Indigenous issues and on related issues; and (4) increased advocacy by Indigenous peoples' representatives at local and national level.

Results achieved as of the end of the project (March 2019) include: (1) 131 people (of which 76 were women) participated in key UN meetings and processes that were the most specific and relevant to the Indigenous peoples from developing countries, especially those affected by instability and/or conflict. For example, 45 Indigenous representatives from 35 countries attended the two weeks session of the UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples, and 23 representatives from 13 countries attended the Human Rights Council, Treaty Body, and Universal Periodic Review (UPR) sessions; (2) many initiatives were organized by the Indigenous representatives upon return to their home countries to raise awareness on these international processes. In some cases, in order to increase more awareness, important documents and reports from the different sessions were translated into national/local languages; and (3) the work of participants back home in building networks, exchanging information with other Indigenous peoples’ representatives and creating partnerships with other Indigenous peoples, governments, UN agencies, NGOs and experts was supported and strengthened.

• Proactive disclosure