FAO launches new project to strengthen the resilience of Indigenous Peoples through social protection

Indigenous Peoples, government officials, policymakers stand to benefit from a new project implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) at country level.

Officially launched in March, its goal is to influence policy design that enhances the resilience of Indigenous Peoples in the context of climate risks, with a specific emphasis on integrating them into in social protection programmes. 

It will analyse national policies across the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus to identify barriers hindering the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples. It will also explore how their contributions can enrich social protection amid multiple shocks and stresses. 

The project will directly consult Indigenous Peoples to assess the profile of their food and knowledge systems, their access to opportunities, services and markets. 

Funded by the FAO´s Flexible Voluntary Contribution, it has the potential to significantly improve the lives of Indigenous women and youths around the world. 

Social Protection for Indigenous Peoples 

Indigenous Peoples' food and knowledge systems are increasingly recognized globally for their role in advancing sustainable and resilient food systems. They have produced abundant and nutritious food for millennia and, with the right conditions, they can continue feeding future generations safeguarding biodiversity and natural resources at the same time.

However, these systems are threatened worldwide, and Indigenous communities encounter challenges such as limited access to social protection schemes and inadequate emergency responses. The lack of evidence and disaggregated data often results in their specific needs being misunderstood and overlooked in policy decisions. 

Indigenous Peoples are not inherently vulnerable populations, but they are put in situations of vulnerability when their rights are not respected. Inclusive and targeted social protection schemes have the potential to counterbalance these situations of vulnerability.

Indigenous Peoples make up 6.2 percent of the global population. The risks of not taking action for these communities, their food and knowledge systems and the planet are severe, potentially excluding vast segments of the population.

Furthermore, it could result in missing the opportunity to leverage their expertise in ecosystem conservation and restoration, which is vital for enhancing resilience.

FAO considers Indigenous and tribal Peoples as key allies in the realization of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Goals (SDGs). 

The integration of Indigenous and tribal Peoples into resilient and sustainable development initiatives lies at the core of FAO's Strategic Framework 2022-31.