Indigenous Peoples' Center for Documentation, Research and Information

Information and links on Funds for Indigenous Delegates and Organisations:

• UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations
• Trust Fund for the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People
• WIPO: Voluntary Fund for Accredited Indigenous and Local Communities
• The CBD Voluntary Funding Mechanism for Indigenous and Local Communities
• Other Funding Sources

The UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations aims to promote the participation of indigenous representatives in the sessions of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations and of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues by providing them with financial assistance funded by means of voluntary contributions from governments, non-governmental organizations and other public or private entities.

The Fund is administered in accordance with UN regulations by the Secretary-General, who is advised by a Board of Trustees composed of five persons with relevant experience on indigenous issues, who are appointed by the Secretary-General for a three-year renewable term and who serve in a personal capacity.

The Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations website contains further information on the Fund itself and its Board of Trustees, relevant UN documents, the criteria for the selection of beneficiaries, the application forms and deadlines, as well as a list of received contributions, among other information.

Contact information:
Secretariat of the Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
CH-1211 Geneva 10 - Switzerland
Phone: +41 22 928 9737 / 9164
Fax : +41 22 928 9066
E-mail: IndigenousFunds(at)ohchr(dot)org

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The Trust Fund for the Second Decade aims at promoting, supporting and implementing the objectives of the Second Decade through the funding of projects concerning the main areas of the Decade: culture, education, health, human rights, the environment and social and economic development. The Fund is expected to be used principally for small grants projects, with a budget for up to US$10,000 covering one year's expenses. Indigenous organisations or organisations working for indigenous peoples can submit project proposals.

The Advisory Group for the Trust Fund for the Second Decade consists of members of the Bureau of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (composed of the PF's Chair, Rapporteur and four vice-Chairs). In 2006 and in 2007, the Advisory Group proposed awarding grants totalling about US$200,000 each year to 20 projects from the Permanent Forum's seven socio-cultural regions.

The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues website gives further information on the current application cycle including deadlines, funding guidelines and application forms, as well as information on the outcomes of the previous application cycles.

Contact information:
Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
United Nations, 2 UN Plaza, Room DC2-1772
New York, NY, 10017, USA
Phone: +1 917 367 5100
Fax: +1 917 367 5102
E-mail: indigenousfund(at)un(dot)org

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The WIPO Voluntary Fund for Accredited Indigenous and Local Communities was established in October 2005 by the Member States of WIPO in order to further facilitate indigenous and local communities' participation in the work of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (the IGC).

Please note that only representatives of local and indigenous communities who are already accredited to participate in the IGC may apply for this funding.

On WIPO website you will find information on the accreditation procedure for the IGC, and further information on the objectives, rules and functioning of the Fund, as well as application forms and deadlines. 

Contact information:
Traditional Knowledge Division
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
34, chemin des Colombettes
1211 Geneva 20 / Switzerland
Fax: + 41 22 338 8120
E-mail: grtkf(at)wipo(dot)int

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The Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity has established a Voluntary Fund to facilitate the participation of indigenous and local communities in meetings related to the Convention, in particular but not exclusively the meetings that are related to the objectives of Article 8(j) and Related Provisions of the Convention.

Applications from indigenous and local communities' representatives can be sent as soon as notification about a particular meeting has been posted on the CBD website. Applications for a specific meeting, accompanied by a letter of nomination from the represented indigenous or local community, must be received by the CBD Secretariat at least three months prior to the meeting.

In the selection of beneficiaries, the CBD Executive Secretary will consult with the Bureau of the Conference of Parties, as well as with a Selection Committee consisting of seven representatives nominated by indigenous and local communities from each one of the seven geo-cultural regions recognised by the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Selection criteria include expertise, gender balance and equitable geographic distribution.

The CBD website provides further information and relevant documents on this Funding Mechanism, including draft criteria for its operation and application forms.

Contact information:
Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
413 St-Jacques Street, 8th floor, Office 800
Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H2Y 1N9
Phone: +1 514 288 2220 Fax: +1 514 288 6588
E-mail: secretariat(at)cbd(dot)int

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The website for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights publishes a list of additional donors who finance the participation of indigenous representatives during the Working Group on Indigenous Populations and Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has an Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility. More information is available on the IFAD website.

The International Funders for Indigenous Peoples publishes an Indigenous Peoples Funding and Resources Guide on its website. The guide is available for free in a PDF file in English and Spanish. A hard copy is also available for purchase.

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