Projects > Brief descriptions > Strengthening of Indigenous Organisations in Latin America

Contact person

For further information please contact:
Ms Sylvia Reinhardt
Email: Sylvia.Reinhardt@giz.de

Strengthening of Indigenous Organisations in Latin America

Project description

Title: Strengthening of Indigenous Organisations in Latin America
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Latin America: Andes region, Guatemala, Amazon Basin
Overall term: 2006 to 2013

Context

Indigenous peoples account for nearly 10 per cent of the total population of Latin America. In individual countries, they comprise anything from a small percentage to the majority of the population. They are the most disadvantaged population group and are particularly hard hit by extreme poverty. Their ability to sustain their livelihoods and cultural heritage continues to be limited owing to their social and political marginalisation as a result of unequal access to education, jobs, income sources and health services, the inadequate recognition of indigenous territories, and the exploitation of natural resources.

However, in recent decades the disadvantages suffered by indigenous peoples have attracted growing political attention worldwide. This is due mainly to the notably improved ability of indigenous peoples to communicate in political arenas, and the resulting process of recognition of indigenous rights at the United Nations (United Nations Decades, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007) and by other international organisations (e.g. the Organization of American States). This growing attention has led to a formal recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples in many Latin American countries. However, they have not yet been able to assert their legal rights to a sufficient extent.

The experience drawn from development cooperation projects confirms the challenges still faced by indigenous organisations, despite their growing ability to articulate their position, if they are to make conceptually well-founded contributions on relevant topics and legitimise these within their communities. So far, these organisations have not been able to properly represent the interests, rights and needs of their peoples on either a national or an international level.

German development cooperation is thus further expanding its longstanding cooperation with indigenous peoples, with particular emphasis on direct cooperation with indigenous organisations.

Objective

Local and national indigenous organisations are strengthened and their regional cooperation is supported. The organisations are able to defend their rights and positions effectively both in their respective countries, and in international cooperation.

Approach

The project operates in two areas:

Indigenous organisations are strengthened in their technical and thematic competences. The key themes to be promoted are ‘Good governance’, ‘Natural resources management’ and ‘Crisis prevention and conflict transformation’. These themes are drawn from BMZ’s Strategy on Cooperation with Indigenous Peoples in Latin America (2006) and the priorities of German development cooperation with Latin America.

The theme of ‘Good governance’ chiefly relates to the opportunities for indigenous people to participate in policy creation, legal systems and society, for example, the mainstreaming of indigenous interests in political entities, or the national application of international regulations such as the ILO (International Labour Organization) Convention 169 and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous organisations in the Andes region and Guatemala are cooperation partners for this theme.

In the area of ‘Natural resources management’, the project aims to support indigenous organisations and communities in using and conserving natural resources, particularly in relation to biodiversity and genetic resources, indigenous knowledge and associated intellectual property rights, the problems of land rights and land use, and protected areas. The consideration of indigenous rights in current climate processes (prevention, adjustment and financial mechanisms) is also supported. Cooperation on these themes is principally with indigenous organisations in the Amazon Basin.
The programme makes a contribution to better mainstreaming of cooperation with indigenous peoples in all German development cooperation with Latin America. GIZ’s Coordination Office for Indigenous Peoples in Latin America and the Caribbean (KIVLAK), located in Germany, advises BMZ and other implementing organisations on mainstreaming the topic in their institutions. Furthermore, KIVLAK serves as an important contact point for coordination on this theme with other international governmental and non-governmental organisations in the field of development cooperation.

Results achieved so far

The indigenous organisations are better able to put their political, cultural, social and economic rights into practice.

Participation in thematic networks promotes technical knowledge and dialoguing capacity, which means that indigenous organisations can introduce their concerns more effectively into political and social negotiation processes. They use the negotiation arenas open to them at a national level, and also international forums, and have the technical skills to represent their interests there.

There is an increase in the exchange of experiences and cooperation between different indigenous organisations. Positions on relevant themes are also coordinated with indigenous experts, for example, on the role of indigenous people in conserving forests, or on the effects of climate change on indigenous peoples.

Work on the sustainable mainstreaming of the theme of ‘Indigenous peoples’ in German governmental development cooperation has brought about greater consideration of indigenous rights, interests and needs in the planning and implementation of projects. Development specialists are increasingly aware of the relevance of this theme.

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