BIC Update on the IDB Indigenous Peoples Policy, May 3, 2004

3 May 2004

Indigenous representatives from the Americas met with President Iglesias on April 27 to discuss proposed consultations on an Indigenous Peoples Policy and Framework.

[esta informe en español]

President Iglesias Meets with Indigenous leaders: April 27, 2004

Indigenous representatives from the Americas met with President Iglesias of the IDB to discuss proposed consultations on an Indigenous Peoples Policy and Framework. Indigenous representatives confirmed their interest, but asked President Iglesias to guarantee appropriate time and financial resources. In another meeting, IDB staff, including the head of the Sustainable Development Department (SDS) Carlos Jarque, discussed with the representatives ways to include effective indigenous participation in the policy consultation process. Indigenous representatives called for clear participation mechanisms to be established. In general, Jarque agreed to seek out the funds necessary to comply with indigenous suggestions of a long dissemination period followed by specific in-country workshops. He was not inclined to lengthen the consultation period because of an IDB Executive Director request that the new policy (along with the environment and energy policies) be approved at the annual meeting in March 2005.

Proposed Consultation Plans

IDB Consultation Plan (2/20/04)

• November/December 2003: Preparation and identification of consultation fora and events.
• March 2004: Beginning of consultation activities.
• October 2004: Consultation process concludes.
• November 2004: Meeting of indigenous advisory committee.
• December 2004: Strategic framework to the Administration’s Program Committee.
• March 2005: Strategic Framework to the Policy and Evaluation Committee of the Board of Directors.

Indigenous Proposal for the IDB Indigenous Peoples’ Policy Consultation (3/24/04)

Phase I: Distribution

1. At each meeting present the profiles, present explanatory background materials, and explain consultation plans, including a schedule of consultation workshops in each country.
2. Other dissemination: Electronic and regular mail.
3. Background information: The profiles must be accompanied by appropriate explanatory materials.
4. Schedule should include (but not be limited to):
   April 25-39: OAS IP Caucus
   May 10-23: UNPFII,
   June: COICA Consejo Directivo meeting (Note it is not a general assembly)
   July 19- 25: UN WGIP

Phase II: Consultation workshops in each country. (August, September, October, November)

Phase III: External Advisory Panel (drafting committee) meets to incorporate comments.(January 2005)

Phase IV: Revised draft policy distributed for public comments for ninety day period
(February, March, April 2005)

Phase V. Advisory Panel meets again for final revisions. (May 2005)

Phase VI. Proposed Policy goes to board for approval. (June 2005)

Chronology of Indigenous Peoples Policy

May 2003: The IDB announces they will carry out consultations around a strategic framework to guide IDB work in indigenous issues for the next 5-10 years.

May 2003: Members of the Amazon Alliance send a letter urging the IDB to urgently begin work on a policy - a strategic framework was not considered sufficient.

November 2003: Participants in the indigenous caucus of the OAS working group on the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples send a similar letter.

November 2003 (late): the policy committee at the Bank agreed to the Indigenous Peoples Unit request to consult on the policy at the same time as the strategic framework.

March 2004: IDB policy committee approves the draft policy (called a policy profile).

March 2004: Indigenous representatives send a new letter to IDB, handed directly to Vice-President Flannery by Johnson Cerda, co-director of the Amazon Alliance. The letter calls for an alternative consultation procedure in which indigenous representatives are present throughout the process including planning the process and editing the policy draft.

• Letter from Amazon Alliance with indigenous peoples to Enrique Iglesias proposing a consultation process for IDB Indigenous Peoples Policy and Strategic Framework, March 24, 2004. Also available: Español

April 2004: Indigenous representatives meet with IDB President Iglesias.
December 2005: IDB plans to approve the Indigenous Peoples policy.

The IDB Context

The IDB is considered by many civil society groups to be one of the least democratic financial institutions in that it does not have policies to protect the basic rights of people affected by their development programs. Despite that, it is one of the largest investors in infrastructure projects in the region. The Bank had come under increasing pressure to develop a policy to safeguard the rights of indigenous communities affected by development projects. In particular the Camisea gas project in Peru, which was approved for IDB support by a narrow margin last year, brought international scrutiny on IDB activities in indigenous areas. Along with the Indigenous Peoples Policy, the IDB is currently developing policy proposals for the environment and for energy. The IDB currently has a resettlement policy (1998) which restricts the forced resettlement of indigenous communities, as well as an outdated forestry policy (1991) which mentions special considerations for indigenous peoples.