The aim of the Awards is to recognize the efforts and the achievements of development projects that successfully engage with indigenous peoples or ethnic minorities living in rural areas.
The Awards will be delivered in a knowledge-sharing session within the fifth global meeting of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD in February 2021.
This initiative is directed to:

• IFAD-funded projects targeting indigenous peoples or ethnic minorities
• IPAF-funded projects under implementation
• Other development projects implemented by indigenous peoples or ethnic minorities’ organizations in rural areas
   

Nomination form
Deadline: 20 August 2020. Only nominations submitted through this form will be eligible.

IFAD and Indigenous Peoples. Based on its Policy on Engagement with Indigenous Peoples, IFAD supports indigenous peoples’ self-driven development, while respecting and enhancing their traditional livelihoods, occupations and knowledge. At the same time, their role in managing of ecosystems and protecting biodiversity is a central pillar of IFAD's approach to mainstreaming the issues of nutrition, gender, youth and climate, particularly given the challenges faced by young indigenous women. Indigenous peoples hold valuable knowledge and traditions that provide solutions to major challenges. Their exclusion and marginalization threatens the central tenet of the 2030 Agenda – to leave no one behind. Since 2007, IFAD has financed, supported and managed the Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility (IPAF), to build a direct partnership with indigenous peoples to enable them and their communities to design, approve and implement grass-roots development projects based on their own perspectives.

What are the Indigenous Peoples Awards? The Indigenous Peoples Awards, organized by IFAD’s Indigenous Peoples Team in partnership with the members of the Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD and of the Board of the Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility (IPAF), are awarded biennially to recognize the efforts and the achievements of development projects that successfully engage with indigenous peoples living in rural areas. The purpose is to promote best practices of engagement, share knowledge and lessons learned and identify opportunities to replicate and scale-up results. The awarded projects will gain visibility and recognition throughout IFAD and its network of partners. The prizes will be delivered to representatives of indigenous peoples or ethnic minorities from the awarded projects 1 .
The process (first edition) 1 Travel, visa, lodging and daily subsistence allowance costs will be covered by IFAD for one indigenous beneficiary from each of the 3 awarded projects (in case the global meeting of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD will be held residentially).

August 2020 • The call for proposals closes on 20 August 2020; • The members of the Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum at IFAD select the candidates to be invited to present their achievements during the regional consultation meetings (held virtually) in preparation for the fifth global meeting of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum

October - November 2020 • The selected candidates (up to 4 per category in each region) present their achievements during the regional meetings • The participants of each regional meeting vote the best candidates (1 per category) • The Selection Committee selects the 3 Awards winners (1 per category)

February 2021 • Indigenous representatives from the awarded projects are invited to participate in the fifth global meeting of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum to receive the prize and share their achievements

Awards Categories and Eligibility Criteria Award Category Who can apply Project maturity Best performing IFAD-funded project IFAD staff, Project management staff The project must be under implementation for at least two years Best performing non-IFAD funded project Indigenous peoples or ethnic minorities’ organizations, communities, groups or associations implementing projects in rural areas of countries where IFAD operates (for a list of eligible countries, click here) Best performing IPAF-funded project Organizations implementing projects approved under the fifth IPAF cycle The project must be under implementation for at least one year

Selection Criteria Results: The extent to which the nominated project has resulted in a measurable and positive impact in promoting indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination; Sustainability: The extent to which the nominated project contributed to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals; Integrated approach: The extent to which the nominated project demonstrates opportunities for linkages and synergies between the engagement with indigenous peoples and the following themes: environment and climate change, gender, youth and nutrition; Scalability and/or replicability: The extent to which the nominated project or its innovations can be scaled up and/or replicated elsewhere.