Photo Copyright: Nina Kantcheva
The 24th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), held from 21 April to 2 May 2025, brought together Indigenous leaders, governments, UN agencies, and civil society to discuss Indigenous Peoples’ priorities. Guided by the theme of implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, discussions reflected growing urgency ahead of COP30 in Brazil. Key topics included forest conservation, land rights, indigenous-led climate actions, and improving access to finance, highlighted by initiatives like the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), the Forest, Climate and Land Partnership (FCLP) land tenure pledge, and the Green Climate Fund.
UN-REDD, with its continuing commitment to advancing the rights and priorities of Indigenous Peoples, participated in this year’s UNPFII, represented by UNDP, to support actions that amplify Indigenous voices and to strengthen partnerships and collaboration with them.
Here’s a deeper look at some of the key themes and engagement by UNDP on behalf of UN-REDD:
Platform to connect Indigenous Peoples with the private sector and philanthropies
At UNPFII, UNDP introduced a new initiative to connect Indigenous peoples’ entrepreneurs with private financiers to support climate solutions, deforestation-free production, and strengthen Indigenous economies and bioeconomies. Part of UNDP’s Climate Promise and supported by the UN-REDD Programme, the initiative responds to long-standing Indigenous calls for direct access to resources
In a dialogue with Indigenous leaders and private sector representatives, participants emphasized the following key points:
- The importance of Indigenous-led development rooted in holistic frameworks like Planes de Vida ("Life Plans"), which integrate culture, spirituality, and self-determination;
- There was a call for Indigenous peoples to be in the "driver's seat" of development concerning their territories;
- Preference for joint ventures over traditional aid, valuing Indigenous capital, land, resources, and knowledge.
- Inclusivity: Ensure gender parity and representation from various Indigenous governance bodies;
- Calls to move beyond carbon markets to support bioeconomy, art, fashion, and spiritual values.
- Recognition of the challenges and opportunities in aligning private sector goals with Indigenous priorities. The importance of building long-term, trust-based partnerships
- Brazil’s first Minister for Indigenous Peoples, Sonia Guajajara, expressed strong interest in collaboration and highlighted her Ministry’s efforts to build a portfolio of Indigenous entrepreneurship projects for COP30. She emphasized the need for a platform to connect these initiatives with private and philanthropic funding.
Photo Copyright: Nina Kantcheva
The Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF)
The TFFF, a new multilateral initiative led by Brazil with the support of 12 other countries, aims to raise USD 125 billion for tropical forest conservation. Brazil intends to launch this at COP 30 in Belem and is working hard to get the support of more governments and investors.
At UNPFII, the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC) and the TFFF announced a partnership to develop a new financing mechanism that places Indigenous leadership and rights at the center of forest conservation. A key proposal from GATC calls for 20 percent of each country’s proceeds to go directly to Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Minister Sonia Guajajara recognized UNDP's support for tropical forest countries to engage with the TFFF process and urged continued collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, alongside partners like the World Bank..
In a joint article, Minister Guajajara and GATC’s Juan Carlos Jintiach emphasized that Indigenous Peoples, despite being the best guardians of tropical forests, receive limited and unequal climate funding. They called for a shift from top-down aid to direct, just, and sustainable financing that empowers these communities.
Green Climate Fund (GCF) & Indigenous Peoples. In 2023, the GCF mandated its Independent Evaluation Unit to assess its approach to Indigenous Peoples (IPs), focusing on the relevance and effectiveness of the Indigenous Peoples Policy.
The 2025 evaluation found that GCF’s model, focused on National Designated Authorities (NDA) and accreditation, creates barriers for Indigenous Peoples' direct access to funding. Despite their proven contributions to climate goals, GCF remains the only major climate fund without a dedicated mechanism for them.
Key recommendations included removing these barriers and establishing an IP-specific window or programme. In response, and given the slow progress, UNDP, which supported the development of the IP Policy, has been working with the GCF Indigenous Peoples Advisory Group to discuss collaborative projects and to advocate for the creation of a dedicated funding window.
The GCF and Malaysian government will host a global meeting in Kuching, 29–31 July 2025, to share lessons from IP-led projects, evaluate the feasibility of an IP-specific funding window, and how best to partner with IPs on GCF projects.
FCLP and Land Tenure With COP30 approaching in Belém, Brazil, Norway, and Peru, supported by the Forest & Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP) to secure a historic land tenure commitment for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, aimed for announcement at COP30.
Indigenous Peoples, especially the GATC, have been key to putting the issue of land tenure at the FCLP table. UNDP, as an advising partner, is contributing to the thematic work programme and continues to support national efforts on land rights, alongside UN-REDD. alongside UN-REDD partners.
At a high-level UNPFII event hosted by Brazil, Peru, and Norway, leaders emphasized that securing Indigenous land rights is among the most effective climate solutions—but urgent action is still lacking.
COP30 and Engagement with Brazil’s Minister on Indigenous Peoples
COP30, to be held in Belém, Brazil - the first COP in the Amazon – offers a vital platform to highlight Indigenous Peoples’ leadership in climate action. Advocacy focuses include land rights, direct access to finance, traditional knowledge, and meaningful participation through Free, Prior, and Informed Consent.
Brazil’s COP30 Presidency is prioritizing Indigenous inclusion through initiatives like the Circle of Peoples and training for Indigenous diplomats. At UNPFII 2025, Minister Sonia Guajajara outlined plans for over 3,000 Indigenous delegates at COP30 and welcomed UNDP’s support for Indigenous-led REDD+ efforts, grant mechanisms, and private sector partnerships. She also leads the Circle of Peoples, advising on integrating Indigenous knowledge and addressing environmental inequality. Sineia do Vale was appointed Indigenous Peoples Envoy to COP30.
UNPFII 2025 was a key opportunity for Indigenous Peoples and climate action, bringing together high-level dialogue, innovative finance, and Indigenous-led solutions to build a strong foundation for COP30.With renewed partnerships, policy innovation, and global solidarity, Indigenous Peoples are not just being heard—they are leading the way.
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