GCRF Inclusive Societies: Indigenous-International Interactions for Sustainable Development

This project seeks to explore and facilitate the ways in which indigenous knowledge can inform international responses to the adverse effects of climate change and resource extraction specifically, and support sustainable, equitable and inclusive growth and development generally. It will do so by engaging with indigenous communities in three developing countries, Bolivia, Uganda and Papua New Guinea (PNG). These countries were chosen as compelling case studies to demonstrate a diversity of geographical, historical and political contexts faced by indigenous groups, yet with shared experiences of rural poverty, particularly among marginalised indigenous populations. The majority of people in Bolivia, Uganda and PNG are dependent on subsistence-based livelihoods with agriculture and livestock as key components. Mining is endorsed as a main income generating activity to promote development in these mineral-rich countries, alongside markets for natural resources. Despite some benefit from associated livelihood opportunities, indigenous people remain one of the poorest social groups with indigenous women particularly marginalised from the benefits of economic growth. Most developmental projects with indigenous people have been paternalistic and failed to build on local knowledge and skills.

We aim to support sustainable, inclusive and equitable development and growth by looking into the ways in which a strengthened international engagement with indigenous knowledge can inspire innovations in science and political practices and principles and to generate output and impact that can be replicated elsewhere. To do so, we will engage with, and examine the role of, indigenous peoples and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in delivering sustainable, equitable and inclusive development in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement and the 2016 EITI Standard.

As a first step, we will a facilitate a local Assembly in each indigenous community (in Lomerio in Bolivia, in Karamoja in Uganda and in Ok Tedi in PNG) and participatory videos to develop guideline reports stating how the community wishes to address climate change and resource extraction, reflecting their ancestral and place-based knowledge and visions for the future. The results will be captured also through digital story-maps, which combine storytelling through text on photo or short video clips linked to a geographic location on a digital map, and communicated through a published book. Together, this can provide a powerful platform for sharing key results with stakeholders and broader publics. As a second step, the project will facilitate Roundtables in a nearby city among indigenous and government representatives to co-create governance responses to climate change and resource extraction. As a third step, the results from Step 1 and Step 2 will be discussed at international conferences on climate change and resource extraction to inform and influence international negotiating and governance processes. In this way, indigenous knowledge and visions can contribute to the delivery of sustainable, equitable and inclusive growth and development.

Who will benefit from this research?
Beneficiaries include indigenous peoples and local communities directly, and current and future generations indirectly, if better inclusion of indigenous knowledge in policy can lead to stronger climate change and more sustainable resource extraction strategies. As our outputs may illuminate pathways to achieve multiple social and environmental policy objectives, local, national and international stakeholders, including relevant state ministries, civil society and private sector are also beneficiaries.

How will they benefit from this research?
This project addresses evidence needs relating to the potential contribution of local indigenous values and practices to sustainable, equitable and inclusive growth and development. Knowledge co-production in three diverse countries (Bolivia, Uganda and PNG) will uncover pathways mutually supportive of customary practices and international targets. Demand for such evidence has grown as policymakers and practitioners seek guidance to design and implement climate and development agendas. Policy reorientation to recognise customary values and practices may address persistent mechanisms of exclusion and improve tenure or food security and access to resources critical to the wellbeing of ethnic minorities, women and the poor, resulting in reduced conflict and poverty.

What will be done to ensure that they have the opportunity to benefit from this activity?
At the outset of each fieldwork period we will consult civil society and state actors to obtain valuable input. At local levels consultation will be paramount to build trust and prepare to hold Assemblies (workshops for 50-60 local stakeholders). This will ground our findings in the local context and facilitate research co-design and knowledge co-production with users, ensuring social, economic and environmental benefit to the study communities with potential to upscale to rural communities in each country facing similar issues. Progressive policy momentum has already been identified in each country, including community forestry in indigenous territories in Lomerio, Bolivia, communal land agreements and pastoralist policies in Karamoja, Uganda and regulation of extractive impacts in Ok Tedi, PNG.

The comparative findings will support high profile science and policy outputs, and enable wide dissemination through media and established practitioner networks. Led by the PI with partner inputs, we will reach out to key actors in each country and internationally from the outset to foster buy-in to project, generating dissemination and capacity building potential. Our impact partners, active both domestically and internationally, will utilise results for evidence-based advocacy. We seek to use our outputs to equip stakeholders with the knowledge to promote longer-term change in norms guiding policy debates around Indigenous Peoples and cultural minorities. Dissemination will include policy 'roundtables' enabling co-production with decision-makers of pathways to uptake these knowledge products and incorporate findings into policy, to inform governance processes and monitoring and evaluation efforts at local, national and international levels. Ultimately we will use this network of influence to promote advocacy and uptake during and beyond the project life. Outputs will reach donors, advocates and decision-makers involved in influential institutions and networks such as Future Earth, UNDP, The Indigenous Peoples Network, FAO, IUCN, and inspire further research. Impacts will be proactively measured during and beyond the project.

Negotiations about how to implement the Paris Agreement and its NDCs are in early stages. International channels have been established for evidence to influence climate policy, e.g. the UNFCCC Indigenous Peoples Platform. The pressing need for coherent national strategies plus progressive political initiatives in each study country provide a conducive impact environment.