1st Workshop of the Regional Network for Indigenous Peoples in Southeast Asia
Isabela State University, Northern Luzon, Philippines: 18-22 April 2005
Post Workshop Statement | Objectives | Activities | Participants | About RNIP
ADB was invited to participate in the first workshop of the Regional Network for Indigenous Peoples in Southeast Asia held at Isabela State University, Northern Luzon, Philippines, on 18-22 April 2005. Indira Simbolon, Social Development Specialist, and Christine Crisol Pineda, Associate Social Safeguard Specialist, both from ADB’s Environment and Social Safeguard Division, attended the workshop to support ADB’s Key Results Area (KRA) on knowledge generation and dissemination and to lay the groundwork for future policy review consultations.
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Indira Simbolon presented a speech entitled “ADB Policy on Indigenous Peoples and Poverty Reduction in Asia” which briefly introduced ADB’s Policy on Indigenous Peoples and its strategic importance. It also discussed
- the issue of definition and identification in applying the Policy on Indigenous Peoples
- how to address poverty reduction among indigenous peoples (IP), and
- ADB’s challenge of providing effective safeguards for IP.
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In the discussion that followed ADB’s presentation, three issues surfaced as the main concerns of participants
- identifying and defining IP in country and project contexts
- government’s accountability and ADB strategies to promote good governance, and
- prospects for the direct involvement of civil society organizations (CSOs) in the planning, implementation and management of projects
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The workshop objectives were to
- create a knowledge, learning and information network for capacity development for selected CSOs working on IP issues in Southeast Asia
- share practical experiences and lessons in network activities among CSOs working on indigenous peoples issues
- have a better understanding of past and current issues/ problems affecting the economic, political, and cultural situation of IP in Southeast Asia
- agree on an initial list of topics for training courses for RNIP capacity building program (2005-2008), and
- determine the function and relevance of the RNIP in relation to other existing networks in Southeast Asia.
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Other workshops activities included
- Presentations by NCIP, CML, CVPED and Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP)
- Country presentations by participants
- Site visit to Malabing Valley Multi-Purpose Cooperative
- Working groups and plenary discussions on Poverty Alleviation, Natural Resources and Sustainable Management, and Actions and Strategies for Ecologically Sustainable Development
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The workshop was attended by representatives of CSOs working on indigenous peoples issues (from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Viet Nam and the Philippines), CVPED, CML, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and ADB.
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The Regional Network for Indigenous Peoples in Southeast Asia (RNIP) was founded by the Cagayan Valley Program on Environment and Development (CVPED) program of Isabela State University (ISU) and the Institute of Environmental Sciences(CML) of Leiden University, Netherlands. The network covers five Southeast Asian countries: Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Viet Nam and the Philippines.
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RNIP’s main goal is to safeguard, restore, and protect natural livelihood resources for the sake of poverty alleviation for indigenous peoples in Southeast Asia by providing
- trustfund (co-)financing of micro-projects
- capacity building training
- practical training and transfer of expertise
- institutional support (facilitating discussion)
- research and education
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