| Important Information on ADB Safeguards |
|
The new Safeguard Policy Statement was approved by ADB's Board of Directors on 20 July 2009 and will become effective on 20 January 2010. Read the news release.
|
|
Also see translated versions
 and Lao
|
|
|
|
Sharing Development with Indigenous Peoples
Updated: 15 October 2009
Of the 250 million indigenous peoples in the world, some 70% are in Asia and the Pacific. Virtually every country where ADB operates has indigenous peoples. ADB recognizes that some development projects it finances may directly or indirectly affect indigenous peoples. ADB thus takes seriously its role in safeguarding indigenous peoples and their ways of living.
ADB Projects Must Benefit and Safeguard Indigenous Peoples
One of the objectives of ADB's new Safeguard Policy is to design and implement projects in a way that fosters full respect for indigenous peoples' identity, dignity, human rights, livelihood systems, and cultural uniqueness as defined by indigenous peoples themselves so that they:
- receive culturally appropriate social and economic benefits
- do not suffer adverse impacts as result of projects
- can participate actively in projects that affect them
Sharing Benefits and Avoiding Adverse Impacts through Indigenous Peoples Plans
Toward fulfilling the objective, all activities that ADB supports are screened and assessed for their potential impacts on indigenous peoples. ADB projects that have impact on indigenous peoples are required to:
- carry out meaningful consultation with affected indigenous peoples
- conduct social impact assessment to assess the nature and scale of the proposed project's potential positive and negative effects on indigenous peoples, and
- prepare indigenous peoples plans that set out measures to:
- ensure that affected indigenous peoples would receive culturally appropriate social and economic benefits,
- avoid, to the maximum extent possible, potential adverse impacts on indigenous peoples; and
- minimize, mitigate, and compensate for adverse impacts where avoidance of adverse impacts is proven to be impossible.
Indigenous peoples plans are required to be disclosed to all stakeholders, particularly the affected indigenous peoples themselves. Indigenous peoples plans will also need to be monitored and progress on its implementation reported periodically.
Find more information on indigenous peoples safeguards and activities in the:
View and comment on indigenous peoples plans in:
 |
Topics 
Top of page