Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), Climate Change Partnership Programme organized a three-day training-workshop about “REDD+, REDD+ Safeguard and Carbon Benefits” at Amaltari, Nawalpur from April 17- 19, 2022.  A total of 25 participants (13 women and 12 men) representing indigenous peoples of four districts i.e. Nawalpur, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi and Kapilbastu attended the event. This workshop was conducted with support from Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) and in partnership with TEBTEBBA.

The main objective of this event was to raise awareness and build capacity of indigenous peoples on their rights in context of climate change and REDD+. Representatives from NEFIN District Coordination Councils (DCCs), Provincial Coordination Councils, Municipal Coordination Councils, member organizations, National Indigenous Women’s Federation (NIWF), Youth Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (YFIN), Nepal and Federation of Nepalese Indigenous Journalists (FoNIJ) participated in the workshop. Resource persons made presentation and facilitated plenary discussion and consultation about various topics such as United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Conference of the Parties (COP), Paris Agreement, Paris Rulebook, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation. Likewise, During three-days sessions, participants discussed about Emission Reduction Programme Document (ERPD) in thirteen districts of Nepal, Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement (ERPA), Non-carbon benefits, indigenous peoples’ life-ways, food system, ood sovereignty and land, Safeguard Implementation Plan of Carbon Emission Programme, UNFCCC-Cancun REDD+ Agreement, indigenous peoples’ language, science and worldviews, Benefit Sharing Plan of Emission Reduction Programme, and Non-Economic Loss and Damage.

The discussion of the sessions concluded with key points of indigenous peoples’ position in climate action. As their land, water and jungle are the fundamental basis of indigenous peoples’ life-ways, the discussion points reiterated the fact that REDD+ or any other activities should not violate indigenous peoples’ rights. The concluding points (the position of indigenous peoples) urge relevant parties to fully comply with United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), International Labour Organization Convention No. 169 including other human rights and international instruments of indigenous peoples’ rights while implementing REDD+ and any other climate action. Furthermore, participants highlighted that climate change activities should not impact indigenous peoples’ culture, life-ways, their knowledge, skill and worldviews. Participants further emphasizes that Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) should be applied in every matter pertaining to indigenous peoples.