“Without strong safeguards, ADB-financed projects will continue to adversely impact Indigenous Peoples lands, livelihoods, and ways of life”
The Indigenous Peoples Advisory Group (IPAG) issued a statement urging the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to strengthen protections for Indigenous Peoples in the recently released revised ADB Environmental and Social Framework, now open for public consultation. Although IPAG welcomed certain improvements, including the integration of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) in certain ADB-financed projects and a separate section on Cultural Heritage, the group argues that the revisions fall short of adequately safeguarding Indigenous Peoples rights.
IPAG’s key demands include ensuring that ESS7 protections apply regardless of whether a host country legally recognizes Indigenous Peoples and that identification of Indigenous Peoples by others should only refer to other Indigenous Peoples not the society at large. IPAG highlighted that many Asian countries have not formally acknowledged Indigenous Peoples as distinct peoples with collective rights in alignment with international human rights standards, such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the ILO Convention 169. They called for explicit provisions in the ESF to protect Indigenous Peoples rights even in jurisdictions where they are not recognized, urging ADB to ensure that the framework is not limited by national laws.
The group also called for a broader application of FPIC, which it says should be an ongoing requirement throughout a project’s life cycle, not only when certain impacts arise. They emphasized that Indigenous Peoples must have the right to give or withhold their consent at any project stage and, if necessary, to withdraw consent if impacts on their lands and livelihoods change significantly. According to IPAG, these provisions align with Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination and their ability to control their development priorities.
Furthermore, IPAG recommended that ADB mandate separate and comprehensive Social Impact Assessments (SIAs) for projects impacting Indigenous communities. These SIAs, they said, should address cultural, spiritual, and economic impacts unique to Indigenous Peoples, particularly Indigenous women, youth, and persons with disabilities among others, whose specific needs and priorities are often overlooked in general assessments. The group pointed to safeguards by other development banks, such as the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which have implemented similar policies on FPIC and social impact assessments.
The IPAG is an informal platform of Indigenous Peoples organizations who have been engaging in the review of the ADB Environmental and Social Safeguards.
Read the full statement here: IPAG STATEMENT
