Indigenous Peoples Highlight Their Role in Driving Rural Economies and Protecting Nature

Indigenous Peoples highlighted today their critical role in building sustainable rural economies and protecting natural resources at the Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Consultation of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

“Indigenous Peoples are key actors in advancing sustainable rural development and conserving nature, thanks to our ancestral knowledge, the connection to our territories, and economic models based on solidarity, collective management and respect for ecosystems,” said Jesús Amadeo Martínez, General Coordinator of the Abya Yala Indigenous Forum (FIAY), a coordination platform for Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and networks across Latin America and the Caribbean, during the opening of the event.

Organized by FIAY and the Indigenous Tourism Network of Mexico, with the support of IFAD, and participation of the Government of Mexico and UN Mexico, the meeting brings together 50 participants from 35 Indigenous Peoples in 15 countries in Teotihuacán on 31 August and 1 September.

“Indigenous Peoples are exemplary stewards of ecosystems. They show us how to pursue economic well-being while integrating social and environmental dimensions. Their ancestral knowledge and traditions offer important lessons on how to produce sustainably, care for our natural resources and ensure that future generations can enjoy them,” said Rocío Medina Bolívar, IFAD Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Roberto de León Huerta, General Director for Global Affairs at Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the role of Indigenous Peoples in strengthening food systems as agents of transformation and stewards of nature, as well as their valuable knowledge and practices rooted in traditional knowledge, their production systems and forms of community organization. De León Huerta thanked the organizers for opening this space for reflection and noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will always be a willing interlocutor for dialogue and joint efforts.

The regional consultation is focused on the theme, “Indigenous Peoples' Self-Determined Rural Economies: Knowledge, Territories and Collective Well-Being.” Indigenous Peoples promote a development model that places harmony with nature, the sustainable use of resources and community decision-making at its center, primarily through small-scale farming, fishing, pastoralism, forest management, handicrafts, indigenous tourism and activities linked to biodiversity conservation.

However, Indigenous communities face significant barriers to reaching their full potential. Limited access to finance, infrastructure, markets and technology; transportation and certification costs; weak participation in value chains; and connectivity gaps make it difficult for communities to capture greater value from their products and services.

Investing in Rural Economy

Since its establishment in 1977, IFAD has worked with Indigenous Peoples to promote rural development that recognizes their culture, identity, knowledge, natural resources and rights. By the end of 2025, around 43 percent of the Fund’s portfolio supported initiatives targeting Indigenous rural communities, with 91 projects in 45 countries. Through the Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility (IPAF), established in 2007, IFAD has also supported 212 projects in more than 45 countries, mobilizing approximately US$15 million through partnerships with donors and foundations.

The Latin America and the Caribbean consultation is taking place alongside other regional and subregional consultations in the lead up to the eighth global meeting of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD. The experiences, priorities and recommendations gathered through these consultations will contribute to the discussions at the global meeting, with a view to strengthening local economies, access to markets, and financing mechanisms suited to Indigenous communities, as well as the full recognition of their rights.

The global forum will take place in early 2027 in Rome, coinciding with the 50^th session of IFAD’s Governing Council.