IPACC - Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee

08/10/2025

https://mailchi.mp/equatorinitiative/equator-prize-2022-nominate-now2-12896707?e=0d021d82b3

23/01/2025

On January 22, 2025, UNESCO Green Citizens published a compelling article titled "𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞." This inspiring piece champions the importance of engaging with and amplifying the voices of African Indigenous youth. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to UNESCO for creating this vital platform for expression and empowerment, fostering a deeper connection between culture and nature.
UNESCO

17/12/2024

𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻

Dear Valued Community,

We hope this message finds you well! As the festive season approaches, we would like to take a moment to inform you that the IPACC Office will be closed for the December holidays from 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟲𝘁𝗵.

During this time, our team will be taking a well-deserved break to celebrate the season and recharge for the year ahead. We sincerely appreciate your understanding and support.

From all of us at IPACC, we wish you a joyful holiday season filled with warmth, happiness, and cherished moments with loved ones. We look forward to reconnecting in the new year!

Warm regards,
The IPACC Team

16/12/2024

𝐈𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐂 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚:

On 10 & 11 December 2024, the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC) brought together representatives from various IPOs and communities in the Northern Cape province of South Africa and the National Khoi-San Council (NKSC). Representatives come from Indigenous communities such as the ǂKhomani San,!Xun, Khwe, Nama, and the Griqua. The objective of the gathering was to provide a platform for discussion on the status of recognition of San and Khoe Indigenous communities in South Africa, with a specific focus on the transfer of knowledge from older Indigenous leaders and activists to upcoming Indigenous youth leaders.

The gathering was scheduled timely, as it provided an opportunity to discuss the critical issue of the draft Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Bill published for public comment on 29 November 2024 by the South African Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. In addition to strategizing a plan of action to respond to the publication of the draft Bill, it provided a space for Indigenous representatives to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and recommendations regarding the recognition of San and Khoe communities in South Africa in general. Major themes that came through in the discussions included gender equality, the inclusion of the youth, communication, and information sharing, as well as issues around the governance of natural resources, especially focusing on the issue of land.

The meeting concluded with a general sense in the air that fruitful discussions have taken place and that it facilitated a clearer vision for Indigenous representatives on a way forward to address the issues discussed. It is, however, recognized that this meeting hosted a small group of Indigenous representatives, and the hope is that there will be more opportunities for the broader San and Khoe Indigenous Peoples to have similar gatherings that will facilitate broader discussions around these critical issues for Indigenous Peoples in South Africa.

06/12/2024

𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐊𝐡𝐰𝐞/𝐒𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐚.

In Botswana, the San people, one of the nation’s oldest Indigenous communities, continue their fight for justice and recognition amidst challenges like forced evictions, cultural erosion, and identity struggles. To address these issues, San leaders and Indigenous Peoples' Organizations (IPOs) will convene on December 7th and 8th at the Kuru Development Trust (Qaeqare Game Farm) to draft a landmark declaration for the newly elected government of Botswana.

This meeting seeks to advocate for the recognition of San's Indigenous peoples Identity, restitution and the inclusion of San representatives in government decision-making. Participants will critically assess policies such as affirmative action and the Rural Area Development Programme (RADP), boarding schools-at primary education level, highlighting gaps and proposing equitable solutions for land rights, education, and resource access.

Discussions will also focus on heritage preservation, co-management models for sustainable development, and the importance of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) in decisions impacting San communities. By uniting their voices, the San aim to secure actionable solutions that honor their unique cultural and social needs.

This gathering is a pivotal moment for the San people to assert their rights, reclaim their heritage, and shape a future where their contributions to Botswana’s cultural and environmental legacy are respected and celebrated. Stay tuned as they take this critical step toward justice and inclusion, as the San says "Nothing for us without us, and anything about us without us, is against us.

20/11/2024

In Cali, Colombia, the world came together for a transformative event at COP 16, where the voices of Indigenous communities took center stage. This milestone gathering emphasised the vital role of Indigenous knowledge in protecting our planet's biodiversity.

Read more:

20th November 2024 Building Peace with Nature through the Kumming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework By Indigenous Peoples Of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC) In a recent gathering in Cali, Colombia, the world witnessed a momentous event that not only set the pace for peace with nature but....

14/11/2024

Ipacc@ cop 29

12/11/2024

Join us as our esteemed panelists, including 𝐒𝐚𝐝𝐚 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫, 𝐃𝐢𝐝𝐣𝐚 𝐈𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐨, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐃𝐫. 𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐚.

Theme:The Indigenous Women's Council is spearheading a vital project for nomadic women in West Africa and the Sahel, with a focus on post-COVID capacity building and livelihood enhancement. This initiative aims to strengthen Female empowerment, fostering independence and autonomy among Women in these regions.

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬: 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 𝟏𝟏:𝟎𝟓 𝐀𝐌 - 𝟏𝟐:𝟏𝟓 𝐏𝐌
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:𝐔𝐍 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐔𝐍𝐅𝐂𝐂𝐂 𝐂𝐎𝐏 𝟐𝟗, 𝐁𝐚𝐤𝐮, 𝐀𝐳𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐢𝐣𝐚𝐧

This panel will delve into the theme of livelihood elevation in post-COVID West Africa, highlighting the Indigenous Women’s movement toward greater autonomy. Your participation is invaluable as we discuss these critical issues shaping the future of Women in the region.

05/11/2024

"🌍✨ 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵! 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿e?
𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀.
#𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵
#𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀
#𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀"

Cultural Survival is pleased to announce its 2025 call for proposals for our Indigenous Youth Fellowships to support individuals or groups of young Indigenous communicators, activists, artists, creatives and visionaries to develop their capacities, training, research, production and creation aimed at strengthening their cultural identity and leadership. Youth leadership development is an integral part of ensuring the wellness of communities, and Indigenous youth are the future of that well-being.

Details

Award Amount: up to 6,000 US Dollars
Ex*****on Period: 10 months (April 2025 - Feb 2026)
Timeline

Open Call for Proposal Concepts: Nov 1, 2024
Deadline to Submit Proposal Concepts: Nov 30, 2024
Notification of Proposal Concepts Selected: Dec 15, 2024
Submission of Detailed Narrative Proposals: Dec 30, 2024
Reviewing Stage: Jan, 2025
Notification of Selected Fellows: Feb, 2025
Awarding Stage: Mar, 2025
Fellowship Projects Can Begin: Apr, 2025

Eligibility

This year our fellowship program will offer support to individuals or groups of Indigenous youth with multidisciplinary creative and visionary concepts. Applicants must be able to work independently and be responsible for implementing their project. Fellows will work closely with Cultural Survival staff and a local mentor (a person who can advise, reinforce, and provide feedback to achieve the proposed goals voluntarily) throughout the fellowship process.

*Underrepresented genders: cis women, trans women, trans men, two-spirits, non-binary people, and those who are marginalized by their gender are encouraged to apply.*

Applicants must:

Be Indigenous youth between the ages of 17 to 28 years.
Have access to the internet and other forms of virtual communication.
Committed to collaborating with Cultural Survival & meeting deadlines.
Preferably fluent in an Indigenous language or interested in learning it.
Not a former Cultural Survival Youth Fellow
Reside in the eligible countries: In North America: United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. In South America: Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, and Brazil. In Asia: Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines, Papua Guinea, and India. In Africa: Ghana, Cameroon, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, and Kenya.

Proposals must:

Be 3 - 10 months long and planned to be completed during the ex*****on period (April 2025 to February 2026).
focused on any of the following 13 themes:
Preparedness or Response to Climate Crisis
Environmental and biodiversity protection
Indigenous Rights & Legal Mechanism
Defense of land and territory (ex: investigative journalism)
Preservation and revitalization of Indigenous languages
Recovery of cosmogony and ancestry
Indigenous Gender Diversity
Indigenous community media (radio, audiovisual, digital security, etc)
Preservation of Traditional Practices (medicine, agriculture, storytelling, etc)
Research of traditional knowledge systems
Maintenance of ecosystem services (water, land, etc)
Food sovereignty & Indigenous Economy
Cultural Artistic Expression (audiovisual, performing arts, creative writing, arts and crafts).

How to apply

A proposal concept for The 2025 Indigenous Youth Fellowship must be submitted via Google Form no later than 11:59 pm ET on November 30, 2024. Notifications for the first round of results will be sent via email by Dec 15, 2024. On this communication, selected candidates will be given a form to submit a full detailed project proposal along with a budget for the second round of reviews. A second notification with final decisions will be released in February 2025. The awarding process will take place in March and fellows can begin their projects in April.

Please be sure that the email address included on the google form is a valid email account that is checked regularly. Applications cannot be accessed once submitted. A 5-minute video or audio submission to the questions listed on the form is available as an alternative submission option and can be attached in the same google form.

We accept applications in the following languages: Spanish, English, Portuguese, Nepalese, Sunuwar, Hindi, K'iche' Maya, Kaqchikel, Poqomam, Didxazá, (Isthmus Zapotec), Ayuujk, Afrikaans, and French.

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