Synthesis of Reflections and Proposals from IAT organizations

Synthesis of Reflections and Proposals from IAT organizations

This document synthesizes reflections and proposals from indigenous, Afro-descendant, traditional, and community (IAT+C) organizations associated with the BUILD-Ford Foundation Program. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, these organizations utilized virtual and semi-presential exchanges to foster cohesion, document experiences, and strengthen their strategic operations.Key Themes and Reflections

  • Institutional and Organizational Strengthening: Organizations emphasize the need for qualified personnel, knowledge management, and capacity building to ensure transparency and governance.
  • Inclusive Leadership: There is a strong focus on building inclusive, collective leadership that promotes generational renewal and actively includes women and youth.
  • Territorial Centrality: The territory is defined as a “living space”—a natural, cultural, and political patrimony—central to the survival, identity, and resilience of IAT+C peoples. It is the foundation for environmental sustainability, food security, and autonomous management.
  • Critique of the Nation-State: Participants often perceive current nation-state structures in the global South as incomplete, corrupt, and exclusionary, noting that these systems frequently favor extractive policies that threaten ancestral lands.
  • Security: There is an urgent call for protection programs for leaders and defenders facing threats due to their activism.

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