Written Statement by Sharon Cromer on Indigenous Peoples of Africa

Millions of indigenous people live in highly vulnerable ecosystems, including tropical forests, coastal zones, mountains, and semi-arid rangelands. These groups require development strategies and practices that are compatible with their cultures, languages, natural resources, and lifestyles. USAID's approach to indigenous peoples and indigenous issues is guided by a characterization of distinctive social and cultural groups that are relatively politically, economically, and/or socially marginalized and therefore vulnerable. This includes present and former hunter-gatherers, as well as many pastoralist communities. USAID focuses on ensuring that all disadvantaged people, including indigenous peoples, are included in development. The agency is concerned about the legal rights of indigenous peoples, as well as the human rights of indigenous individuals. USAID recognizes the integrated manner in which indigenous peoples are part of sensitive and economically important ecosystems. Many indigenous communities are unprotected by strong forces that encroach on their traditional lands, threatening their vulnerable environments through resource exploitation. USAID is committed to pursuing reasonable measures to strengthen protection of the human rights of indigenous individuals and the collective rights of indigenous peoples. The agency has a particular interest in reducing the sexual and gender-based violence that frequently targets indigenous women and girls in Africa. USAID is also advancing a strategic approach to connect faith traditions of indigenous peoples to conservation and the protection of biodiversity. USAID's approach to indigenous peoples is included within various policy documents. The agency focuses on developing sustainable economic uses of biological resources, building local capacity for the management of biodiversity, supporting innovative conservation and research programs, encouraging the engagement of indigenous peoples and local communities at every stage of decision-making, and facilitating the setting of conservation priorities that respect the rights of indigenous peoples. Experience has shown that programs that integrate nature, wealth, and power, and ethical leadership have the most promising results. Proven strategies of socially and environmentally sound management of natural resources can simultaneously help move rural people along the path to more active and engaged citizenship, provide for substantial economic growth for local communities and national accounts, and lead to increases in the productivity of the resource base. USAID has worked for decades to redress the situation of indigenous peoples being marginalized in terms of their decision-making power over natural resources. The agency has targeted indigenous peoples in activities such as the SECURE project on the Kenya Coast. USAID is also working closely with the Millennium Challenge Corporation and Department of State to develop a Whole of Government policy on land governance, which will have specific language for all rights holders, including indigenous people. USAID has strong environmental safeguards and monitoring and evaluation protocols and practices that include provisions for consultation with and engagement of local stakeholders, including indigenous peoples, on planned investments that might have environmental impacts. The agency is in the process of crafting a new Land Policy, an overarching policy on democracy, human rights, and governance, and comprehensive guidance on social impacts related to REDD in coordination with NGOs, civil society, and other donors. There are some bright spots in increased protection of indigenous peoples in Africa. The new Kenyan constitution obligates the state to provide for adequate representation of marginalized groups in all levels of government, exercise affirmative action on behalf of these groups, and promote the use of indigenous languages and the free expression of traditional cultures. Other countries, such as the Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic, have also passed legislation recognizing the rights of indigenous peoples. USAID recognizes that more needs to be done to assist and support indigenous peoples in Africa. Better research is required to understand the character of the threats and opportunities faced by Africa's indigenous peoples. Policies need to be agreed upon among multiple stakeholders to adequately address indigenous peoples' issues, protect their rights, respect their cultural inheritance, and incorporate their perspectives, knowledge, and preferences into development paradigms.