From Commitment to Action: Direct Access for Indigenous Peoples in Peru

Yet a new analysis by the Rights and Resources Initiative and Rainforest Foundation Norway highlights a critical gap: the least funding reaches organizational strengthening, the very capacity Indigenous organizations need to access, manage and sustain funding effectively. In Peru, an unprecedented opportunity is emerging to address this gap. Landmark agreements between Peru’s Ministry of Environment (MINAM), Profonanpe and Grupo Perú (AIDESEP, CONAP, and ANECAP) have established a political and institutional pathway for direct, Indigenous-led access to climate finance. The agreement with MINAM formalizes cooperation under the Intergovernmental Land Tenure Commitment (ILTC), including Peru’s commitment to recognize 160 million hectares of Indigenous and community lands by 2030 and promote a direct financing mechanism for Indigenous Peoples. A complementary framework agreement with Profonanpe positions the trust fund to administer this mechanism across eight strategic areas, from strengthening governance to securing territories. This session will showcase this collaboration and explore the concrete steps needed to operationalize direct access to climate finance. It will highlight an approach that builds on existing Indigenous governance structures through Territorial Governance Agreements and co-management with governments, rather than imposing external frameworks. The ART Trees process, the world’s first Indigenous-led Jurisdictional REDD+ concept note submitted to the ART Secretariat, will be presented as a proof of concept. The discussion will also explore how the mechanism can support priority initiatives such as the Brazil-Peru Isolated Peoples Corridors, demonstrating a practical model for channeling resources to protect Indigenous Peoples in Isolation and Initial Contact (PIACI). 📅 Tuesday, September 22🕑 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.📍 Penthouse 45 - 432 West 45th Street, NYCJoin us for a light lunch at 11:30 a.m., followed by the session from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.Confirmed speakers: 🔹 Fermín Chimatani — President, National Association of Executors of Communal Reserve Administration Contracts of Peru (ANECAP) 🔹 Jorge Pérez — President, Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest (AIDESEP) 🔹 Oseas Barbaran — President, Confederation of Amazonian Nationalities of Peru (CONAP) 🔹 Anton Willems — CEO, Peruvian Trust Fund for National Parks and Protected Areas (Profonanpe) 🔹 Tørris Jæger — Executive Director, Rainforest Foundation Norway (RFN) 🔹 Beatriz Huertas — Special Advisor, Isolated Peoples Policy, Rainforest Foundation Norway (RFN) Simultaneous interpretation in English and Spanish will be provided.