The coordination pillar encompasses the following main liaison, coordination and secretariat activities:
- The Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples’ food systems;
- The Coalition on Indigenous Peoples’ food systems;
- Rome Group of Friends of Indigenous Peoples;
- The Global Indigenous Youth Forum with the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus
- The Taskforce on Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) with the European Union
- The FAO Inter-Departmental Working Group on Indigenous Peoples; The UN Inter-Agency Support Group (IASC);
- Liaising with UNPFII, EMRIP and the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus ;
- The Working Group on Indigenous Peoples’ Collective Rights to Natural Resources, Land and Territories.
FAO Inter-Departmental Working Group on Indigenous Peoples
FAO Indigenous Peoples’ Unit chairs and convenes the FAO Inter-Departmental Working Group on Indigenous Peoples (IDWG). The IDWG is composed of technical experts in forestry, seeds, livestock, statistics, gender, partnerships, investment, legal and fisheries, belonging to diverse FAO Divisions. This body serves both as a network as well as a coordination body that enables FAO units to work with DPS in the implementation of the 2010 FAO Policy on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples.
The Inter-Agency Support Group of the United Nations
Twice a year, the Inter-Agency Support Group of the United Nations (IASG) brings together the Indigenous Peoples' focal points from all United Nations agencies. The main roles of the IASG are to mainstream the work of Indigenous Peoples in the different United Nations organizations and to provide support to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. In 2016 the IASG developed a UN System-wide Action Plan (SWAP) on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, which was presented by the United Nations Secretary-General in May 2016.
United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) is the United Nations forum where Indigenous Peoples' delegates gather once a year to discuss Indigenous Peoples' issues. With half of their representatives appointed by Member States and half by Indigenous Peoples' leaders, today, the UNPFII is, together with the Office of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, the most representative of the United Nations bodies, where Indigenous Peoples' matters are discussed. Together with other United Nations organizations, FAO participates in the UNPFII debates and experts’ meetings.
Task force on Free Prior and Informed Consent
The FAO task force on FPIC was created by the Indigenous Peoples’ Unit to ensure the smooth implementation of FPIC inside FAO. Composed of the units working on Global Environment Facility (GEF) projects, mainly on fisheries, the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure, emergencies and forestry, it ensures that FAO technical units will implement FPIC in the projects and programmes affecting Indigenous Peoples.
Indigenous Peoples' Caucus
After the 2015 February meeting between FAO senior management and technical experts, and Indigenous Peoples, a joint work plan to implement the 2010 FAO Policy on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples was agreed on. In order to follow-up on its implementation, a coordination caucus was set up with seven Indigenous Peoples' representatives.
Each Indigenous Peoples' representative coordinated with other Indigenous Peoples' organizations in each of the seven socio-cultural regions in which Indigenous Peoples divide the world. The Indigenous Peoples’ team in OPCA coordinates with this Caucus in order to share information and monitor the implementation of the joint work plan for the 2010 Policy of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples.
Working group on Indigenous Peoples' Food Systems
In February 2015, Indigenous Peoples requested FAO to create a working group on Indigenous Peoples' food systems. Co-chaired by the Indigenous Peoples’ team in OPCA and the Plant Production and Protection Division (AGP), this Working Group relies on the expertise of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Biodiversity, the International Network for Food Data Systems (INFOODS), and FAO technical divisions on nutrition, trade, seeds, agroecology, emergencies and forestry.