The Montreal Roundtable: Improving solidarity and reciprocity in funding and support relationships

In December 2022 Forest Peoples Programme convened a roundtable discussion exploring how to improve direct and indirect financial and technical support for the actions of indigenous peoples and communities in managing, using, conserving, and claiming their territories and resources. The Roundtable invited representatives of philanthropic funders, indigenous peoples' organisations working on the local level, global and regional networks of indigenous peoples and community organisations, academic research institutions and non-government organisations to share views and perspectives from across different sectors.

This briefing reflects thoughts collected together during the Roundtable event including some of the key themes, priorities and areas for collaboration that emerged, as well as the main take-away messages collected (comments are collected without individual attribution). It is designed for sharing amongst those present, those who were not able to be present, our organizations, networks and beyond.

Read the full briefing here in English and Spanish

Significant work is already being done in this area, by indigenous-led coalitions and networks as well as philanthropic organisations and networks, and by bilateral funding agencies looking to improve access for indigenous peoples and community-based organisations. It’s clear that this work is increasingly important as greater flows of finance are directed towards indigenous peoples and their roles in tackling the climate change crisis.

The Roundtable tried to further this work, by analysing the main issues and dilemmas in current dominant funding models to indigenous peoples. Participants shared the work they and their organisations had undertaken in this area, providing examples of key initiatives, research projects, documents, and resources to be shared and referenced. 

Key takeaways from the roundtable include:

• Unequal power dynamics and relationships are often created or reinforced by funding provision, made significantly worse through the often top-down, opaque, and the unnecessarily complex administration of financial resources. Some participants felt that these shortcomings are in danger of rendering some forms of funding inaccessible or unwanted by indigenous groups, if not theoretically then at least practically.
• There is a need to create new kinds of relationships for participatory funding mechanisms. Many in the group agreed that the preferred model of funding for civil society organizations and indigenous groups would be direct long-term funding, with simplified proposal and reporting requirements.
• Funding organisations need to challenge power dynamics instead of reproducing and reinforcing them through ‘unconditional global solidarity’, which includes holding funders accountable and challenged to understand the situation of indigenous peoples’ supporting their self-determination.
• The need to establish funding relationships based on dignity and equality, transforming how financial support is seen and provided relinking it to other forms of solidarity, including; political, technical, social, and environmental, without placing the burden on indigenous groups.
• Many funders are responding positively to suggestions for more flexible and direct funding, and participants shared experiences where funders welcomed constructive feedback. However, to make this a reality, funders need to develop a better understanding of indigenous people and the governance structures they are working with.

Read the full briefing here.