Report: The impact of COVID-19 on indigenous communities - Insights from the Indigenous Navigator

The COVID-19 pandemic and its social and economic consequences are dramatically changing the trajectory towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including for the more than 476 million indigenous and forest peoples throughout the world.

A new report from FPP and the Indigenous Navigator Initiative “The impact of COVID-19 on indigenous communities” identifies how pre-existing barriers in access to health, social security and education are fuelling disproportional impacts of the pandemic on indigenous peoples.

This report is the result of a collaborative, community-led data-gathering effort as part of the Indigenous Navigator Initiative, a monitoring framework that enables communities to track progress in the implementation of international standards concerning indigenous peoples. It provides first-hand information on the situation of indigenous peoples in 11 countries.

Findings indicate a rise in food insecurity, related to loss of livelihoods and lack of access to land and natural resources. It outlines the central role played by communities in building the response and recovery to the global crisis resulting from the pandemic. It includes analysis and recommendations that seek to contribute to the design of COVID-19 response and recovery measures that are respectful of the rights of indigenous peoples and support their livelihoods, economies and resilience.

Key recommendations include:

• Increase the provision of culturally-appropriate healthcare and preventative measures: Efforts should be increased to provide indigenous communities with the necessary means of prevention in relation to COVID-19, including preventive mechanisms, access to adequately equipped and culturally appropriate healthcare facilities, and information in indigenous languages.
• Involve indigenous peoples in decision-making processes: inclusive and community-based assessments of risks and needs should be undertaken in order to understand the specific situation of indigenous peoples. State institutions in charge of indigenous issues should be strengthened, including mechanisms for the participation of, and consultation with, indigenous peoples. Indigenous peoples’ participation in the management of health and educational services, including the return to school, should also be ensured and distance learning opportunities provided.
• Protect indigenous lands and livelihoods: measures for the protection of indigenous peoples’ lands and access to natural resources which are essential for their traditional activities are urgently needed. Indigenous entrepreneurial initiatives should be maintained and promoted, and indigenous peoples’ livelihoods and local economies should be strengthened in order to ensure the sustainability of their communities
• Secure indigenous labour rights:  indigenous peoples’ labour rights must be ensured at all stages of crisis response and recovery measures.

The Indigenous Navigator is a framework and set of tools for and by indigenous peoples to systematically monitor the level of recognition and implementation of their rights. By using the Indigenous Navigator, indigenous organisations and communities, duty bearers, NGOs and journalists can access free tools and resources based on community-generated data. Access the Indigenous Navigator resources here.