By Francis Ogwo
A better understudy of peoples and their unique knowledge are needful elements in attaining a speedy recovery from the economic impacts of COVID-19 and adapting to the new world order.
This was the view shared by the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Gilbert Houngbo, while speaking recently at an event co-convened by Canada, Finland, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and Indigenous Peoples Major Group (IPMG) for Sustainable Development held on the margins of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).
In his words: “The COVID-19 pandemic shows us that we need to rethink the way we interact with nature, as well as how we produce and consume food. The continuous use of unsustainable agricultural practices, and the devastation of forests and wildlife, are part of what has brought us into closer contact with the virus that causes COVID-19.
“Indigenous Peoples have long warned of the consequences of exactly these kinds of practices.” Houngbo stressed.
According to Houngbo, it was important to collaborate with Indigenous Peoples to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and build a more resilient future.
Canada’s Minister of International Development, Karina Gould, while speaking at the event said, “We must recognise and acknowledge the important role that Indigenous Peoples play in supporting and protecting sustainable livelihoods. They provide sound stewardship of our environment, and help build greater biodiversity and sustainable food systems,”
The objective of the event according to reports was to examine how Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge, values and sustainable systems could help achieve zero hunger and end poverty in all forms by 2030.
It was aimed at x-raying why it was critical to prioritise protection of their rights, and increase their access to land, productive resources and health services to help them cope with the adverse impacts of the pandemic whilst also securing their participation in relevant development processes.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development with Headquarters in Rome, Italy, is an international financial institution and a specialised agency of the United Nations that works to address poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries.
