Closer ties and progress forged at GCF’s Indigenous Peoples Advisory Group meeting

The Green Climate Fund’s Indigenous Peoples Advisory Group convened its seventh meeting (IPAG-7) from 16 to 19 December 2025. Held at the GCF headquarters in Songdo, Republic of Korea, the four-day meeting brought together IPAG members and the GCF Secretariat to review implementation of the Indigenous Peoples Policy and set strategic priorities for enhancing Indigenous Peoples' access to climate finance.

IPAG-7 kicked off with welcome remarks by Eleni Kyrou, Head of the Office of Sustainability and Inclusion, followed by the election of Helen Biangalen Magata as its Chair. The meeting adopted an agenda focused on strengthening institutional practice and enhancing access to climate finance for Indigenous Peoples.

The discussions focused on several key areas for 2026, which included establishing GCF’s approach on direct access to climate finance for Indigenous Peoples, organising the GCF Global Conference with Indigenous Peoples, and updating the Operational Guidelines of the Indigenous Peoples Policy to incorporate lessons learned to date. The IPAG and the Secretariat agreed to co-organise and jointly promote the GCF Global Conference with Indigenous Peoples, which will take place in April 2026. The IPAG also welcomed the inclusion of its members in GCF Regional Dialogues and requested participation in GCF’s 2026 Global Planning Meeting.

The IPAG commended the positive impact of the Indigenous Peoples Policy and committed to issuing a brief highlighting these achievements. However, the group emphasised the need for continued institutional support to strengthen the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in all GCF processes, including Locally Led Climate Action (LLCA) and REDD+, and to advance the development of dedicated modalities to enhance access for Indigenous Peoples’ organisations.

The IPAG welcomed GCF’s new LLCA framework and invited the Secretariat to develop specific guidance for engaging Indigenous Peoples’ organisations. At the same time, it emphasised that all activities of REDD+ and the Tropical Forest Forever Facility must comply with the Indigenous Peoples Policy and recognise non-carbon benefits.

The meeting closed with appreciation from the IPAG to the GCF leadership and Secretariat for their engagement and collaboration.

The outcomes of IPAG-7 chart a clear path for deepening the GCF’s partnership with Indigenous Peoples and integrating their vital knowledge and leadership into the core of climate finance delivery.

The eighth IPAG meeting is scheduled for May 2026 at the GCF headquarters.