The Right Energy Partnership with Indigenous Peoples (REP) is co-organizing a timely and critical dialogue at the upcoming World Bank’s Civil Society Policy Forum; focusing on one of the most fundamental principles in advancing Indigenous Peoples’ rights: Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).

Titled “From Policy to Practice: Upholding the Consent of Indigenous Peoples in Private Sector Standards,” the session will convene Indigenous leaders, practitioners, and institutional actors to examine how FPIC is being implemented in practice—and where persistent gaps remain.

Over the past decade, FPIC has been integrated into major international frameworks, including the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Performance Standard 7. This has influenced how private sector actors approach due diligence and engagement with Indigenous Peoples. However, experience across regions continues to show that while policies have evolved, implementation has not always kept pace.

Challenges remain in ensuring that:

• Indigenous communities are meaningfully informed and engaged on their own terms
• Traditional governance systems are recognized and respected in decision-making processes
• Consent is not treated as a procedural requirement, but as a substantive right that can be granted or withheld

This session creates space to reflect on more than a decade of FPIC implementation. It will draw from lived experiences and practical insights to identify lessons learned, ongoing challenges, and pathways for strengthening standards and accountability mechanisms.

REP joins co-organizers including Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI), Oxfam, Tallgrass Institute, and Recourse in contributing to a conversation that seeks to move beyond policy commitments toward genuine respect for Indigenous Peoples’ rights in development practice.

As global momentum for energy transition and infrastructure development accelerates, ensuring that these processes uphold Indigenous Peoples’ rights—including their right to consent—is more urgent than ever. This dialogue aims to support stronger, more accountable systems that place Indigenous Peoples at the center of decisions affecting their lands, territories, and futures.

Event Details
🗓 Tuesday, April 14
🕒 15:00–16:30 EDT
📍 World Bank, I Building (Room 2-220)
🌐 Livestream: https://f.mtr.cool/dhezmdkafq