Indigenous Peoples are a significant and important portion of humanity. Their heritage, their ways of life, their stewardship of this planet, and their cosmological insights are an invaluable treasure house for us all.

The World Bank is honored to be working worldwide with Indigenous Peoples in global dialog and in development projects. The World Bank aims to promote Indigenous Peoples' development in a manner which ensures that the development process fosters full respect for the dignity, human rights, and uniqueness of Indigenous Peoples.

Revised Operational Policy and Bank Procedure on Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10)

On May 10, 2005, the Executive Directors approved a revised policy on Indigenous Peoples. The updated policy, as reflected in the  OP/BP4.10, Indigenous Peoples, replaces the earlier policy (OD 4.20, Indigenous Peoples). OP/BP 4.10 applies to all investment projects for which a Project Concept Review took place on or after July 1, 2005.

The policy on Indigenous Peoples has the potential to benefit directly or indirectly 250 million Indigenous Peoples around the world. Indigenous Peoples are distinct populations in that the land on which they live, and the natural resources on which they depend, are inextricably linked to their identities and cultures.

The revised Indigenous Peoples policy has retained the policy requirements of OD 4.20 that Bank-financed projects are designed not only to avoid adverse impacts but equally importantly to provide culturally appropriate benefits.

In terms of changes to the policy, OP/BP 4.10 introduces clarification and simplification in two critical ways:

• It clarifies numerous ambiguities related to: (a) the need for social assessment; (b) non-coverage of economic migrants to urban areas; and (c) the role of the Bank in screening to determine whether Indigenous Peoples are present in project area; and
• It simplifies the project processing requirement by establishing five clear steps: screening; social assessment; consultation with affected communities; preparation of plan or framework; and disclosure.

The revised Indigenous Peoples Policy introduces greater flexibility into project processing requirements by: (a) specifying that the level of detail is proportional to the complexity of the proposed project and commensurate with the nature and scale of the proposed project’s potential effects; and (b) proposing a planning framework (instead of an up-front plan) for projects that involve preparation and implementation of annual investment programs and multiple subprojects.

  OP/BP 4.10 strengthens requirements in the following areas:

• Reflecting Board discussions on the EIR on August 3, 2004 and the Management Response to the EIR, the revised policy affords project-affected Indigenous Peoples a stronger voice through a process of free, prior and informed consultation. The Bank will provide project financing only where free, prior and informed consultation results in broad community support. The Bank will not agree to physical relocation of Indigenous Peoples if they have not provided their broad support; and
• Commercial development of affected Indigenous Peoples’ cultural resources and knowledge is conditioned upon their prior agreement to such development.

To aid staff in the application of the revised policy, the Quality Assurance and Compliance Unit, in close collaboration with regional safeguards teams, has been organizing orientation workshops on a regular basis. A detailed Indigenous Peoples Policy Guidebook is also being prepared to provide guidance to staff in project processing. The Guidebook is anticipated to be available in the latter half of FY06.