Indigenous Women Present Climate Finance Declaration
More than 50 Indigenous women leaders will present a joint political declaration on climate finance and participation in Antalya, Türkiye.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Women’s Issues
The International Indigenous Women's Forum announced a declaration by more than 50 Indigenous women leaders from multiple regions, setting out five political priorities and five accountability benchmarks. It is scheduled to be presented on 8 November 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Türkiye time.
Why it matters
Research attributed to The Nature Conservancy indicates Indigenous Peoples and local communities receive around 1% of climate funding, despite contributing to ecosystem protection and climate resilience. The declaration responds to concerns that these communities have limited access to financial resources and decision-making processes.
The players
International Indigenous Women's Forum
An international forum that brings together Indigenous women's leadership to advance their participation in environmental and climate decision-making.
Lucy Mulenkei
A Maasai leader from Kenya who co-founded the International Indigenous Women's Forum and serves as Co-Chair of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity.
The details
More than 50 Indigenous women leaders from Africa, Asia, the Pacific, the Arctic, North America, Latin America and Eastern Europe are participating in the presentation. The declaration is expected to call for financing mechanisms that better recognise Indigenous women as developers and implementers of climate solutions.
Timeline
8 November 2026, 10:00 a.m. Türkiye time: declaration presented in Antalya, Türkiye.
2026: preparations for the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) advancing.
Season Trajectory
The declaration arrives ahead of COP31, extending Indigenous Peoples' longstanding push for direct access to climate finance into the upcoming negotiating cycle. Its proposed accountability benchmarks would give advocates a measurable standard for judging government follow-through.
The declaration's proposed benchmarks could shape how climate finance is directed to Indigenous-led projects in the coming years. Readers following COP31 can track whether governments adopt measurable commitments on direct funding and Indigenous participation.
The takeaway
Funding that reaches Indigenous communities directly is a measurable test of climate commitments. Watching whether governments adopt the declaration's accountability benchmarks will show whether that test is being met.
What happens next
The detailed wording of the five priorities and five accountability benchmarks is expected to be presented during the declaration's launch on 8 November 2026.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in Women's Issues on how women's leadership shapes climate and community policy.
