Background
The Forum for Development Cooperation with Indigenous Peoples is a meeting-place for researchers, development workers and Sámi organisations engaged in cooperation with indigenous peoples in the South. By initiating important debates concerning policies and practice, the forum seeks to improve the quality of Norways development co-operation with indigenous peoples elsewhere.
"Forum for Development Cooperation with Indigenous Peoples" has its background in the evaluation of the Norwegian Program for Indigenous Peoples (UD Evaluation Report 8.98), White paper nr. 21 (1999/2000 Menneskeverd i sentrum), and the Follow-up Plan for Development Cooperation with Indigenous Peoples (UD 1999).
The Forum was established in 2000, and is aiming to be a meeting place for researchers, development workers, administrators and activists working with indigenous peoples' issues, and where they can share experiences from their work with different development projects related to indigenous peoples.
The Forum is led by an advisory board at the University of Tromsø, with external representation from NGOs and other institutions. The Centre for Sami Studies at the University of Tromsø hosts the administration of the Forum. The Forum has contributed to focus on different aspects in the strategies from the cooperating countries and Norway concerning indigenous peoples, and how this influences the capacity and ability of indigenous peoples to shape and control their own development.
