Indigenous People

In the DFID White Paper, the government's commitment to addressing gender inequality highlights the frequent 'double disadvantage' of poor women. Poor women from minority groups, however, may experience additional discrimination. There is abundant evidence to show that many ethnic minorities and indigenous people are subject to economic, social and political disadvantage. The complex relationships between gender and ethnicity need to be addressed in order to understand the social processes leading to poverty of particular groups. To date, however, the international development community has paid relatively little attention to the specific disadvantage of women from ethnic minorities. This paper outlines the international policy framework as it stands, which shapes donor interventions in this area, highlighting the limitations in relation to gender. It goes on to detail DFID's position on ethnic minorities and indigenous people and the treatment of gender within it. Gender and ethnicity within the project cycle is subsequently addressed through a review of existing projects designed around the rights and needs of women from minorities. Issues raised overall include the rights of ethnic minorities versus the state's nation-building agenda, indigenous rights to land and natural resources, gender specific knowledge, and gender-related deficiencies in participatory methods.