Land, Livelihoods, Legacy: IFAD’s Commitment to Indigenous Peoples' Empowerment in the Philippines

For generations, the indigenous peoples (IPs) of the Philippines have woven their lives into the fabric of their ancestral lands. For them, these lands are more than a place to live: They are the heart of their identity, the source of their traditions, and the foundation of a sustainable existence. Years of research have shown that indigenous communities are the best protectors of the forests they call home. Yet, for many, this connection was threatened by a lack of formal recognition of custodianship: this puts their livelihoods, culture and very futures at risk. Without secure rights to the lands they stewarded for centuries, a legacy of environmental harmony and cultural knowledge could disappear. 

However, many indigenous communities have been turning the tide with support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Built on respect and empowerment, IFAD’s partnership with indigenous peoples enables IPs to lead their own development and transform their ancestral domains – a term that refers to their land rights in national law – into pillars of strength and opportunity: 400,000 IPs have benefitted from such initiatives over the last three decades. The Philippine Action Plan for Family Farming 2019-2028 acknowledges IFAD’s crucial role in supporting IPs, including on land-related protection. 

Securing the Foundation: From Stewardship to Legal Rights 

The journey begins with the land itself. Recognizing that true empowerment starts with secure land tenure, IFAD has made strengthening ancestral land rights a cornerstone of its work since 1997.  

In the highlands Cordillera Administrative Region, for instance, the Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resource Management Projects (CHARM I & II) helped Indigenous communities secure legal recognition of their ancestral lands. Reaching 170 barangays—99 per cent of which were Indigenous— CHARM II pioneered an approach where communities pledged customary stewardship of vital watersheds. This approach, rooted in indigenous knowledge systems and practices, bridged traditional governance with environmental protection and provided over 220,000 IPs with a continued livelihood. 

Similarly, in Mindanao, the Western Mindanao Community Initiatives Project (WMCIP) and the Northern Mindanao Community Initiatives and Resource Management Project (NMCIREMP) were instrumental in supporting indigenous groups to turn ancestral land claims into official titles.  

Datu Balitungtung, a Higaunon tribal leader who participated in the project, said: “I have been working for 20 years for IP governance. But I have never [before] found what IP governance should look like...; it’s simple but with concrete steps... that coalesce the Indigenous Peoples’ structures and institutions.” 

Through these projects, communities got the tools they needed to protect their land and plan their development in culturally sensitive ways. 

Cultivating Opportunity: From Rights to Resilient Livelihoods 

Securing land rights is only the beginning to unlocking opportunities and building sustainable livelihoods. The CHARM projects introduced sustainable agriculture and natural resource management techniques based on indigenous knowledge systems and practices, while the other projects supported a range of initiatives led by locals, from building marine sanctuaries to rehabilitating mangroves and farming upland, all tailored to fit their specific context and culture. 

To ensure the economic benefits reached those who needed them most, various projects launched funding facilities dedicated to the poorest households, with a focus on indigenous peoples, including women-led families. These funds have supported micro-enterprises and community groups, proving that even modest investments can spark significant change when communities are in the driver's seat. 

For example, the Paddaoan Livestock and Livelihood Association, in Apayao Province took advantage of a small CHARM loan – around US$ 2000 –to purchase a new variety of piglets that were distributed to the 21 members of the group. They also received training in organic swine production, bookkeeping and business management. Households had typically raised just one pig of the native variety at a time, keeping it tied to a tree trunk until it was butchered and the meat distributed to relatives. They now raise an average of two pigs – one for fattening, one for sow raising. Both are profitable: a grown pig will sell for over US$ 250 and typically each sow will give a minimum of two litters of 5-10 piglets a year, which sell for a total of US$ 400-800.  

Dionisio Talang, one of the members, said: “People are more involved now that they actually know how to raise livestock and take care of it instead of just leaving their animals tied to a tree. This project has taught us how to do business and it has raised our standard of living.” 

Using the extra income, the association was able to pay back the initial loan.   

IFAD’s Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility (IPAF) has directly empowered communities to design and implement their own initiatives. It has funded grassroots projects focused on food security, environmental sustainability and cultural resilience, ensuring that livelihoods are not only economically viable but also culturally affirming.  

Average poverty incidence between 2017 and 2022 declined by 14.5 per cent in areas that received IFAD support. 

Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future: A Legacy for All Times 

The partnership strengthens indigenous heritage while empowering communities to shape their own future, highlighted Ilaria Firmian, Senior Technical Specialist at IFAD. “By championing indigenous leadership, recognizing customary laws and integrating traditional knowledge into climate actions and food systems, IFAD’s approach reinforces identity and self-determination,” she said. 

Platforms like the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum and the Agriculture and Rural Development Knowledge and Policy Platform, along with annual national consultations, have become vital spaces for dialogue. They have highlighted the importance of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) – a human right that requires that indigenous peoples receive accessible information and be consulted about and consent to any activities undertaken on their land – and showcased the critical role that Indigenous youth and women play in building inclusive and resilient food systems. 

“This journey—from securing land to building livelihoods and preserving a legacy—offers a powerful model for inclusive rural transformation,” Firmian said. “It demonstrates that when indigenous peoples are empowered to lead their own development, they can build sustainable futures rooted in their rights, knowledge, and traditions.”  

As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary in the Philippines, the work of IFAD and its indigenous partners stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved when development is built on a foundation of respect and empowerment.