ASI Indigenous Peoples Advisory Forum (IPAF)
IPAF members participate in – and provide input, advice and recommendations for – key areas of ASI’s work with and for Indigenous Peoples.
IPAF supports participation in the Standards Committee and Working Groups, engagement with the ASI Board, engagement with the ASI Complaints Mechanism, and – most importantly – engagement with each other.
What does IPAF do?
IPAF and ASI representatives organise regular teleconferences and video calls to share information on activities and progress. These are an opportunity for community representatives from across the world to connect, share experiences or ideas and establish networks that may provide support for their communities.
ASI also aims to provide technical and other support to IPAF on issues related to the aluminium value chain. ASI has supported several IPAF members in seeking independent funding for projects in their communities, one relating to post-mining rehabilitation and another on community understanding of FPIC.
Two IPAF members are nominated by IPAF as their representatives on the ASI Standards Committee, to ensure that Indigenous peoples’ rights, concerns, and recommendations are considered.
IPAF and ASI representatives also aim to hold at least one face-to-face ordinary meeting annually (subject to Covid or similar travel restrictions and risks). This is usually supported by a host community in a location relevant to the aluminium value chain.
Meet some IPAF participants
“Félicitations à toute l’équipe d’ASI. Nous les communautés riveraines des zones d’exploitation, sommes fiers de vous et espérons que les réformes préconisées par notre institution vont entraîner plus de rigueur et dynamisme dans le respect des droits des communautés riveraines des sites de production et transformation de bauxite, d’alumine et d’aluminium.
Congratulations to the entire ASI team. We, the communities living in the mining areas, are proud of you and hope that the reforms recommended by our organisation will lead to more rigourous and dynamic respect for the rights of the communities living in the bauxite, alumina and aluminium production and transformation sites.”
– Mamadou Houdy BAH Participant IPAF / IPAF participant
Guinée / Guinea
“I remember in Norway at the ASI Annual General Meeting, there were about 120 people from ASI Members from all over the world, and at this event, IPAF had the possibility to describe the situations we are experiencing in our communities to these companies. ASI provides the possibility for dialogue between the companies and the affected people, and we’re grateful to ASI for facilitating this level of dialogue.”
– Father Nicholas Barla
India
“The affected communities in Guinea welcomed the revision team in the hope that IPAF and ASI would help them reduce the negative impacts and suffering they face from the mining operations; that ASI can influence the mining operations to follow the ASI.”
– Aboubacar Diallo
Guinea
Become involved
The IPAF Network is open to any Indigenous person, community or organisation, and support groups and individuals, based on interest to be engaged.
IPAF encourages members to share information and experiences with other members, particularly related to extractive industries – such as bauxite mining, alumina refining, aluminium smelting – or other supply chain issues. We welcome women and men of all ages to participate.