ID: 1598
Presenting Author: Juliana Medeiros Paiva
Session: 729 - FPIC - How prior is prior?
Status: pending
Brazil’s community-led protocols and territorial plans operationalize early FPIC, enabling Indigenous participation, protecting rights, and fostering inclusive and sustainable infrastructure
The FPIC principle is a cornerstone of Indigenous rights, requiring that consent be sought before any decision affecting Indigenous lands and cultures. The term “prior” is critical: engagement must begin at the earliest stages of project planning, not after commitments are made. Two community-led instruments experiencies from Brazil—Autonomous Consultation Protocols and Territorial and Environmental Management Plans (PGTAs)—offer practical pathways to operationalize FPIC in infrastructure development. Consultation protocols define culturally appropriate procedures for dialogue, including timing, languages, and decision-making processes, ensuring that consultations respect Indigenous governance systems. PGTA documents articulate territorial priorities and sustainable management strategies, providing a substantive framework for evaluating project compatibility. When applied together from the conceptual phase, these tools enable Indigenous peoples to influence project design, assess alternatives, and secure informed consent before licensing or construction begins. This approach transforms FPIC from a compliance requirement into a collaborative process, aligning infrastructure development with Indigenous visions for land use and cultural integrity. The paper explores how Brazil's experience can be used as tools in impact assessments, early engagement and planning in Projects supported by the World Bank strengthening the protection of rights, reducing conflicts and promoting inclusive and sustainable results.
Senior social development specialist, with extensive experience in indigenous peoples, large infrastructure projects and social impact assessment
Coauthor 1: Ana Carolina Rodrigues Velloso Cordeiro