About Us
MISSION
To advance Indigenous Peoples’ rights by strengthening Indigenous institutions, documenting and revitalizing Indigenous knowledge, promoting community-driven research and innovation, supporting culturally grounded education and entrepreneurship, and ensuring rights-based safeguards in development and conservation. Through partnerships, evidence-based advocacy, and capacity strengthening, IIAD enables Indigenous communities to determine their own futures while contributing to biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and social justice.
VISION
A world where Indigenous Peoples exercise self-determination, safeguard their lands, territories, cultures, and knowledge systems, and lead resilient, just, and sustainable futures rooted in their own worldviews and aspirations.
The Story Behind Our Movement
We initiated with grassroots efforts in 2012, which we named it as Self-Sustaining Campaign (आत्मा निर्भर अभियान). It was initiated to address the persistent poverty and marginalization faced by the Chepang community.
This campaign began with a simple, yet impactful solution: poultry farming. As a low-cost, high-impact livelihood option, poultry farming offered Chepang families a fast and reliable source of income, helping to meet basic needs while promoting economic independence.
The philosophy driving this initiative is rooted in the idea: “Don’t give people fish, teach them how to fish.” Rather than providing one-time aid, we focus on equipping communities with the knowledge, tools, and skills needed to build sustainable livelihoods.
Our work with the Chepang community revealed a deeper need: not just for resources, but for opportunities that restore dignity, agency, and hope. Today, we continue to be a part of our broader mission to uplift Indigenous communities through sustainable development, cultural preservation, and grassroots empowerment.
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Our Key Priorities and Actions
Our work includes rigorous research and policy analysis on Indigenous issues, with a strong emphasis on youth-led Indigenous research. We offer accessible online training courses and certifications to build capacity and empower Indigenous leaders and advocates. We support the development and implementation of Indigenous Peoples Safeguards Compliance and deliver comprehensive Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) curriculum and processes.
We nurture Indigenous food systems, livelihoods, and local economies that are regenerative, culturally rooted, and sustaining so communities can thrive with dignity, autonomy, and balance. Through our Indigenous Knowledge Centre, we sustain a living space where languages, stories, seeds, and cultural practices are not only preserved, but practiced, renewed, and carried forward across generations.
One Chepang Child Sponsorship
Dedicated to supporting the education and well-being of children from the Chepang community, this program provides access to quality education, essential supplies, and opportunities for personal development.
Indigenous Enterprises
We identify and support local villagers to establish their enterprises, creating subsistence marketplaces through social entrepreneurship and startups, leading communities towards sustainability.
Training on Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC)
We facilitate the FPIC process, ensuring that Indigenous communities have the right to give or withhold consent to projects that may affect them or their territories.
Indigenous Social Work Research Camp
The Indigenous Social Work Research Camp is an immersive experiential learning program organized by the IIAD for Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) students. The camp provides a unique opportunity for future social workers to engage directly with Indigenous communities, learn from Indigenous knowledge holders, and critically examine social work practice through Indigenous worldviews, human rights, and decolonial perspectives.
Unlike conventional field visits, the research camp emphasizes community-based participatory research, Indigenous research methodologies, critical reflection, and ethical engagement. Students spend time in Indigenous villages, interact with community leaders, Elders, women, youth, traditional healers, and local organizations, while documenting Indigenous knowledge systems, cultural heritage, customary institutions, livelihoods, environmental stewardship, and community-led development initiatives. The program encourages students to understand Indigenous realities beyond textbooks and develop culturally responsive and socially just social work practices.
Key Achievements and Recognition
Explore moments from our journey of empowering Indigenous communities. From educational workshops and advocacy campaigns to cultural celebrations and grassroots initiatives, our gallery showcases the spirit, resilience, and stories of the people we serve.
Our Board Members
Meet the guiding minds behind our mission.
Our Board of Directors brings together passionate individuals with deep expertise in Indigenous rights, education, policy advocacy, and sustainable development. With a shared commitment to equity and inclusion, they provide strategic direction, ensure transparency, and uphold the values that shape our work across Nepal.
Each member contributes their unique experience and leadership to drive impact, empower communities, and create lasting change.
Executive Committee
Leading with vision, grounded in community.
Our Executive Committee is composed of dedicated leaders who oversee the day-to-day operations, ensure program effectiveness, and uphold the organizational mission. With deep ties to Indigenous communities and a commitment to social justice, each member plays a key role in decision-making, coordination, and strategic implementation.
Together, they ensure that our programs remain community-driven, transparent, and impactful—guiding our work toward sustainable and inclusive development.
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