Indigenous Biocultural Exchange – IBEX Fund 2018 (Up to $5,000 to attend any Global Conference)
Deadline: January 29, 2018
The Institute of International Education (IIE) is now accepting applications for the Indigenous Biocultural Exchange (IBEX) Fund. The IBEX Fund provides financial assistance to an individual to attend global biocultural events/exchanges or meetings of international significance which impacts the applicant’s home territory or region. Applications are currently accepted for conferences taking place between March 1, 2018 to July 31, 2018.
This fund supports indigenous peoples and local communities to have a voice in the policies and forums that concern biocultural diversity at a global level (for example, in relation to UNDRIP and other UN Conventions such as the Right to Food and the Convention on Biological Diversity). The focus of the fund examines biocultural issues—the rich but neglected adaptive interweave of people and place, culture and ecology.
The fund aims to encourage an actively and participatory exchange of knowledge systems, especially for, but not limited to, individuals in the following regions: African Rift Valley, Central Asia & Turkey, Southwest U.S. & Northern Mexico, Northern Australia, and Melanesia. Of special interest are indigenous people and local communities who have been traditionally under-represented in biocultural events, including but not limited to, women, youth, and first time travelers.
Award
Award recipients are chosen by a competitive selection process and must use the award to defray costs, which include international airfare, hotel/lodging, conference fees, meals, incidentals, local transportation, visa fees, and travel insurance.
A maximum of $5,000.00 USD is awarded to selected applicants (flexibility will be considered pending review of an applicant’s budget submission).
Eligibility
Applicant must be Indigenous (definition below) or a member of a local indigenous community.
The modern understanding of this term used and advanced by the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) is based on the following:
- Self-identification as indigenous peoples at the individual level and accepted by the community as their member
- Historical continuity with pre-colonial and/or pre-settler societies
- Strong link to territories and surrounding natural resources
- Distinct social, economic or political systems
- Distinct language, culture and beliefs
- Form non-dominant groups of society
- Resolve to maintain and reproduce their ancestral environments and systems as distinctive peoples and communities
For applicants who meet the above criteria, additional preference will be given to:
- Women
- Youth (18+)
- Exchange in the following regions: African Rift Valley, Central Asia & Turkey, Southwest U.S. & Northern Mexico, Northern Australia, and Melanesia
- First time traveler (or applying with an organization to support a first time traveler)
Application
You can find the application form online. Please send any questions to ibex@iie.org.
For more information, visit IBEX Fund.