About Us

This is who we are, what we do and how we do it.
IPAS Fund is a regional funding mechanism by and for Indigenous Peoples of Asia was conceived during a regional consultation workshop on 31 July to 1 August 2022 held in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Our main purpose is to provide direct access of Indigenous Peoples in Asia to external funds addressing their specific challenges, such as language barriers, restrictions from governments, and capacity issues. The IPAS fund acknowledges and seeks to build on the support of existing donors while encouraging additional donors to change their approach from project-based to core funding and building and strengthening solidarity relations based on trust and mutual accountability. It, also, aims to reach grassroots Indigenous groups, including women’s organizations, youth, and persons with disabilities.

Vision

We, the Indigenous Peoples of Asia, are fully and sustainably governing our traditional lands, territories, and resources with enhanced capacities, skills, and knowledge with the realization of our individual and collective rights, well-being, and gender equality.

Mission

Generate and mobilize financial and other resources in strengthening and amplifying the solidarity and leadership of Indigenous Peoples of Asia to govern our resources in the exercise of our rights and enhancement of our contributions towards a sustainable future.

Our Objective

Build and strengthen the institutional and technical capacities of Indigenous Peoples’ institutions, organizations, and networks in Asia to enhance resource mobilization, and finance management and ensure sustainability, accountability, transparency, and collective decision-making to empower Indigenous Peoples.

Provide direct access to funding for Indigenous Peoples’ institutions, organizations, and networks of Asia to support our self-determined needs and priorities concerning lands, territories and resources and forest guardianship, and broader issues of biodiversity conservation, climate change, and sustainable development in line with our rights and wellbeing.

Strengthen the cooperation and solidarity of Indigenous Peoples of Asia through networking, collaboration, inter-learning exchanges, mutual support, and inclusive representation and participation in the relevant processes, mechanisms and events at all levels in advancing vision and missions of the IPAS

Our Targets

1
Protection of a total of 29.55 million hectares out of 93 million hectare of tropical rainforests in Asia by the end of 2028

2

Sensitization of 50-60 million Indigenous Peoples on their collective and individual rights to lands, territories, and resources

3

At least 6 million Indigenous Peoples and their intersectional groups directly benefited from IPAS fund

4

The Country Steering Committees (CSCs) will be active and facilitating the IPAS fund management and monitoring in all countries

5

Mapping of Indigenous Territories for 40 million hectares

Our Board

Ms. Joan Carling

Chairperson

Philippines
Southeast Asia subregion

Mr. Devasish Roy

Vice-Chairperson

Bangladesh
South Asia subregion

Ms. Chandra Tripura

Secretary

Bangladesh
Youth representative

Ms. Rukka Sombolinggi

Treasurer

Indonesia
Southeast Asia subregion

Ms. Lin Lin Su Hsin

Member

Taiwan / China
East Asia subregion

Ms. Khesheli Chishi

Member

Northeast India
South Asia subregion

Ms. Pratima Gurung

Member

Nepal
Indigenous Persons with Disabilities representative

Ms. Yun Mane

Member

Cambodia
Mekong subregion

Mr. Gam A. Shimray

Member

Northeast India
Regional IP Network

Mr. Kittisak Rattanakrajangsri

Member

Thailand
Mekong subregion

Ms. Maslah Rompado

Member

Malaysia
Women Representative

Our Team

Jenifer Lasimbang

Executive Director

Shree Kumar Maharjan

Program Director

Stephanie Ratih Andriyani

Communication Officer

Margasanthy Carmensitta

Finance & Admin Officer

© 2024 Indigenous Peoples of Asia Solidarity Fund. All rights reserved | Concatenated by [ i ]

Jenifer Lasimbang

Executive Director

Jenifer Lasimbang is a passionate and dedicated advocate for indigenous rights, ICT empowerment, and community development. With over 20 years of experience, she has worked extensively to promote education, socio-economic development, and healthcare in rural and indigenous communities across Malaysia. Holding a Master’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Jenifer has been instrumental in initiatives such as the Malaysian Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education (MIPCE II), where she championed mother tongue-based education and cultural preservation. She also collaborated with UNICEF Malaysia on the #thisability campaign to raise awareness about children with disabilities. A former assistant minister and elected assemblywoman, Jenifer has focused on empowering women and Indigenous Peoples in governance while continuing her volunteer work with organizations like MERCY Malaysia, particularly in remote healthcare missions.

Jenifer Lasimbang worked with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the regional level as a consultant for the Regional Indigenous Peoples’ Programme at the UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok from 2008 to 2009. During her time with UNDP, she coordinated development programs across Asia and the Pacific, focusing on Indigenous Peoples’ rights. She helped manage grants awarded to community-based Indigenous organizations, deepening her understanding of the struggles faced by Indigenous communities in the region. Jenifer also contributed to research and publications related to Indigenous Peoples’ rights and promoted a Human Rights-Based Approach to development through her work with UNDP.

Shree Kumar Maharjan

Program Director

Shree Kumar Maharjan (Ph.D.) from Kirtipur-5, Kathmandu, Nepal is an agriculture graduate from the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Tribhuvan University, Nepal. He accomplished a Ph.D. in International Cooperation Studies from the Graduate School of International Development and Cooperation (IDEC), Hiroshima University, Japan. 

He has been working as a development professional in multiple organizations from local to national and international levels including the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) based in Chiang Mai Thailand, Resource Identification and Management Society (RIMS Nepal), Local Initiatives for Biodiversity Research and Development (LI-BIRD), Natural Resource Development Center (NRDC) in different positions respectively.

Currently, He is a Program Director at the Indigenous Peoples of Asia Solidarity Fund (IPAS fund). He has published several articles on indigenous rights, agriculture, climate change, tourism, conservation ecology, youth issues, etc.

Stephanie Ratih Andriyani

Communication Officer

Stephanie Ratih Andriyani has over 10 years of experience working in communications, with a strong background in media relations, project management, and event organization. She has previously worked with a communication consultancy that collaborated extensively with environmental and community-focused NGOs in Indonesia. Before joining the IPAS Fund, Stephanie worked at an environmental NGO, gaining extensive knowledge in climate crisis issues, environmental conservation, and Indigenous Peoples’ rights. As a Communications Officer at IPAS, Stephanie is based in Jakarta, Indonesia

Margasanthy Carmensitta

Finance & Admin Officer

Margasanthy Carmensitta is a new member in IPAS Fund as Finance and Administration Officer. She has over 13 years working in various fields of finance, accounting and administration duties for several non profit organizations in Indonesia such as Oxfam in Indonesia, KEHATI Foundation, EcoNusa Foundation, PKBI Pusat, Terre des Hommes Netherlands and World Vision Indonesia. Santhy has Diploma in Accounting from Polytechnic University of Indonesia and Bachelor of Economics from Indonesia Open University. She likes reading books, gardening, and traveling in her free time.
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