© Photo by Fernando Franco for acciona.org

Since its beginnings, the acciona.org Foundation has been working with indigenous communities in the regions where it is present. Its objective is to provide access to basic electricity, water and sanitation services to communities that are not reached by public policies, in situations of poverty and isolation, regardless of the origin or tradition of these communities. 

In its aim to contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 6 and 7, there is an essential factor that allows it to reach more people: its ability to adapt to each context. They know that each reality is unique, so they work with local teams in each country to facilitate the understanding of problems and the search for social solutions. This localization also allows them to strengthen trust with future beneficiary communities. 

Cooperation with indigenous communities follows the natural course of acciona.org's projects, in which it is essential to obtain the approval of the community, and its leaders such as indigenous traditional authorities. acciona.org encourages informed decision making before taking the next steps to provide energy, water or sanitation to communities with its usual modus operandi. 

According to ILO Convention No. 196 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, "indigenous and tribal peoples in Latin America today have the worst socioeconomic and labor indicators, and discrimination based on ethnic or racial origin radically aggravates income gaps. Data that drives the foundation to provide basic services to these communities, in order to promote their social and economic development, and always through natural and environmentally sustainable resources. 

This convention is a reference for the work of acciona.org and is present in all phases of each project in order to protect the rights of these peoples and ensure respect for their integrity.