नेपाल आदिवासी जनजाति महासंघ

नेपाल आदिवासी जनजाति महासंघ (नेफिन)

The Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) is a national umbrella organization representing the Indigenous Peoples of Nepal. Established in 1991, NEFIN brings together the voices of 59 recognized Indigenous nationalities through a broad network of member organizations across the country.

NEFIN truly represents Nepal’s Indigenous Peoples, who constitute nearly 35% of the country’s total population, according to the 2021 Census. Since its establishment, NEFIN has been working to protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples over their ancestral domains, traditional lands, territories, and natural resources, as well as their cultural heritage, history, languages, scripts, cultures, traditions, and identities.

As an autonomous and non-partisan institution, NEFIN is committed to promoting and protecting the rights, identities, cultures, languages, and traditional knowledge systems of Indigenous communities. It plays a vital role in advocating for inclusive policies, social justice, and the meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples in state governance and development processes.

NEFIN has played a historical role in the establishment of secularism, proportional representation, and federalism in Nepal. With strong engagement at the local, national, and international levels, NEFIN works collaboratively with government bodies, civil society, and global partners to advance the principles of equality, self-determination, and sustainable development for Indigenous Peoples in Nepal.

NEFIN’s greatest strength is its extensive network among Nepal’s Indigenous Peoples, both within and outside the country. Through this network, NEFIN continues to strengthen Indigenous voices, promote their rights and representation, and contribute to building an inclusive, just, and equitable Nepal.

अध्यक्षको विचार

Nima Lama Hyolmo

It is my great honour and privilege to welcome you to the official website of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN).

Nepal is a country of extraordinary cultural, linguistic, social and ecological diversity. Indigenous Peoples are an integral part of this diversity and have made invaluable contributions to the country’s history, identity, knowledge systems, cultures, languages, natural resource stewardship and sustainable development.

As the umbrella organization representing Indigenous Peoples of Nepal, NEFIN remains committed to advancing Indigenous Peoples’ rights, dignity, identity, self-determination and meaningful participation in all spheres of national life. Our work is guided by the Constitution of Nepal, ILO Convention No. 169, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and other relevant international human rights standards.

Our priorities include securing Indigenous Peoples’ rights to lands, territories and natural resources; protecting and revitalizing Indigenous languages and cultures; promoting inclusive and equitable education; strengthening the participation and leadership of Indigenous women and youth; addressing climate change and environmental justice; and ensuring Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in decisions affecting Indigenous Peoples and their communities.

We believe that Nepal’s prosperity must be built on inclusion, equality, justice and respect for diversity. Development cannot be sustainable when the rights, knowledge and voices of Indigenous Peoples are overlooked. Our vision is of a Nepal where every Indigenous community can live with dignity, exercise its rights, preserve its identity and contribute equally to a peaceful, inclusive and prosperous nation.

I invite Indigenous Peoples, government institutions, civil society, development partners, researchers, media, youth, women and all friends of Indigenous rights to join us in this collective journey.

Together, let us build a Nepal where diversity is celebrated, rights are respected, voices are heard, and no one is left behind.

हाम्रो उद्देश्य

NEFIN aims to unite and strengthen Indigenous Peoples across Nepal by promoting and protecting their rights, identities, cultures, languages, traditional knowledge, and meaningful participation in national development. It advocates for the recognition and realization of Indigenous Peoples’ collective rights, inclusion, self-determination, and meaningful participation in decision-making at all levels.