About Intellectual Property IP Training IP Outreach IP for… IP and... IP in... Patent & Technology Information Trademark Information Industrial Design Information Geographical Indication Information Plant Variety Information (UPOV) IP Laws, Treaties & Judgements IP Resources IP Reports Patent Protection Trademark Protection Industrial Design Protection Geographical Indication Protection Plant Variety Protection (UPOV) IP Dispute Resolution IP Office Business Solutions Paying for IP Services Negotiation & Decision-Making Development Cooperation Innovation Support Public-Private Partnerships The Organization Working with WIPO Accountability Patents Trademarks Industrial Designs Geographical Indications Copyright Trade Secrets WIPO Academy Workshops & Seminars World IP Day WIPO Magazine Raising Awareness Case Studies & Success Stories IP News WIPO Awards Business Universities Indigenous Peoples Judiciaries Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions Economics Gender Equality Global Health Climate Change Competition Policy Sustainable Development Goals Enforcement Frontier Technologies Mobile Applications Sports Tourism PATENTSCOPE Patent Analytics International Patent Classification ARDI – Research for Innovation ASPI – Specialized Patent Information Global Brand Database Madrid Monitor Article 6ter Express Database Nice Classification Vienna Classification Global Design Database International Designs Bulletin Hague Express Database Locarno Classification Lisbon Express Database Global Brand Database for GIs PLUTO Plant Variety Database GENIE Database WIPO-Administered Treaties WIPO Lex - IP Laws, Treaties & Judgments WIPO Standards IP Statistics WIPO Pearl (Terminology) WIPO Publications Country IP Profiles WIPO Knowledge Center WIPO Technology Trends Global Innovation Index World Intellectual Property Report PCT – The International Patent System ePCT Budapest – The International Microorganism Deposit System Madrid – The International Trademark System eMadrid Article 6ter (armorial bearings, flags, state emblems) Hague – The International Design System eHague Lisbon – The International System of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications eLisbon UPOV PRISMA Mediation Arbitration Expert Determination Domain Name Disputes Centralized Access to Search and Examination (CASE) Digital Access Service (DAS) WIPO Pay Current Account at WIPO WIPO Assemblies Standing Committees Calendar of Meetings WIPO Official Documents Development Agenda Technical Assistance IP Training Institutions COVID-19 Support National IP Strategies Policy & Legislative Advice Cooperation Hub Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISC) Technology Transfer Inventor Assistance Program WIPO GREEN WIPO's Pat-INFORMED Accessible Books Consortium WIPO for Creators WIPO ALERT Member States Observers Director General Activities by Unit External Offices Job Vacancies Procurement Results & Budget Financial Reporting Oversight

New Contributions to the WIPO Voluntary Fund

October 1, 2019

WIPO Director General Francis Gurry welcomed the announcement by the European Union that the Governments of Finland and Germany have pledged to contribute to the WIPO Voluntary Fund which supports the participation of the world’s indigenous peoples and local communities in international negotiations hosted at WIPO.

(Photo: WIPO/Berrod)

About the WIPO Voluntary Fund

WIPO member states in 2005 established a Voluntary Fund for Accredited Indigenous and Local Communities to help bring the perspective of these communities to the international negotiations at the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC).

In welcoming the European Union announcement, Mr. Gurry said “The contributions by the Governments of Finland and Germany are a boon to our efforts to ensure the widest possible participation in the IGC and that all stakeholders’ voices are heard.” The Director General urged other countries to match the generosity of the Governments of Finland and Germany in contributing to the Voluntary Fund.

Since its inception, the Voluntary Fund has collected some CHF 679,000 to host 75 different representatives of various indigenous and local communities at the IGC and related meetings.

In its opening statement at the 2019 WIPO General Assembly, the Delegation of the European Union announced that the Governments of Finland and Germany pledged to contribute 15,000 euros each to the WIPO Voluntary Fund.  The contributions will further invigorate the fund and allow the continued participation of accredited indigenous and local communities in future sessions of the IGC. 

The WIPO Assemblies are meeting in Geneva from September 30 to October 9, 2019 to take stock of the Organization’s work over the past year and decide on future work, including international negotiations within the IGC.