Global Steering Committee

The DGM’s unique structure includes both a National Steering Committee (NSC) and a Global Steering Committee (GSC), which are the decision-making bodies for the DGM. Steering committees are led by Indigenous peoples and local community representatives and responsible for project guidance, governance, and oversight. Supporting these committees are the Global Executing Agency and National Executing Agencies, who handle administrative and fiduciary functions while grant-making decisions are made by the NSCs. Executing agencies carry out the project activities and priorities set by their steering committees while ensuring compliance with relevant standards and safeguards.

  • As the leaders, stakeholders, and primary drivers of the DGM, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities are central to all DGM activities. They select representatives to participate in the DGM National and Global steering committees, they develop and implement projects using DGM funding, and they build their capacities to participate in conversations around climate change and forestry at national and international levels. Indigenous and local community representatives are the key decision makers of the DGM program.

    The GSC is comprised of 16 IPLC representatives (including alternates) from 12 DGM countries: Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Indonesia, Guatemala, Nepal, Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, DRC, Mozambique, Ghana and Burkina Faso, and one representative from the Philippines, a non-FIP country to represent the broader needs and priorities of communities worldwide. Forty-six percent of GSC members are women. There are 12 established NSCs made up of 231 community representatives, 182 of which are voting members including 43 women (24%), who provide their leadership and oversight to their respective country programs.

GSC member, Lucely Pio from DGM Brazil participating in the annual GSC meeting held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire in May 2022. © DGM Global

Quick Facts

A message from Global and National Steering Committee Members

  • “The DGM GSC modality is unique and thoughtful. Most of the membership is Local Community members and Indigenous Peoples making it a genuine project. [IPLC governance] enhances the sense of ownership of the project thereby ensuring the sustainability of the project. It’s my hope and prayer that this mechanism would be replicated in all climate interventions.”

    Hayford Duodu/NSC Member from DGM Ghana

  • “Thanks to the DGM exchanges overtime, my commitment and engagement in the GSC has evolved and improved qualitatively”

    Moussele Diseke/ GSC Member from DGM Congo

Meet the Members

  • Bharati Pathak

    (co-chair)
    Local Community Forestry leader, Nepal

  • Manuel Aldrete

    (co-chair)
    Ejidatario representative of Noh-bec, Mexico

  • Jerber Luciano Roche Gonzalez

    Coban local community, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala

  • Idrissa Zeba

    Bissa Local Community, Burkina Faso

  • Mina Setra

    Dayak Pompakng Indigenous peoples, Indonesia

  • Lucely Morais Pio

    Quilombola of the Cedro Community, Brazil

  • Delphine Ahoussi

    (Alternate)
    Malebi Association, Cote d’Ivoire

  • Play Christophe Sare

    Bakwé of the Krou Indigenous people, Cote d’Ivoire

  • Kapupu Diwa Mutimanwa

    Pygmy Indigenous people, Democratic Republic of Congo

  • Bashiru Gambo

    Bashiru Gambo Gwan local community of Kwame Danso, Ghana

  • Daniel Maúla Paqueliua

    Local Community in Zambezia province, Mozambique

  • Ruth Buendía Mestoquiari

    (Alternating Representation)
    Asháninka Indigenous peoples, Peru

  • Marilen Puquio Arturo

    (Alternating Representation)
    Yanesha Indigenous peoples, Peru

  • Guy Moussele-Diseke

    Bakolous Indigenous peoples, Republic of the Congo

  • Gelje Lama Sherpa

    Nepal

  • Grace Balawag

    Non-FIP Country Representative (Philippines) Kankanaey Indigenous peoples, Philippines