A/HRC/9/11 Page 4 VI. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS 7. OHCHR has been cooperating with UN-HABITAT on the right to adequate housing and indigenous peoples, publishing a joint study in 2006. In March 2007, OHCHR and UN-HABITAT organized an expert seminar on urban indigenous peoples and migration in Santiago de Chile. Arising from the seminar, the two organizations were invited to prepare a study and policy guide on indigenous peoples in urban environments. Preparations of the policy guide are ongoing and a final document is expected at the end of the year. VII. INDIGENOUS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME 8. The establishment of the Indigenous Fellowship Programme was recommended by the General Assembly as part of the Plan of Action for the First International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People and is now in its eleventh year. In 2008, indigenous fellows nominated by their organizations followed the 4-5 month programme; countries and communities represented were: Bolivia (Quechua), Colombia (Pasto), Guatemala (Maya - Tz’utuj’il), India (Boro), Kenya (Yaaku), Nepal (Gurung), Nicaragua (Telpaneca), Peru (from the Chynchaycocha community and the Awajun Wambisa community) Thailand (Lisu), and the United States of America (Oneida). In November and December 2008, eight indigenous persons from the Russian Federation will participate in a two-month programme, implemented partly in Moscow in cooperation with the Peoples Friendship University of Russia and partly at OHCHR in Geneva. In 2007 and 2008, OHCHR also provided grants to four former indigenous fellows to be able to spend four months in OHCHR field presences in Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and Panama as national fellows. VIII. VOLUNTARY FUND FOR INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS 9. The United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations was established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 40/131 of 13 December 1985 for the purpose of assisting representatives of indigenous communities and organizations to participate in the deliberations of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, now replaced by the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, by providing them with financial assistance, funded by means of voluntary contributions from Governments, non-governmental organizations and other private or public entities. The General Assembly extended the mandate of the Fund in its resolution 56/140 of 19 December 2001 by deciding that the Fund should be used to assist representatives of indigenous communities and organizations in attending, as observers, the sessions of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The Fund is administered in accordance with the Financial Regulations of the United Nations by the Secretary-General, with the advice of a Board of Trustees, and can receive voluntary contributions from Governments, non-governmental organizations and other private or public entities. In 2008, the Board considered 154 admissible applications and recommended 78 travel grants for indigenous representatives to attend the first session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for a total amount of approximately US$ 209,066. In addition, the Board of Trustees considered 303 admissible applications and recommended 78 grants for indigenous representatives to attend the seventh session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for a total amount of approximately US$ 357,199.