The Human Development and Capability Association encourages researchers who share common interests to organize thematic groups. At present, eight thematic groups are active. If you are involved in a similar thematic group, or if you would like to start one, please read and complete the following document and hence contact us at info@hd-ca.org. Please know that the thematic groups currently work only in English.

The main objective of this thematic group is to investigate how the capability approach can be applied in the context of indigenous issues, at the theoretical and practical level. At the theoretical level, we intend to explore how the capability approach can be applied as a theoretical framework to analyse indigenous peoples' rights and well-being. At the practical level, we propose to investigate whether and to what extent the capability approach can contribute to further indigenous holistic concept of development in the design, implementation and evaluation of development policies.

The research activities aim to investigate not only individual capabilities but also better understand and value capabilities that are shared by a social group or community. The group emphasizes the use of participatory research methods to enable indigenous peoples to fully participate in any research activities in order to allow them to define their priorities (set of capabilities) for their self-defined human development.