E/2021/43 E/C.19/2021/10 of the system-wide action plan on the rights of indigenous peoples as well as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on the African continent. The Forum also encourages United Nations agencies, funds and programmes to establish a similar inter-agency group in Asia. 84. The Permanent Forum is concerned about reports of UNDP entering into a strategic partnership with the oil company GeoPark, a private entity that has been accused by indigenous communities of disregarding their rights, to carry out economic development activities in Colombia without the free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous communities that will be affected. This partnership contradicts standard 6 (indigenous peoples) of the UNDP social a nd environmental standards, and the Forum urges UNDP to suspend all related partnership activities until a proper free, prior and informed consent process can be carried out. Future work of the Permanent Forum, including issues considered by the Economic and Social Council and emerging issues, specifically challenges related to pandemics and responses to them (item 7) 85. The Permanent Forum expresses thanks to the Government of Finland for hosting its pre-sessional meeting for 2020. The Forum also expresses its thanks to the Governments of Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Canada, China, the Congo, Denmark, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, the Russian Federation, Spain and the United States of America, as well as the government of Greenland, for having hosted previous pre-sessional and intersessional meetings of the Forum. The Forum recommends that States that have not yet done so consider hosting such meetings in the future. It also requests that the secretariat of the Forum organize pre -sessional meetings for future sessions of the Forum. 86. Across the globe, indigenous peoples have experienced epidemics and pandemics introduced by outsiders. The epidemics have often led to the dispossession of their lands and to the loss of lives, cultures and languages. The ongoing COVID -19 pandemic has exposed and aggravated a range of pre-existing inequalities faced by indigenous peoples. In particular, it has highlighted the fact that indigenous peoples have inadequate access to infrastructure and services, including health care and education, and to markets; endure poor housing conditions; and experience diminished food security. These circumstances have led to disproportionately high infection and mortality rates among indigenous peoples in many countries. 87. Poor access to infrastructure and services has also exposed indigenous peoples to the indirect socioeconomic effects of the pandemic. The Permanent Forum is particularly concerned about the situation of indigenous children who have not received adequate education during the pandemic, especially in situations in which schools have been closed. The digital divide is a co mpounding factor that must be addressed with urgency in order to ensure that indigenous peoples are provided not only with access to information and communications technology but also with the necessary education and skills to be able to take advantage of that technology. Distance learning plans must include solutions that address the limited access to electricity, connectivity and the Internet. 88. Despite such challenges, indigenous peoples have exercised their self determination and organized their own responses to the pandemic. They have relied on and revitalized traditional medicines and practices, established efficient alternative communication systems in their indigenous languages, shared food supplies and established procedures for lockdowns. 89. The Permanent Forum emphasizes the importance of the engagement and meaningful participation of indigenous peoples in the design and roll -out of measures 18/29 21-06102