In this issue of the NR Newsletter, we welcome 2012 as the UN-declared International Year of Energy for All, an opportunity to concentrate global attention on the challenges facing both developed and developing countries when addressing access to and efficient use of sustainable energy sources. We also take a look at an interesting land tenure project that aims to bring advanced technology land registration systems to developing countries, through low-cost open-source software.

This document reports on the regional consultation for Southern America (including Mexico), held in Brasilia on 20 and 21 of May 2010 with the support of the Government of Brazil and preceded by a civil society meeting composed of organizations integrating the International NGO/CSO Planning Committee for Food Sovereignty (IPC), whose recommendations have been annexed at this document.

Compulsory acquisition is the power of government to acquire private rights in land without the willing consent of the owner or occupant in order to benefit society and is often necessary for social and economic development and the protection of the natural environment. The exercise of these powers is frequently contentious and problematic. The guide explains what compulsory acquisition and compensation are, and what constitutes good practice in this area, examining the consequences of poor legislation, procedures and implementation.

La presente guía responde a la necesidad de incrementar las inversiones en el ámbito de la agricultura y alienta a todas las partes interesadas —en particular al público destinatario compuesto por las autoridades gubernamentales que participan en los procesos de promoción, aprobación y supervisión de inversiones— a que estudien modelos de inversión que reduzcan o eviten la transferencia de derechos de tenencia de la tierra.

Right to Food Handbooks 6. This third handbook on monitoring the right to food provides detail on the information needed for monitoring, information gathering methods, information systems and databases for monitoring as well as on dissemination of information.

Document de travail sur les régimes fonciers 10. L’unité de gestion des terres et des régimes fonciers de la FAO travaille avec des partenaires pour développer des directives volontaires sur la gouvernance responsable de la tenure des terres et des autres ressources naturelles qui peuvent être adoptées au niveau international et mises en œuvre par les Etats. Le document de discussion a été préparé afin de recueillir des avis et des commentaires sur le contenu et sur l’étendue des directives volontaires.

This manual complements FAO Land Tenure Studies 6: The design of land consolidation pilot projects in Central and Eastern Europe. The manual concentrates on the practical aspects of defining and implementing the first pilot projects. It identifies the main conditions that should be in place before the project starts, and it defines potentials and constraints. It draws attention to issues that should be addressed and it discusses methods, tools and techniques. The manual identifies the main activities in a pilot project and their sequence.

La FAO junto con varios asociados está desarrollando las Directrices voluntarias sobre la gobernanza responsable de la tenencia de la tierra y de otros recursos naturales. Las directrices voluntarias intentan proporcionar a los Estados, a la sociedad civil y al sector privado la orientación práctica sobre la gobernanza responsable de la tenencia como medios para aliviar el hambre y la pobreza, mejorar el medio ambiente, apoyar el desarrollo económico nacional y local, y reformar la administración pública.

Human rights principles and language are being used to support resource access claims as rights-based approaches empower individuals and groups to gain or maintain access to natural resources. This paper addresses the right to food and access to natural resources in regard to Right to Food Guidelines Provisions, Violations and State Obligations.

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), GTZ (Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit) and other development partners are working together with countries to prepare Voluntary Guidelines that will provide practical guidance to states, civil society, the private sector, donors and development specialists on the responsible governance of tenure.

Gender equality is one of the ten core principles of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security. This guide aims to assist in its implementation through the achievement of responsible gender-equitable governance of land tenure. The guide focuses on equity and on how land tenure can be governed in ways that address the different needs and priorities of women and men.

This publication describes the experience of a number of transition countries in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union with crafting regulatory frameworks for irrigation water users’ organizations. It also seeks to distil a number of key regulatory requirements. As a result, this study serves as a design/drafting manual for policymakers and for drafters of legislation on water users’ organizations.