Towards the end of this assessment process, participants decided to present a land petition at the village assembly and with officials of the revenue department, in an attempt to broaden their network of support and draw attention to their rights. The focus of the assessment was neglect of government officials and elected representatives. Participants also recognized that gaps in information and communication related to the Katkari’s legal rights as residents of tribal lands, worsen the situation by keeping from public view illegal advantages held by wealthy landowners.

Ideally, poverty indicators improve because poor people’s livelihoods are improved. They can, however, also improve
because poor people are expelled from the territory. This article explores the case of the cattle region of Chontales, Nicaragua, which
during 1998–2005 experienced economic growth and declining poverty rates, spurred by investments and organizational development.
The article argues that in the absence of pro-poor coalitions, these investments facilitated the return and strengthening of the local elite

This policy brief outlines recommendations resulting from a three-year action research programme undertaken by civil society organizations in collaboration with threatened communities of smallholder farmers and fishers.

Large scale land acquisitions (LSLAs) impact women: loss of rights and access to land, water resources, fuel wood, adequate shelter, compensation and livelihood. The study looks at three sub-Saharan African countries (Cameroon, Ghana and Uganda) each having different land tenure regimes. Since land is vital for the survival of rural dwellers especially women, the study recommends that laws and policies governing the process of LSLA stress a mandatory participatory approach that includes women. There is urgent need to revalorize national laws to mainstream women’s land rights.

This policy brief presents strengths and weaknesses of state and traditional land justice institutions in relation to access, costs and speed in concluding the process of resolving land cases. In the current legal and institutional framework, strengthening of the customary justice system would bring benefits. With 93% of land in the Northern and Eastern regions under customary tenure, the most important institution is the clan, yet clan rulings are most often ignored by a parallel state system.

A detailed situation analysis reveals key linkages between meagre services, insecure land tenure, and unjust governance institutions in Nairobi’s informal settlements. In addition to exploring alternative models of service delivery, the analysis examines the “poverty penalty” and the types of service provision specific to Mukuru settlement, where residents are forced to pay for poorer services. Private holdings in Mukuru should be converted to community land, using provisions from the Constitution, Land Act, and the draft community land bill.

This project brings the international soft law instrument, the Voluntary Guidelines on Responsible Governance of the Tenure of Land, Fisheries, and Forests (Tenure Guidelines or TGs) to rural communities and, together with them, uses the Guidelines to strengthen their tenure of land, fisheries and forests. As well, it provides policy-relevant knowledge on how to promote legitimacy and accountability of public authorities involved in land grabs. The goal of the Toolkit is to help users to produce outputs which are politically relevant and useful.

Government intervention and local level coordination of large-scale investment decisions are important components required for positive impacts on food security, nutrition and livelihoods of host communities. This policy brief reviews two case studies which illustrate the effects of foreign investment partnerships on local host communities and makes recommendations for improving government intervention at the provincial level

In fishing communities the contentious acquisition of land close to water bodies is especially relevant. Water grabbing has serious implications for basic human rights including the right to water, food, health, livelihood, and self-determination. Land grabbing is driven by the desire to control and use water and fisheries resources. Globally, Uganda is among the 25 countries most affected by water grabbing.

This article summarizes the results of a research program conducted in 11 Latin America countries, addressing two
questions: (1) what factors determine territorial development dynamics that lead to economic growth, poverty reduction, and improved
income distribution? (2) What can be done to stimulate this kind of territorial dynamics? We highlight five “bundles of factors” that we
found in 19 case studies of territorial development 1, as well as the role of social territorial coalitions that appear to be necessary for

Field schools and plant clinics are key extension tools to fight Côte d’Ivoire lethal yellowing disease (CILY) that severely impacts the livelihoods of thousands of smallholder farmers in Grand-lahou, Côte d’Ivoire. This paper describes the processes in establishing and organizing field schools, plant clinics, Women Coconut Fairs and Women Groups in CILY-affected villages of GrandLahou. Land acquisition is one of the main issues that affect women within the coconut value chain in Grand-Lahou: women are denied access and control over farmland, and work at their husband’s plantations.