Traditional authorities in Zambia complain that the government does not consult them when land is allocated for investment projects, while communities say chiefs are neglecting their interests. Jesinta Kunda of Zambia Land Alliance says more clarity is needed on the role of traditional authorities, in law and practice, to ensure large-scale investments in agriculture, mining and other sectors are governed better – particularly in light of the rising demand for critical minerals found in Zambia. She urges the government, traditional leaders and citizens to seize the opportunities presented by current legal reforms in Zambia to create change.

In Mali, a civil society coalition worked with communities to achieve greater transparency on gold mining contracts and to hold authorities and companies to account. Their aim: to turn Mali’s mining sector into a lever for socio-econmic development and improve living conditions around mining sites. 

Nouhoum Diakite charts a success story, with limitations…

By Milya Samberu, Gender and Land Champion, WOLTS  Project Tanzania

Odgerel describes the changes he is making to tackle land degradation in his herding community since becoming a gender and land champion.

P. Purevdolgor describes the impact of becoming a gender and land champion in her Mongolian herding community.

Хүн Төвтэй Байгаль Хамгаалал байгууллагын үйл ажиллагааны нэг чиглэл нь  малчдын, ялангуяа уул уурхайн нөлөөнд өртсөн малчин өрхийн жендэрийн асуудал юм.  Тиймээс ч бид 7 жилийн өмнө Эмэгтэйчүүдийн газар эдэлбэрийн эрхийн баталгаат байдал (ЭГЭЭББ) олон улсын төсөл д нэгдэн орсон.  Хэдийгээр манай байгууллага (ХТБХ) хамтын оролцооны аргаар орон нутгийн иргэдэд түшиглэсэн байгаль хамгаалах үйл ажиллагааг олон нөхөрлөлүүдтэй хамтран үндэсний хэмжээнд явуулж байгаа ч

Jamii nyingi za vijijini nchini Tanzania zina changamoto zinazofanana  kutokana na makampuni ya uchimbaji madini na wawekezaji. Nimejionea jinsi wanaume na wanawake ambao ni wasaidizi wa jinsia na ardhi wanavyoweza kusaidia.

Many rural communities in Tanzania share similar challenges from mining companies and investors. I have seen first-hand how men and women gender and land champions can help.

Under the umbrella of the Advancing Land-based Investment Governance (ALIGN) series, the second webinar of the series “The Maledu Judgement: The power of tenure rights recognition” took place on March 22nd, 2023.  The webinar drew in a little over 230 participants and featured panelists from the private sector, members of mining-affected communities and practitioners.   The series is organized by a consortium of organizations, including the Land Portal Foundation, CCSI, IIED and Namati.  

Uganda’s extractives industry is growing exponentially and attracting both foreign and domestic mining companies. But too often, mineral-rich communities fail to benefit. Here, Kevin Bakulumpagi of ANARDE, Uganda discusses how Community Development Agreements can ensure affected communities both benefit from mining operations and are meaningfully engaged in agreements regulating mining activities