Resource information
This discussion paper has been prepared by FAO’s Land Tenure and Management Unit to
seek views and comments on voluntary guidelines on responsible governance of tenure of
land and other natural resources. Weak governance of tenure results in the loss of life and
livelihoods; it deters investment and widespread economic growth and discourages the
sustainable use of natural resources. In contrast, responsible governance of tenure ensures
that relevant policies and rules lead to sustainable, beneficial results, and that related
services are delivered efficiently, effectively and equitably. Responsible governance is
not confined to statutory tenure (e.g. private and public ownership and other rights and
responsibilities) but it recognizes as well customary and common property tenures. It is
anticipated that voluntary guidelines will help countries to improve the governance of
tenure. FAO has been working on governance of tenure since 2005 with generous support
from the Government of Finland (see for example FAO Land Tenure Studies 9: “Good
governance in land tenure and administration”1.) The work of FAO and its partners,
including UN-Habitat, the World Bank, IFAD, individual countries, and civil society, has
shown that there is a growing and widespread interest in voluntary guidelines that can be
adopted at the international level and implemented by countries.
