Private Sector Assessment for the Voluntary Guidelines on Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land and other Natural Resources

FAO and its development partners are working together with countries to prepare Voluntary Guidelines that will provide practical guidance to states, the private sector, civil society, academia, donors and development specialists on the responsible governance of tenure. By setting out principles and internationally accepted standards for responsible practice and associated technical guidance, the Voluntary Guidelines will provide a framework and point of reference that stakeholders can use when developing their own policies and actions. For the private sector this includes principles that can be used in formulating policies for trade, investment, employment and supply chain management when developing land and natural resources in partnership with governments and local communities so that projects are mutually beneficial and reduce risks when operating in unfamiliar areas where there is a lack of clarity. They can be used in corporate social responsibility and environmental, social and governance policies to enable the private sector to address more effectively issues concerning land and natural resources. The consultations on the proposed Voluntary Guidelines are an important part of the process of exploring what they should contain and building the necessary consensus for their eventual implementation. They bring together representative, multidisciplinary groups to assess regional and sector priorities and issues that should be considered when the Voluntary Guidelines are drafted. The private sector consultation was held in London and organized, hosted and co-sponsored by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. It was attended by 76 people from 22 countries, who brought a rich and extensive range of expertise derived from their experience in the private sector, the professions, public sector, civil society, research and academia in a wide range of countries and UN agencies.