Promoting Responsible Governance of Investments in Land

A large share of the world's rural population depends on using land to feed themselves. Commercial agriculture and forestry investments are placing growing pressure on land as a resource. Especially when state capacities to steer and monitor land-based investments are low, this can lead to increasing pressure on natural resources, land-use conflicts and in the worst cases to forced expropriation and displacement. These factors can have a negative impact on livelihood and food security in rural areas, particularly when land rights are insecure. Notwithstanding, investments can boost food security and livelihoods if social, environmental and economic sustainability are taken into consideration. Many countries have committed themselves to good land governance: for example, they endorsed the FAO's Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT) and aim to follow the CFS' Principles on Responsible Agricultural Investment (RAI). The RGIL project is part of the “Global Programme Responsible Land Policy” (GPRLP) and is implemented in Ethiopia, Laos and Uganda. RGIL aims to ensure that investments in land are productive, contribute to sustainable land management and respect the rights and needs of local populations, in particular vulnerable groups and women.