Money from pension funds has fuelled the financial sector’s massive move into farmland investing over the past decade. The number of pension funds involved in farmland investment and the amount of money they are deploying into it is increasing;under the radar. This unprecedented take-over of farmland by financial companies has major implications for rural communities and food systems;and must be challenged. Leaving it to the companies to police themselves with their own voluntary guidelines is a recipe for disaster.

In recent decades;many countries in sub-Saharan Africa have pursued national water permit systems;derived from the colonial era and reinforced by “global best practice.” These systems have proved logistically impossible to manage and have worsened inequality in water access. This study traces the origins of these systems;and describes their implementation and consequences for rural smallholders in Kenya;Malawi;South Africa;Uganda and Zimbabwe.

A book covering six countries;including South Africa;Kenya;Sierra Leone and Liberia. Community paralegals seek to demystify law and empower people to advocate for themselves. Each chapter contains vivid accounts of paralegals helping communities to take on injustice.