Guiding principles on large scale land based investments in Africa

The Land Policy Initiative (LPI) of the African Union, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African development Bank (AfDB) concluded the development of a Framework and Guidelines) on Land Policy in Africa (F&G) to facilitate national land policy development and implementation processes. The F&G highlights and provides direction for addressing key land issues on the continent, including emerging global and strategic issues such as the “new scramble for Africa’s land resources” which is taking place as Member States seek to increase investment in agriculture (also known as large scale, land based investments). It calls for specific examination of whether demands on Africa’s land “…can be met while observing sustainability guidelines and without marginalizing the land rights of African Communities.” The F&G was endorsed by African ministers responsible for agriculture and Land in March 2009, and subsequently by the AU summit of heads of state and government, through the adoption of a Declaration on Land Issues and Challenges in July 2009. The Declaration specifically urges member states to develop land policies that “take into account their peculiar needs” in accordance with the key principles outlined in F&G.