The Advancing Land-based Investment Governance (ALIGN) series focuses on the governance of land-based investments in the Global South. The series explores practical strategies and approaches adopted by rights defenders and practitioners to address common challenges surrounding these investments. The series also connects the thematic elements and openings within these strategies for enhanced RLBI governance to the Responsible Land-Based Investment Navigator, a knowledge hub bringing together a wide range of curated tools and guides on topics related to the governance of land-based investments.
Linked to this, and underpinning many of the strategies deployed, is the importance of reliable and readily available information. Such information improves transparency and accountability and facilitates more responsible land investments. The series will therefore also explore how open data can assist in protecting the rights of individuals and communities and enhance opportunities for equitable and responsible land investments.
This webinar series is a partnership of the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI), International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), Land Portal Foundation, and Namati.
By examining the landscapes of multiple African countries, we will unearth the myriad experiences of traditional leaders, emphasizing the variances in their legislative authority and the weight of their word. By drawing upon actual case studies, the discourse will underscore potential friction areas between traditional leaders, governmental entities, and local populace, especially when the spotlight turns to the management of land based investments within ancestral domains.
This webinar discussed the implications of the Maledu judgment, the importance of recognizing and protecting informal land rights, the power of access to information and the positive outcomes tenure security can have for mining-affected communities. It will look at the impacts of the judgment for the community and explore how the community members have engaged with the mining company.
In September 2022, Sierra Leone enacted unprecedented laws related to land, climate, and sustainable development. This new law transforms communities’ ability to protect their land rights and pursue sustainable development. This webinar will discuss the processes, the experiences, the challenges, and the context of this new law, highlighting the new responsibilities in Sierra Leone.