Without knowledge of the local context, investing responsibly in land & agriculture is challenging. Tools and guidelines have been developed to guide private sector actors on how to invest responsibly and how to take proper account of legitimate community land rights, but there is no substitute for practical experience of dealing with tenure issues and the challenges on the ground.
This page, developed by the Land Portal and LEGEND (Land: Enhancing Governance for Economic Development) provides an overview of lessons learned from recent responsible land investment pilot projects.
visit the land & investments portfolio on the land portal
1) Proper attention to Land Tenure in Investment Planning & Due Diligence
Fit for purpose tools in due diligence & risk assessments in planning stages to avoid negative impacts.
2) Recognize & Document Legitimate Tenure Rights
Tools & approaches to map & secure informal rights in the absence of comprehensive government systems.
3) Establish Fair & Open Community Consultation and Negotiations
Reaching agreement with people directly affected to avoid & resolve land conflicts & gain social licence to operate.
4) Support Communities to Ensure a Level Playing Field
Legal & other support to address power imbalances with communities and companies.
5) Mainstream Land in Company Sustainability Practices
Ensuring a focus on land tenure in company operations through clear internal incentives and procedures.
6) Develop Adaptive & Inclusive Business Models and Plans
Adjust plans to reduce scale of land acquisitions & invest in community-based enterprise and smallholder partnerships as alternatives.
7) Strengthen Land Governance At Scale through Stakeholder Collaboration
Multi-stakeholder approaches to include all groups, safeguard the environment & access climate & landscape finance for new opportunities.
8) Improve Company Access to Skills & Services to Address Land Rights
The need for funding mechanisms to enable collaboration to understand & address land issues and engage with local communities.