Rural Development Institute

LANDESA CHAMPIONS AND WORKS TO SECURE LAND RIGHTS FOR MILLIONS OF THE WORLD'S POOREST, MOSTLY RURAL WOMEN AND MEN TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY AND PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE.

A COMMITMENT TO RIGOROUS MONITORING AND EVALUATION UNDERGIRDS LANDESA'S WORK. THIS PROCESS FACILITATES INTERNAL LEARNING FOR FUTURE PROJECTS AND IN MANY CASES EXPANDS THE UNDERSTANDING OF LAND-RELATED INTERVENTIONS AMONG THE GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY. LANDESA FURTHER DISSEMINATES PROJECT LEARNING, ELEVATES THE ISSUE OF LAND RIGHTS, AND CULTIVATES NEW DONOR RESOURCES THROUGH STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS EFFORTS. THESE ACTIVITIES BUILD AWARENESS AND EXPAND UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF LAND RIGHTS AS A DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION. LANDESA'S CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM DEVELOPS TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO HELP COMPANIES SHAPE LAND POLICIES THAT ALIGN WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND BEST PRACTICES, LEADING TO BETTER OUTCOMES FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

ASIA IS HOME TO THE LARGEST RURAL POPULATION IN THE WORLD, WHERE LAND RIGHTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO IMPROVING LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS, INCLUDING CHINA, INDIA, AND MYANMAR, REGIONAL BODIES LIKE THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS, LOCAL CIVIL SOCIETY, AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, LANDESA PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND EXPERTISE TO STRENGTHEN LAND LAWS AND POLICY, GUIDE IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS, PROMOTE LEGAL LITERACY AND AWARENESS OF RIGHTS TO LAND, AND IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR WOMEN AND COMMUNITIES IN BUSINESS SUPPLY CHAINS AND LAND-BASED INVESTMENTS.

LAND IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSET IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, YET 90 PERCENT OF AFRICA'S RURAL LAND IS UNDOCUMENTED. LANDESA'S AFRICA PROGRAM WORKS TO STRENGTHEN LAND RIGHTS POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS ON THE CONTINENT, LEADING TO IMPROVED OUTCOMES FOR WOMEN, YOUTH, RURAL HOUSEHOLDS, AND OTHER GROUPS. IN LIBERIA AND TANZANIA, LANDESA IS PARTNERING WITH LOCAL CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS TO PURSUE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR GREATER ACCESS AND RIGHTS TO LAND FOR WOMEN, MEN AND COMMUNITIES.

WOMEN IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD ENCOUNTER PERSISTENT SOCIAL AND LEGAL BARRIERS TO THEIR RIGHTS TO OWN, USE, ACCESS, AND INHERIT LAND. THE LANDESA CENTER FOR WOMEN'S LAND RIGHTS WORKS TO BUILD AWARENESS, PROMOTE GENDER EQUITABLE LEARNINGS AND BEST PRACTICES, AND CREATE NETWORKS OF ADVOCATES, EXPERTS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO ELEVATE WOMEN'S LAND RIGHTS AS A KEY DEVELOPMENT PRIORITY. THROUGH THE STAND FOR HER LAND CAMPAIGN AND OTHER GLOBAL ADVOCACY EFFORTS, LANDESA IS BUILDING A MOVEMENT FOR GENDER-EQUAL RIGHTS TO THE WORLD'S MOST FUNDAMENTAL RESOURCES BY PROMOTING GENDER-EQUAL RULE OF LAW ON LAND FROM GRASSROOTS TO GLOBAL LEVEL, AND THROUGH CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT FOR GOVERNMENTS AND CIVIL SOCIETY PARTNERS.