The livelihood of a large part of the world's population directly depends on access to land and its secure long-term use. Many landowners and land users have only informal or traditional tenure rights, which are often not sufficiently recognized. Representative household surveys conducted by the World Bank in six African countries have shown that less than 20 % of small farmers are able to present a document identifying them as owners of their land.
Commercial investments in agriculture and forestry are increasingly exerting pressure on land as a resource. Due to a lack of safeguarding measures, these investments can lead to loss of access to land, conflicts and forced evictions, thereby restricting and preventing inclusive and sustainable development pathways. Many countries have committed themselves to good land governance, but there are still considerable challenges for its implementation. The rural population is highly dependent on political decision-makers and formal and informal power structures. Corruption in land transactions remains very high.
Therefore, the RGIL project aims to contribute to increased agricultural productivity and development in Ethiopia.
The specific objective of the project is that investments in land are productive, contribute to sustainable land management, and respect the rights and needs of local populations in particular vulnerable groups and women.
The proposed Actions’ strategic approach aims at strengthening the capacities of key stakeholders (governmental staff, selected investors as well as civil society and community representatives) and improving the regulatory framework for investment in land. The participation of civil society organizations in the formulation and implementation of responsible land policies is promoted, and private enterprises investing in agriculture and forestry are sensitized to follow acknowledged principles for responsible investments.
Responsibilities:
Required qualifications, experiences and competences:
Qualifications
Professional experience
Other knowledge, additional competencies