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Both ENDS | Reference Guide on Infrastructure Set Against Land Governance

The past years have seen a surge in large infrastructure projects, including dams, mines, highways, airports, ports, land reclamation, canals and urban renewal projects. The land assigned to these projects is often inhabited and used for agricultural purposes. Therefore, land governance issues play an important role in these infrastructure projects.

Worldwide some 15 million people are displaced annually through infrastructure projects, a number which is expected to rise as investments in infrastructure are increasing.

Both ENDS, together with our local partners, aims to prevent land rights violations in infrastructure projects. Knowledge on infrastructure and land governance falls short in many cases so in order to learn from other cases and understand how international frameworks and guidelines try to protect land rights, Both ENDS has set up this reference guide: a list of must-reads on land governance and infrastructure. We hope that it will help both civil society organisations on the one hand, and investors, companies and governments on the other hand, to increase their understanding of local land governance issues that may arise in infrastructure projects.

You can access the guide, and more information, at: http://www.bothends.org/nl/Publicaties/document/187/Reference-guide-on-infrastructure-set-against-land-governance 

GIZ | Publication: Safeguarding Human Rights in Land Related Investments

Comparison of the Voluntary Guidelines Land with the IFC Performance Standards and the World Bank Environmental and Social Safeguard Framework

Michael Windfuhr, German Institute for Human Rights, 2017

Safeguarding Human Rights in Land Related Investments: Comparison of the Voluntary Guidelines Land with the IFC Performance Standards and the World Bank Environmental and Social Safeguard Framework

This study was commissioned by the German Fed­eral Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Devel­opment in order to help identify whether there are differences and potential issues in the VGGTs that are currently omitted or only partially cov­ered by the IFC Performance Standards or the World Bank Safeguards. It will also discuss how potential gaps might be addressed.

It will analyse whether there are issues that require closer examination and further investigation in order to provide a complete and adequate framework/international legal instrument committed to ensure the respect for and implementation of human rights.

World Bank | Conference on Land and Poverty 2018

The Annual World Bank Land and Poverty Conference in Washington DC will present the latest research and practice on the diversity of reforms, interventions, and innovations in the land sector around the world. The 2018 conference theme will be: Land Governance in an Interconnected World.

The conference has become one of the largest international events on land governance, attracting over 1,300 participants in 2017 from governments, academics, civil society, and the private sector. The Netherlands is always well-represented and LANDac strongly encourages Dutch actors to attend and share state-of-the-art knowledge and practice on land governance both at home and abroad.

LANDac Coordinator Lucy Oates writes about the conference in 2017 here.

Find out more at http://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2017/08/07/land-and-poverty-conference-2018-land-governance-in-an-interconnected-world#1

Going? Let us know by emailing Lucy at l.e.oates@uu.nl.

 

ITC Twente | Vacancy Assistant Professor Urban and Regional Planning and Geo Information Management

The department of Urban and Regional Planning and Geo Information Management (PGM) of ITC works on the linkage of geospatial technologies with both Urban Planning & Management and Land Administration. The department takes the role of people as stakeholder in all processes central, and looks both at understanding the past and the present, as well as predicting and supporting governance decisions for the sustainable future of urban regions and its hinterland. The key focus of the work is on developments in the global South and is highly related to global challenges as recently described in the SDGs.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
With the increasing global awareness of the need to document and protect the diversity of people-to-land relations through appropriate land administration solutions, there is an urgent need for expertise to bring together the stronger societal needs and the constantly evolving geospatial technologies. The core of this is the ability to acquire knowledge and apply technical and social skills about the relationship between people, rights, and land; recently described as Cadastral Intelligence. This position will broaden the department’s expertise on relevant geospatial technologies (e.g. (land) information systems, (spatial) databases, web services, mobile apps, big data analytical tools, etc.), while being aware of and sensitive to the societal and organizational context in which those (potentially) can contribute.
You will conduct international high quality research and contribute to research networks on geo-ICT for (responsible, fit-for-purpose and/or smart) land administration. You will teach Master’s level coursework, supervise MSc theses and contribute to the development of educational modules and new educational products (such as blended learning and distance learning packages). You will supervise PhD students in combination with a departmental professor. You will engage in acquisition and implementation of consulting tasks for the department, regularly in close cooperation with the Netherlands’ Kadaster International under the School for Land Administration Studies. You will undertake management and administration tasks within the department. You will initiate and acquire new research and education projects.
YOUR PROFILE:
·        You possess a PhD with a focus on the development and deployment of geospatial technologies in the cadastral or land administration domain or in a comparable domain where people are a key stakeholder.
·        You have an excellent publication record in the field of cadastral intelligence, land informatics or a comparable people-centered application.
·        You also have an understanding for how the social and institutional context interplays with the geospatial technologies.
·        You have broad basic knowledge of the thematic fields of the department.
·        An aptitude for teaching, including lecturing and tutoring at an academic level.
·        A track record in attracting funds to support your research.
·        Affinity with a multi-cultural, post-graduate education environment.
·        You have undertaken consulting and advisory services in less developed countries, and worked as a project manager.
·        You have a willingness to undertake international travel to less developed countries.
·        It is desirable that you can demonstrate experience in working across the discipline fields of the department.
·        An excellent command of English. Knowledge of, or willingness to learn Dutch is an advantage.
INFORMATION AND APPLICATION:
Additional information about this position can be obtained from prof. dr. ir. Jaap Zevenbergen (e-mail: j.a.zevenbergen@utwente.nl). You are also invited to visit our homepage.
Please submit your application through the form before 17 September, 2017 (choose “apply here” below). Due to summer holidays, you will receive further information about the selection procedure after the deadline (17 September, 2017).
Your application has to include (i) a motivation letter clearly stating how you meet the selection criteria and also outlining your research and teaching interests and (ii) a detailed CV with references.
OUR OFFER:
·        We offer an inspiring and challenging international environment. You will be initially employed for a period of two years. Extension of the employment after this period is a possibility.
·        Gross monthly salary between € 3475 and € 5405 depending on experience and qualifications (job profile Assistant Professor level 1 or 2).
·        A holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.3%
·        Excellent support for research and facilities for professional and personal development.
·        A solid pension scheme
·        Possibilities to save up holidays for sabbatical leave
·        Minimum of 29 holiday days in case of full-time employment

THE ORGANIZATION:

The University of Twente. We stand for life sciences and technology. High tech and human touch. Education and research that matter. New technology which drives change, innovation and progress in society. The University of Twente is the only campus university in the Netherlands; divided over five faculties we provide more than fifty educational programmes. The University of Twente has a strong focus on personal development and talented researchers are given scope for carrying out pioneering research.
The Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) of the University of Twente provides international postgraduate education, research and project services in the field of geo-information science and earth observation using remote sensing and GIS. The aim of ITC’s activities is the international exchange of knowledge, focusing on capacity building and institutional development in developing countries and emerging economies.

Tropenbos et al | New working paper! Improving the positive impacts of investments on smallholder livelihoods

Moving from “do no harm” to “do good”…

This working paper is aimed at impact investors, and presents key pointers or core guidance that have been drawn from international standards, principles and case studies, that follow. It provides solid and evidence-based examples of how investors can work with smallholders and promote better land governance and livelihoods.  International guidelines provide the bottom line, and case studies provide examples of projects, business models and investment funds that are implementing and/or financing alternative and innovative land related business models with smallholders and local communities.

This publication has been produced jointly by Tropenbos International, FMO – the Dutch Development Bank, KIT- The Royal Tropical Institute, and HIVOS International.

You can download the publication here.

LANDac | Special issue: From land grabs to inclusive development?

LANDac is pleased to announce the release of a themed special issue, based on contributions from the LANDac Annual International Conference 2015, in the journal Geoforum.

The themed issue explores the “elusiveness of inclusive development” through analyses of empirical evidence on land grabbing ten years after the hype began. The cases collected show different types of investment flows into food and biofuel crops, wildlife, mining and city development in various developing regions, and analyse how different types of marginalized groups actually experience the flows of global capital in their local places – and search for a deeper understanding of the new and complex situations created under the banner of inclusive development in the context of landscape transformations triggered by large-scale land investment projects.

For more information, see the Geoforum page, or contact us at landac.geo@uu.nl.

 

LANDdialogue | LG MSD seeks consultant for IMVO study

ToR for Consultant Land Governance & ICSR Agreements

The Organising Committee of the Dutch Land Governance Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue is looking for a consultant to carry out a study on the relevance of land goverance as a priority issue in different sector-based agreements to address ICSR risks. A detailed job description is provided in the attached Terms of Reference (in Dutch).

Interested consultants are invited to send their application to gijs.schoutens@minbuza.nl. The deadline for submission is 16 June 2017. Submissions (maximum 5 pages, excluding CV) are assessed in accordance with the following award criteria (maximum of 100 points):

  • Appreciation of the ToR, specifically addressing the scope of work (20 points);
  • Initial work plan, including a proposed methodology (30 points);
  • CV of the proposed consultant (30 points);
  • Quotation, including the expected daily rate (20 points).

For more details on the vacancy, please download: ToR Consultant for Study Land Governance and ICSR agreements

LANDdialogue | LG MSD seeks consultant for IMVO study

ToR for Consultant Land Governance & Dutch Banking Sector Agreement 

The Organising Committee of the Dutch Land Governance Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue is looking for a consultant to carry out a study on how to effectively incorporate issues related to land governance in the implementation phase of the Dutch Banking Sector Agreement on international responsible business conduct regarding human rights. A detailed job description is provided in the attached Terms of Reference (in Dutch).

Interested consultants are invited to send their application to gijs.schoutens@minbuza.nl. The deadline for submission is 16 June 2017. Submissions (maximum 5 pages, excluding CV) are assessed in accordance with the following award criteria (maximum of 100 points):

  • Appreciation of the ToR, specifically addressing the scope of work (20 points);
  • Initial work plan, including a proposed methodology (30 points);
  • CV of the proposed consultant (30 points);
  • Quotation, including the expected daily rate (20 points).

For further details on how to apply, download: ToR Consultant for Study Land Governance and Dutch Banking Sector Agreement

LANDac | New journal article: Land acquisition for urban expansion in peri-urban Hue, Vietnam

 

Recent LANDac PhD graduate Phuc Nguyen, together with co-chair August van Westen and chair Annelies Zoomers have recently published:

Compulsory land acquisition for urban expansion: livelihood reconstruction after land loss in Hue’s peri-urban areas, Central Vietnam

Available at: http://online.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/toc/idpr/current

Land acquisition for urbanisation in Vietnam has become a hot topic, attracting attention not only from land administrators, but also from the media and politicians. This paper draws on the case of Hue to investigate how farmers reconstruct their livelihoods after land loss. The findings indicate that the majority of people are able to reconstruct their livelihoods with better living conditions. Besides the employment opportunities derived from an expanding local economy, such as in Hue, remaining in the same physical environment and the retention of social networks are important factors for successful livelihood reconstruction. However, there are emerging issues that challenge equitable development and sustainable livelihoods, such as increased vulnerability for the elderly and infirm after land loss, in addition to the difficulties casual workers may face in the long term. The capacity of households to adapt to new situations, training, consultations and social security systems for the affected farmers should, therefore, be taken into account.

Keywords: Vietnam, Hue, land acquisition, peri-urban areas, livelihood reconstruction

Suggested citation:

Phuc Nguyen, August van Westen and Annelies Zoomers (2017). Compulsory land acquisition for urban expansion: livelihood reconstruction after land loss in Hue’s peri-urban areas, Central Vietnam

International Development Planning Review IDPR, 39 (2) 2017 https://doi.org/10.3828/idpr.2016.32

IDPR, 39 (2) 2017 https://doi.org/10.3828/idpr.2016.32

Land Rights Now | Earth Day Mobilisation

Secure Community Land Rights Now to Fight Climate Change and Protect our Planet

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This 22 April, the growing Land Rights Now movement will come together to show that secure land rights are central to fighting climate change.

 

“Together we can push national governments, investors, and companies to recognize that securing land rights is essential for delivering on the promises of the Paris Agreement and keeping global warming under 1.5 degrees. At this time of grave political, economic, and social turmoil, we can promote secure land rights for millions of Indigenous Peoples and local communities as a key solution to build a more fair and inclusive world.”

 

Launching on 22 April for one week, the campaign will mobilize and link with other movements and initiatives including the March for Science, the 10-year anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the People’s Climate March on 29 April.

 

There are more than 40 mobilisation actions taking place in 27 countries – see this map of action.

 

Also avilable: Policy Brief  ”Tested, Cost-Effective and Practical: Securing Indigenous and community land rights is a key solution to climate change”.

 

In the Netherlands – there will be film screening  Monday 24th April in Amsterdam  – all are welcome!