World Bank Conference on Land & Poverty 2016
Scaling up responsible land governance
Masterclass: Multi-stakeholder dialogue in land governance: lessons learned and ways forward
Room MC C2-131
On Friday 18 March, LANDac and its partners are organizing a Masterclass on experiences and lessons learned regarding multi-stakeholder approaches in land governance.
The question ‘Under what conditions can foreign and domestic agribusiness contribute to food security and inclusive and sustainable development in Africa, Asia and Latin America?’, framed the launch of the LANDforum in 2013, a Netherlands-hosted think tank comprised of private sector representatives, policy makers, practitioners and researchers from a number of selected countries. The main objectives of the Forum were: facilitating the systematic exchange of information between countries over an extended period; facilitating dialogue between people from different countries and sectors that ordinarily do not interact; allowing for a comparative approach within a mix of ‘target’ countries and ‘investor’ countries, including south-south relationships. After three years, the LANDforum has yielded a number of important practical insights, which will be presented in this Masterclass:
(1) Based on the LANDforum and other MSD approaches in the Netherlands, including LANDac and a dialogue chaired by the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation (involving key corporate and Dutch public partners, research institutes and NGOs who work on land-related issues) we will discuss the questions: what is the utility of MSDs in improving land governance? What are models for productive exchange and collaboration? How to achieve real changes on the ground through MSD approaches?
(2) The LANDforum showed a shared interest among sectors in inclusive business. Whereas inclusive business as a response to adverse effects of large-scale investments in agriculture is a theme that has recently become integral to donor and government development strategies (even more so in the context of SDGs), there is insufficient understanding of the social performance of different types of inclusive businesses in different contexts. Also, there is often lack of critical reflection on whether and to what extent and under what conditions inclusive businesses are in fact inclusive. This reduces the capacity of inclusive development strategies to deliver impacts at scale and raises a second key question of the LANDforum and to be discussed in this Masterclass: What is the impact of inclusive business on local development, including food security?
(3) Most attention in current debates has departed from a private sector point of view: how to make businesses more inclusive (through CSR, government policies, civil society participation etc.). By creating a level playing field, the LANDforum has provided an important platform for sharing ideas about the importance of community-based ideas: What do we know about grass-roots investment initiatives?
This Masterclass shows experiences with MSDs and presents and discusses the main outcomes of these processes in the Netherlands. Participants will learn about practical tools for working in MSDs, and will be informed about the main issues coming out of the processes. With MSD becoming an integral part of land governance related projects and programmes this provides useful guidance and practical ideas for researchers, policy makers and practitioners. The Masterclass prepares for the design of a second phase of the LANDforum and aims to involve participants during this Masterclass in the process.
A roundtable setting will be used to optimize interaction. The Masterclass is kickstarted with a 30-minute presentation and discussion on the lessons emanated from the LANDforum. In the subsequent 60 minutes, five LANDforum members will facilitate discussions on the three questions posed above.
This roundtable is based on collaborative efforts between Dutch and international experts in a range of developing countries.
More information about the Conference: World Bank Conference Land & Poverty
Last Updated: 31st July 2020 by Gemma
LEGEND | New publication: LEGEND State of the land debate
The UK Department for International Development (DfID) has launched its first global State of the Land Debate report today, on the 4th anniversary of the VGGT. The report addresses the Voluntary Guidelines on the responsible governance of tenure of land, fisheries and forests (VGGT) and takes stock of implementation initiatives around the world in order to derive lessons and offer recommendations.
The UK has created the Land: Enhancing Governance for Economic Development (LEGEND) programme to provide a contribution towards improved knowledge and practice as a global public good. As part of its LEGEND programme as well as DfID’s global land work, the focus of the current report is on progress towards te responsible governance of tenure of land.
The full report can be accessed here:
LEGEND State of the Debate Report
Last Updated: 31st July 2020 by Gemma
LANDac | New publication: Soy production in South America: Globalization and new agroindustrial landscapes
Special Issue, 43(2), March 2016
Soy production in South America: Globalization and new agroindustrial landscapes
Guest editors: Gustavo de L. T. Oliveira and Susanna B. Hecht
The entire collection (15 articles) free access for a limited time! through:
www.tandfonline.com/r/read-fjps-soy-production
Soy in South America constitutes one of the most spectacular booms of agroindustrial commodity production in the world. It is the pinnacle of modernist agroindustrial practices, serving as a key nexus in food-feed-fuel production that underpins the agribusiness-conservationist discourse of “land sparing” through intensification. Yet soy production is implicated in multiple problems beyond deforestation, ranging from pesticide drift and contamination, social exclusion and conflicts in frontier zones, concentration of wealth and income among the largest landowners and corporations. This volume explores in depth the complex dynamics of soy production from its diverse social settings to its transnational connections, examining the politics of commodity and knowledge production, the role of the state, and the reach of corporate power in everyday life across soy landscapes in South America. Ultimately, the collection encourages us to search and struggle for agroecological alternatives through which we may overcome the pitfalls of this massive transnational capitalist agroindustry.
With a contribution from LANDac PhD researcher Lucia Goldfarb and Dr. Gemma van der Haar:
Last Updated: 15th January 2020 by Gemma
Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg | Vacancy: Research associate in agri-environmental governance, policy analysis and commons research
Research Associate (100%) in agri-environmental governance, policy analysis and commons research
The Professorship of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Policy with a focus on Governance and Natural Resources (Prof. Insa Theesfeld) is member of the Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg http://www.landw.uni-halle.de/prof/agrarpolitik/.
The Professorship offers a full time position starting after 01.08.2016 for a Research Associate (100%)
This position is initially for 3 years. A prolongation is foreseen.
The salary is based on German federal public service scale according to qualification and tasks up to E13 TV-L.
Application deadline is 10th May 2016
Tasks:
Requirements:
Full information can be obtained by: http://personal.verwaltung.uni-halle.de/jobs/wissmi/
(ZUV-Info: 403/2016; Reg.-Nr.: 5-3414/16-H) which provides the legally binding vacancy announcement.
For further questions, please contact Prof. Insa Theesfeld: itheesfeld@yahoo.de
Last Updated: 15th January 2020 by Gemma
Symposium on land consolidation and land readjustment for sustainable development | Call for abstracts
The organising institutions of the Symposium on land consolidation and land readjustment for sustainable development (9-11 November 2016) invite you to submit an abstract on a topic related to the specific themes, or to land consolidation and land readjustment in general.
The symposium provides a unique opportunity to share your knowledge and experiences with fellow scientists and practitioners working on land consolidation and land readjustment from all over the world. We have an attractive programme with a mixture of keynotes, technical sessions, field trips and social activities. You are cordially invited to join the event and to submit your abstract by 1 June 2016.
The symposium will focus on four themes that can be addressed from a historical perspective, from current developments and from the expected needs in the future.
A. Land administration, land consolidation and readjustment
B. Good governance
C. Sustainable development
D. Financial arrangements
For further information, please visit the conference website:
http://www.lcsymposium.nl/
Last Updated: 15th January 2020 by Gemma
Utrecht University et al | Rurban Africa research Narratives
Rurban Africa research narratives
Rurban Africa is a long-term research programme and a collaboration between Utrecht University (IDS), University of Copenhagen, IIED, University de Toulouse le Mirail, Loughborough University, National University of Rwanda, University of Agriculture Tanzania, University of Dschang Cameroun, and the University of Ghana.
The goal of the Rurban Africa project is to investigate and document the profound and extremely dynamic transformations that affect rural and urban areas, agricultural production systems and livelihoods, migration and mobility and the growth of urban centres. In many cases, these processes are not reflected in existing, reliable data such as censuses and surveys. In many cases, there is also a deep separation between all that is deemed to be ‘urban’ and all that is assumed to be ‘rural’. This is often at the roots of inadequate policy responses that may increase inequality rather than support sustainable development.
In this set of short interviews, several researchers involved in fieldwork were asked to tell what they felt was their most significant ‘finding’ – something that changed the way they understand and appreciate the transformations they have been witnessing and documenting during the course of the project. Their answers show the huge diversity of these dynamics. But while most researchers’ work has focused mainly on one country, and in some cases on one dimension – agricultural production, rural livelihoods, mobility, urban livelihoods – there is a surprisingly strong underlying narrative that ties all countries and locations together, as pointed out by the interviewees who have been working on rural-urban linkages for many decades.
The interviews can be accessed here: Rurban Africa Research narratives.
Last Updated: 15th January 2020 by Gemma
GIZ | Job opening: GIZ Land economist in Ethiopia
GIZ is looking for a Land Economist for strengthening advisory capacities for land governance in Africa. The position is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and starts June 1st, 2016. For more information: GIZ Job opportunities.
Last Updated: 15th January 2020 by Gemma
GLTN | Vacancies
The Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) is recruiting two Land and Natural Resources experts (P-4 level). The focus of this position is to support the coordination, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the country level work of the GLTN, focusing on priority countries in Africa.
Required is an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in land administration and management, social sciences or related area. A first university degree with a combination of two years professional and academic qualifications may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
These posts are located in the GLTN Unit of the UN-Habitat, in Nairobi.
The detailed vacancy announcement is available on the UN Careers Portal on this link: https://careers.un.org/lbw/jobdetail.aspx?id=56198 from where the application can be made. The deadline for applications is 26 March 2016.
More available on the GLTN website: http://gltn.net/index.php/vacancies/672-programme-management-officer-human-settlements-p4
Last Updated: 31st July 2020 by Gemma
Petition: Indigenous leaders’ initiative for the Long March to Rome
The Long March to Rome was born of a series of discussions held between Dr David Close, Dr Sandra Evers and David J. MacKinnon in Vancouver British Columbia during early Spring, 2014. Further discussions and meetings with numerous hereditary chiefs, elders and interveners representing First Nations groups in Canada and the United States led to a growing consensus that a petition should be presented to Pope Francis I, asking that he revoke the two papal bulls Romanus Pontifex (1455) and Inter Caetera (1493) as contrary to modern international law, and as violations of the basic human rights of aboriginal peoples worldwide.
A petition has now been launched in support of the Long March to Rome.
More information about the initiative can be found here: http://longmarchtorome.com
The petition can be signed here: https://www.change.org/p/pontifical-council-for-justice-and-peace-message-for-pope-francis-if-you-believe-in-equality-revoke-the-papal-bulls
Last Updated: 31st July 2020 by Gemma
LANDdialogue | Publication: Strengthening land rights for women – inspiring examples of interventions supported by the Netherlands
As part of the Land Governance – Multi-stakeholder Dialogue (LG-MSD), organised by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a booklet was published which highlights inspiring examples of interventions for strengthening land rights for women. The booklet presents cases and examples of interventions supported by the Netherlands and was the response to a call for inspiring practical example of interventions that show how important and catalytic strengthening of land rights for women can be. The collection of 14 stories can be accessed online: STRENGTHENING LAND RIGHTS FOR WOMEN. The publication also features photographs of journalist Kadir van Lohuizen, made in Mozambique upon the request of ActionAid.
Last Updated: 26th July 2019 by Gemma
18 March 2016: LANDac Masterclass at the World Bank Conference Land & Poverty
World Bank Conference on Land & Poverty 2016
Scaling up responsible land governance
Masterclass: Multi-stakeholder dialogue in land governance: lessons learned and ways forward
Room MC C2-131
On Friday 18 March, LANDac and its partners are organizing a Masterclass on experiences and lessons learned regarding multi-stakeholder approaches in land governance.
The question ‘Under what conditions can foreign and domestic agribusiness contribute to food security and inclusive and sustainable development in Africa, Asia and Latin America?’, framed the launch of the LANDforum in 2013, a Netherlands-hosted think tank comprised of private sector representatives, policy makers, practitioners and researchers from a number of selected countries. The main objectives of the Forum were: facilitating the systematic exchange of information between countries over an extended period; facilitating dialogue between people from different countries and sectors that ordinarily do not interact; allowing for a comparative approach within a mix of ‘target’ countries and ‘investor’ countries, including south-south relationships. After three years, the LANDforum has yielded a number of important practical insights, which will be presented in this Masterclass:
(1) Based on the LANDforum and other MSD approaches in the Netherlands, including LANDac and a dialogue chaired by the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation (involving key corporate and Dutch public partners, research institutes and NGOs who work on land-related issues) we will discuss the questions: what is the utility of MSDs in improving land governance? What are models for productive exchange and collaboration? How to achieve real changes on the ground through MSD approaches?
(2) The LANDforum showed a shared interest among sectors in inclusive business. Whereas inclusive business as a response to adverse effects of large-scale investments in agriculture is a theme that has recently become integral to donor and government development strategies (even more so in the context of SDGs), there is insufficient understanding of the social performance of different types of inclusive businesses in different contexts. Also, there is often lack of critical reflection on whether and to what extent and under what conditions inclusive businesses are in fact inclusive. This reduces the capacity of inclusive development strategies to deliver impacts at scale and raises a second key question of the LANDforum and to be discussed in this Masterclass: What is the impact of inclusive business on local development, including food security?
(3) Most attention in current debates has departed from a private sector point of view: how to make businesses more inclusive (through CSR, government policies, civil society participation etc.). By creating a level playing field, the LANDforum has provided an important platform for sharing ideas about the importance of community-based ideas: What do we know about grass-roots investment initiatives?
This Masterclass shows experiences with MSDs and presents and discusses the main outcomes of these processes in the Netherlands. Participants will learn about practical tools for working in MSDs, and will be informed about the main issues coming out of the processes. With MSD becoming an integral part of land governance related projects and programmes this provides useful guidance and practical ideas for researchers, policy makers and practitioners. The Masterclass prepares for the design of a second phase of the LANDforum and aims to involve participants during this Masterclass in the process.
A roundtable setting will be used to optimize interaction. The Masterclass is kickstarted with a 30-minute presentation and discussion on the lessons emanated from the LANDforum. In the subsequent 60 minutes, five LANDforum members will facilitate discussions on the three questions posed above.
This roundtable is based on collaborative efforts between Dutch and international experts in a range of developing countries.
More information about the Conference: World Bank Conference Land & Poverty