Learning from Civil Society - Business Innovation Pilots for Governance of Agricultural Investments in Sub-Saharan Africa

Julian Quan

Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich and DFID LEGEND PROGRAM (Land: Enhancing Governance for Economic Development)

Given the role of private sector investment in agricultural transformation and concerns surrounding negative impacts of large-scale investments on customary land rights, some donor and civil society - private sector partnership initiatives seek to test how practical engagement by corporate business can leverage broader concerted action by governments to improve land rights protection and the environment for sustainable investment and economic development. This paper examines a set of localized, donor assisted civil society - business partnerships that test innovations in company practices, tools, and business models, and the lessons emerging, to identify the value these potentially add to governance systems that are ultimately territorial jurisdictional responsibilities of states. It identifies available channels to connect the learning underway with broader improvements in company practice and national governments’ performance. In conclusion, some emerging implications and questions for policy and research to achieve sustainable improvements in land governance for economic development are identified.

Event: Land Governance in an Interconnected World_Annual World Bank Conference on Land and Poverty_2018

Document type:Learning from Civil Society - Business Innovation Pilots for Governance of Agricultural Investments in Sub-Saharan Africa (320 kB - pdf)