The voluntary guidlines on the responsible governance of tenure of land, fisheries and forests in te context of national food security (VGGT) and the framework and guidlines on land policy in Africa (F&G): versatile tools for improving tenure governance

Odame Larbi,

The paper provides an analysis of the EU Land Governance Programme supporting seventeen countries across the globe to implement projects applying the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT) and in Africa the Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy in Africa (F&G). The VGGT are the first globally negotiated document that set the scene on how tenure and access rights to land, fisheries and forests should be handled. They signify a global engagement towards changing the rules of the game by placing tenure firmly in the context of poverty reduction and food security and by promoting more transparent and accountable tenure structures and administrations. Along similar principles the Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy in Africa (F&G) were endorsed by the African Union to facilitate national land policy development and implementation processes for African states, anchored on a Declaration on Land Issues and Challenges in Africa issued by the Union. Both instruments (VGGT and F&G) are being applied at country level to improve land governance, land policy frameworks, land administration systems, and land use planning. They are also applied to dealing with the challenges associated with assuring security of tenure, operations of land markets, land based investments, urbanization, climate change and thereby contribute to the social and economic development of the countries. These are all aimed at achieving, among other things, food security, poverty reduction, improved environmental management, reduction of tenure related conflicts and improved social and economic development. Land and other natural resources are key assets for economic growth and development.

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

Document type:The voluntary guidlines on the responsible governance of tenure of land, fisheries and forests in te context of national food security (VGGT) and the framework and guidlines on land policy in Africa (F&G): versatile tools for improving tenure governance (903 kB - pdf)