Poor governance, good business: how land investors target countries with weak governance

Investors are buying up vast tracks of land across the developing world in a modern day ‘land rush’. This analysis by Oxfam explores where land is changing hands and why. It finds that investors appear to be targeting countries with weak governance in order to secure land quickly and cheaply. It is revealed that over three quarters of the 56 countries where land deals were agreed between 2000 and 2011 scored below average on four key governance indicators. Moreover, in countries where national governments are more accountable to their citizens and where rule of law and control of corruption is strong, local people and communities will have a better chance to have their voices and interests represented in land deals. Oxfam urges the World Bank to announce a temporary freeze on its agricultural investments which involve large scale land acquisition so it can review its advice to developing countries, help set standards for investors and introduce more robust policies to stop land-grabs.