Evidence on Demand launch new Topic Guide on Land

Our colleagues at Evidence on Demand have launched a new Topic Guide on Land. Written by ODI's Anna Locke and Giles Henley, the guide provides a summary of the latest thinking around contemporary global land issues in developing countries. It also gives guidance on and evidence for how this thinking can be used in practice; provides signposting to reliable sources that can inform development professionals on issues not covered in the Topic Guide; and highlights where there are gaps in knowledge and evidence.

The Topic Guide begins by addressing key issues around large-scale land acquisition in developing countries (including the evidence for the impact of land acquisition) before moving on to discuss reactions to rising interest in land at national and international levels. This includes an analysis of key international and regional initiatives such as the FAO Voluntary Guidelines and the G8 Land Transparency Initiative. The third section addresses land reform and policy - identifying types, impacts and risks. This includes a brief history of donor engagement in the land sector, as well as a discussion of the debate around the role of land titling. The final section looks at land issues in fragile and conflict-affected states.

The Guide includes three detailed case studies: firstly, a case study on the Rwanda Land Tenure Regularisation Programme; secondly, Land Policy Development in Mozambique; and thirdly, a case study on Land Issues in Burma.

More research and policy information on land issues can be found in the Eldis Agriculture and Food Resource Guide