The New Customary Land Rights Act in Sierra Leone: Bringing informed community consent to responsible investment

16 November 2022

17 November, 2022, 13:00-14:30 GMT | 14:00-15:30 CET

In September 2022, Sierra Leone enacted unprecedented laws related to land, climate, and sustainable development. This new law transforms communities’ ability to protect their land rights and pursue sustainable development. This victory would not have been possible without the direct involvement of impacted communities across Sierra Leone. By combining the power of organizing with the power of law, they won lasting, systemic change. The legislation — and the strategies they used to secure it — serve as models for the world.

The Customary Land Rights and National Land Commission Acts will, among other things:

Grant all local communities the right to Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) over all industrial projects on their lands;
Ban industrial development, including mining, timber, and agribusiness, in old-growth forests and other ecologically sensitive areas;
Incorporate public environmental license conditions into binding legal agreements between communities and companies; and
Establish local land use committees to make decisions about how community lands are managed, and mandate that those committees are at least 30% women.

This webinar discussed the processes, the experiences, the challenges, and the context of this new law, highlighting the new responsibilities in Sierra Leone.

Meet the Panelists

Joan Kagwanja, Chief of the African Land Policy Center (ALPC)

Joan Kagwanja, Chief of the African Land Policy Center (ALPC) - Moderator

Eleanor Thompson, Deputy Director, Programs, Namati Sierra Leone

Le Roux Dupper, Business Operations Manager, Miro Forestry SL Ltd.

Mr. Mohamed Albert Tarawallie, Land Owner – Magbass, Sierra Leone

Jobo Samba, Director, GIS, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning

ALIGN: Advancing Land-based Investment Governance

ALIGN supports governments, civil society, communities and peoples, and other relevant actors in strengthening the governance of land-based investments. The project is implemented by a consortium led by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) and Namati, and is funded with UK aid from the UK government.

This event is organised as part of ALIGN by Land Portal, IIED, CCSI and Namati, however the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of ALIGN partners or the UK Government. This event does not represent legal advice, and the views, opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed are strictly those of the participants.

Advancing Land-based Investment Governance (ALIGN) Blog Series

This blog series, brought to you by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and the Land Portal, focuses on the governance of land-based investments in the Global South. The series explores practical strategies and approaches adopted by rights defenders and others to address common challenges surrounding these investments. The series also aims to link the practical experience and approaches of practitioners to the Responsible Land-Based Investment Navigator, a knowledge hub bringing together a wide range of tools and guides on how to address a variety of land-related issues and strengthen the governance of land-based investments.

ALIGN supports governments, civil society, local communities and other relevant actors in strengthening the governance of land-based investments. It is funded with UK aid from the UK government, however the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of ALIGN partners or the UK Government.