This guide is written for people who work in land administration and all those with an interest in land, land tenure and their governance. Although much has been written about the importance of good governance in achieving development goals, there is comparatively little material on good governance in land tenure and administration. Failings in governance have adverse consequences for society as a whole. By contrast, good governance can help achieve economic development and the reduction of poverty. Good governance matters.

Investment in agriculture is crucial for increasing productivity levels in developing countries and for creating economic and social benefits that contribute to the eradication of hunger. In addition, security of land tenure is critical for the realization of the right to food.

This Right to Food Study illustrates the legal significance of the Right to Food at national level and provides a series of concrete examples of the implementation of human right principles, the Right to Food, and State obligations regarding land tenure systems, food policies and institutional frameworks.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and several development partners are working together with countries to prepare Voluntary Guidelines that will provide practical guidance to states, civil society, the private sector, academic and research institutions, donors and development specialists on the responsible governance of tenure.

Throughout the rural world, land provides a primary source of income, food security, cultural

identity and shelter. It also serves as a fundamental asset for the economic empowerment of

the poor and provides a safety net in times of hardship.

The problematic relationship between land tenure, food security and conflict has recently generated a considerable body of research. Land disputes are increasingly recognised as dynamic processes that are generated by (perceived) land tenure insecurity. Conflicts, however, can also lead to intensified struggle for land, especially when politico-military elites seek to consolidate their power base and reward their supporters by extending control over land as part of their war strategies.

Security of land tenure and property rights has received much attention in recent years. While appetite for land reform initiatives is not new, investment is increasing steadily, as evidence emerges that secure tenure is key to achieving economic growth, food security and other development goals.

From the mid-1980s, growing populations have put pressure on land and other natural resources, which has resulted in increased poverty levels, land conflicts and concerns for global food security.

In many countries, land rights and security of tenure constitute the basis for access to food, livelihoods, housing and development for a large percentage of the population. Without access to land, many people find themselves in a situation of great economic insecurity.

This paper presents what is known about the role of agrarian reform and the subsequent counter reform in producing a successful dynamic evolution of Chilean agriculture.

Water, sanitation, and hygiene can have a profound effect on health and nutrition. A growing base of evidence on the link between sanitation, child height, and well-being has come at an opportune time, when the issue of sanitation and nutrition in developing countries has moved to the top of the post-2015 development agenda.

This report identifies the links among economic growth, poverty alleviation, and natural resource degradation in Brazil. It examines the effects of (1) a major devaluation of the Brazilian real (R$); (2) improvements of infrastructure in the Amazon to link it with the rest of Brazil and bordering countries; (3) modification of land tenure regimes in the Amazon agricultural frontier; (4) adoption of technological change in agriculture both inside and outside the Amazon; and (5) fiscal mechanisms to reduce deforestation." -- from Author's Abstract

The authors address questions such as: (1) how do parents allocate land and education between sons and daughters? (2) how do changing returns to land and human capital affect parents' investments in children? (3) what do gender differences in land and schooling mean for the welfare of men and women? (4) is gender equity compatible with efficiency and growth? The book is based on intensive household surveys in Ghana, Indonesia, and the Philippines." -- From Text