By means of a Transversal Project, co-funded by the EU and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) coordinates, supports and consolidates the implementation of the EU Land Governance Programme.

How can maps drawn over a century ago still lead to conflict between two countries? The Southeast Asian countries of Thailand and Cambodia are neighbors with a difficult history and a shared border. Their religious similarities have made sacred spaces along the border a divisive issue, with the sacred site of Preah Vihear a central point of controversy.

Law reform often involves political choices requiring public participation and consultation. Outlines how governments and civil society may promote participatory law-making;details the positive impacts of such processes;and makes various recommendations to ensure that all citizensvoices are heard during law-making processes.

The article reviews the latest available statistical information on gender inequalities in labor markets and in access to financial institutions, social services, and education.

Notes that a record 212 land and environmental defenders were reported killed in 2019 but believes that the real number was certainly higher. Mining;logging and agribusiness were the main drivers of this. States that ‘verifying cases from Africa continues to be difficult. Limited monitoring of the issue by civil society;media repression and localised conflict mean attacks are probably underreported in some regions.Seven were reported killed in DR Congo;Burkina Faso;Uganda;Ghana and Kenya. Makes recommendations to governments;companies and investors.

International standards can help businesses fill gaps in national law but addressing issues at scale requires systematic governance reform. Law is part of the problem as often are governments. In many countries features of the law facilitate dispossession. It is often not technical capacity that is missing but the political power to confront vested interests. The challenges are steep but need to be confronted.

Tenure risk – or the risk of dispute between investors and local people over land or natural resource claims – is endemic in emerging markets. There are hundreds of recorded incidents of tenure disputes creating delays;violence, project cancellation and even bankruptcy at a corporate level. These tenure disputes create lose-lose outcomes for investors;local people and national governments;while robbing emerging markets of the developmental benefits of responsible land investments. However;many investors are unaware of the problem or lack the time and resources to address it.

Presents an overview of 15 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa where land and natural resource tenure initiatives have been implemented over several decades by governments;civil society;the private sector and other developmental organisations. Features challenges;strategies and tools for increasing poor people’s access to secure land and natural resources. Allows for comparison between the selected countries to help practitioners;students and researchers to better grasp the complexities of dealing with land and natural resource tenure in these countries.

From 2009-2015 Namati and partners CTV in Mozambique;LEMU in Uganda and SDI in Liberia supported more than 100 communities to document and protect their customary land rights. In late 2017 Namati evaluated the impacts the process had on communitiesresponses to outsiders seeking community lands and natural resources. Of the 61 communities assessed;46% had been approached by outside actors seeking community lands and natural resources since completing their land protection efforts.