When rural poor and vulnerable populations have limited and insecure rights to land and other natural resources, they face huge obstacles in overcoming hunger and poverty. Conversely, equitable and secure tenure rights support sustainable development outcomes in all (social, economic and environmental) dimensions. Women and those holding customary tenure rights are particularly vulnerable to the effects of weak governance. Rights-based guidelines and frameworks can serve as benchmarks for country-level implementation supported by a wide variety of stakeholders.

Improved governance of tenure of land, fisheries and forests contributing to the eradication of hunger and poverty, to sustainable development and to the sustainable use of the environment.

Improved policy frameworks for regulating the tenure of land, fisheries and forests based on wide participation, non-discrimination, transparency and mutual accountability

Food and Agriculture Agency of the United Nations (FAO), Rome UN Economic Commission for Africa / Land Policy Initiative (LPI) Secretariat, Addis Ababa

• Governments (incl. local authorities and implementing agencies)
• Civil society organisations, incl. farmers’ organisations, communities and women groups
• Private sector stakeholders

• The 3-year preparation phase of the VGLT in 15 consultation meetings involved approx. 1’000 cross sector participants from 133 countries.
• The negotiation (within the reformed CFS) of the VGLT involved 98 governments, civil society organisations (indigenous peoples, farmers’ organisations, etc.), private sector representatives and several international organisations.
• The VGLT draw from international and regional human rights instruments. They set benchmarks for all stakeholders involved in land governance.
• Switzerland participated actively in the CFS negotiations (jointly with EU Group). It also supported the preparation phase (as Germany, IFAD, Finland and the European Union) with additional funding (CHF 300’000 from an opening credit to this credit proposal).