Land rights

A woman and a child walk across a field in Bangladesh with some goats in tow.
The SDC is working to ensure that the poorest population groups in rural areas have fair access to land and other natural resources. © IFAD/G.M.B.Akash

Just as in high-income countries, agricultural land in low- and middle-income countries is in increasingly short supply. Infrastructure, urban expansion and investments in large-scale farms are encroaching on land previously used by smallholders. Broad-based regulations are necessary to ensure fair access to land and other natural resources, especially for poorer population groups in rural areas. The SDC is committed to establishing such regulations at the national, regional and global levels.

The SDC's focus

The SDC works to ensure equitable access to land and other natural resources such as water, especially for poorer population groups in rural areas. As well as being vital to sustain life, they also act as important productive resources for smallholder farmers. Land law determines whether and how the right to use and control land, fisheries and forests can be exercised. Guaranteeing the right to use and own land is key to combating poverty and hunger.

With the aim of reducing poverty and hunger in poorer sections of the population, the SDC supports governments in the development, implementation and oversight of fair and transparent land use policies that recognise all existing rights of use, including individual, collective and customary rights.

At the same time, the SDC encourages the participation of all stakeholders in drawing up such principles and supports local communities and farmers' organisations so that they are able to exercise their land use rights. For the SDC, the inclusion of the private sector in such processes is of high priority.

At the global level, the SDC has participated actively in the creation and implementation of a set of targeted regulations that promote a just tenure and land management policy and establish criteria for responsible investment in agriculture.

Guidelines and principles on the responsible governance of tenure

As a member of the Bureau of the United Nations Committee on World Food Security (CFS), Switzerland was instrumental in developing the current UN Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security in 2012. Over the next two years, Switzerland led negotiations on a set of Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems, intended to complement the Guidelines. In 2014, it brought the process to a successful conclusion with the adoption of the Principles. Together with other states, private sector organisations, civil society and UN agencies, the SDC is actively involved in implementing these Guidelines and Principles. This lays the foundation for securing land use rights for all and enabling investments into better production methods.

The SDC also supports implementation of the African Union (AU) Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy in Africa, adopted in 2009, which pledges to ensure equitable access to and the efficient and sustainable use of land. To this end, the SDC works closely with the African Land Policy Centre, which is directly responsible for implementing the AU Framework and Guidelines. The SDC also broadens and strengthens the expertise of the relevant decision-makers and public officials in order to improve the assessment of land-related investment contracts.

Background

Approximately 70% of the more than 800 million chronically undernourished people in low- and middle income countries countries live in rural areas, the majority growing crops or rearing livestock. For them, security of access to land and other natural resources is especially important. Equally important is secure access to land for the rapidly increasing urban population, both for housing and for growing food in small gardens (urban agriculture).

Investments in land can have a major adverse impact on the food security of local communities. The legitimate call for increased investment in agriculture often focuses on the economic dimension, leaving aside social and environmental issues. As a result, such investments often restrict access to land and other natural resources such as water. Moreover, they contribute to reducing biodiversity in agriculture and threaten fragile ecosystems. In many cases, serious human rights violations occur.

Land-related investments are often concluded with no or minimal prior consultation of the affected rural populations. Most large-scale land transactions thus lack transparency and accountability at all levels. At country level, line ministries and parliaments are rarely invited to scrutinise investment projects involving large-scale land acquisitions and leases. When decision- and policymakers are involved, they often lack the capacity to thoroughly examine legal and transactional issues related to investment contracts at national level.

Land-law principles and guidelines such as those supported by the SDC are needed to make information on land deals available and to update it continuously. Dialogue with all stakeholders, including the private sector and government officials, helps create space for the needs and concerns of disadvantaged groups in policymaking processes. In this context, grievance mechanisms enable affected populations to hold governments and/or investors accountable and, where applicable, obtain appropriate compensation.

Switzerland is aware that existential issues such as those relating to land access, use and tenure have to be resolved in consultation with all stakeholders if conflicts are to be prevented.

Current projects

Object 1 – 12 of 126

Backstopping support for SDC’s Cluster Green thematic Knowledge Networks A+FS, CDE and RésEAU

01.01.2025 - 31.12.2028

As a globally active knowledge-based organisation, SDC is critically dependent on effective and efficient knowledge management. SDC’s thematic networks sit at the heart of this endeavour, rendering an essential service across the organisation and its partners by connecting network members, collecting and processing information, and retaining and distributing knowledge. State-of-the art backstopping services are essential to this activity, as is close cooperation between SDC’s thematic networks.


Programme d’appui à la petite irrigation-PAPI

01.01.2025 - 31.12.2028

Au Niger, dans un contexte de transition politique, la sécurité alimentaire demeure un enjeu majeur. Elle dépend notamment des performances des exploitations familiales qui parviennent difficilement à assurer leur propre alimentation. La Suisse accompagne la petite irrigation pour offrir en particulier aux femmes et aux jeunes des opportunités d’emploi et de revenus agricoles, mais aussi pour moderniser les exploitations familiales et contribuer ainsi à la sécurité alimentaire du pays.


ARTF: Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund administered by the World Bank (WB)

01.01.2025 - 31.12.2028

The Taliban takeover in August 2021 changed the political landscape and the socio-economic and humanitarian  situation  has  been  deteriorating. Being  a  driver of the former governments’ reform agenda, the ARTF shifted to an off-budget approach in support of over 70 percent of the Afghans with basic services (e.g. health, food security). As ARTF’s donor, Switzerland takes part in strategic decision making and supports the WB in its crucial aid coordination role in nowadays Afghanistan. 


GAIN Combating Malnutrition in Rwanda through Sustainable Food Systems (GAIN CoMa SFS)

01.12.2024 - 31.12.2027

According to the newly approved National Strategy of Transformation - NST2 (2024–2029), reducing stunting and malnutrition comes among the top five priorities of the government of Rwanda (GoR) with an ambitious target of reducing child stunting from 33% to 15% by 2029. Thus, Switzerland’ support to GAIN and the collaboration with different actors across the health and food sectors: GoR, private sector and farmers assures stimulating production, access, affordability and consumption of desirable nutritious and safe foods.


Save the Children, Building Inclusive Resilience and Durable Solutions for forcibly displaced populations and vulnerable groups in Yobe State

01.12.2024 - 30.11.2027

Finding durable solutions for up to five hundred thousand current and formerly displaced persons (IDPs)  in Yobe State, Northeast Nigeria, is a critical step towards lasting peace and development in the region. This project, which is part of a multi-pronged SDC support to local authorities, will contribute to facilitate local  integration  and  return  of  IDPs  by  enhancing  agricultural  productivity,  providing  livelihood  and employment opportunities, strengthening community disaster risk reduction, and access to justice.   


Projet d’appui au renforcement de la résilience et la cohésion sociale dans la Région de Diffa, PROARRCS

15.11.2024 - 14.11.2027

A Diffa, les effets des changements climatiques et l’avènement des groupes armés non étatiques depuis 2015 entrainent une insécurité alimentaire croissante. Les dispositifs de la gestion des conflits sur le foncier ne sont pas fonctionnels. La Suisse contribue à renforcer la cohésion sociale et asseoir les bases pour le renforcement de la résilience des populations à travers la redynamisation des structures locales de gestion de conflits et un soutien aux moyens d’existence.


OXFAM : Renforcer les capacités communautaires contre la violence au Nord Kivu.

15.11.2024 - 14.11.2026

L’aggravation des conflits armés en territoire de Masisi (Nord Kivu) menace les moyens de subsistance des populations. Pour répondre à des besoins urgents, le projet vise à renforcer la capacité des communautés à résister aux chocs liés aux conflits (résilience), grâce au renforcement des mécanismes communautaires de protection, l’accès et la sécurisation des terres, et le renforcement de moyens de subsistance.


RDC, HEKS-EPER, Aide d’urgence intégrée.

01.11.2024 - 31.10.2026

La résurgence des conflits armés en province du Nord Kivu continue d’entrainer des déplacements récurrents des populations, des violences sur les civils, des pertes de moyens d’existence ainsi que des besoins humanitaires importants. Dans une logique de continuité des phases précédentes, ce projet propose une réponse intégrée - sécurité alimentaire, moyens de subsistance, accès, eau/hygiène - pour répondre aux besoins humanitaires urgents et renforcer les mécanismes de résilience de plus que 480’000 personnes.


Programme d’appui à la commercialisation du bétail en Afrique de l’Ouest Phase 2 (PACBAO-2)

01.11.2024 - 31.10.2028

La Suisse poursuit son appui à la Communauté Economique des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest-CEDEAO et aux acteurs privés de la filière bétail-viande entamé en 2018, pour faciliter les échanges commerciaux dans trois corridors reliant pays sahéliens (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Tchad) et pays côtiers (Nigeria, Bénin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire). L’objectif final est une augmentation de la sécurité alimentaire, des emplois et revenus des éleveurs et commerçants, au bénéfice d’un million de personnes.


Accelerating School Meals, Empowering Communities: A Climate Resilient Approach

01.10.2024 - 30.09.2026

The macroeconomic crisis, characterized by high inflation and public debt, in addition to the accelerating impact of climate change, is putting pressure on food security, families’ livelihoods and public services. Households’ coping capacities are getting stretched and school drop outs rising. This contribution aims to enhance localization of the National School Lunch Programme and increase communities’ economic and climate resilience, while keeping children at school.


Appui au renforcement des capacités de résilience des populations vulnérables du Batha – REPAR

16.09.2024 - 15.09.2027

L’intervention vise à améliorer la sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle des populations vulnérables de la province du Batha de manière holistique, à travers une approche prenant en compte à la fois les activités de développement et humanitaire. Le projet appuie la mise en place d’un mécanisme local durable de prévention et de gestion des crises alimentaires, l’augmentation des revenus des ménages vulnérables et l’assistance alimentaire pendant les périodes de soudure.


Food security and livelihood assistance to conflict-affected populations in Northeast Nigeria

15.09.2024 - 31.08.2027

Food insecurity and malnutrition remain prevalent across Northeast Nigeria, driven by insecurity leading to displacement and lack of access to farmland. This is further compounded since 2023 by soaring inflation. The situation is affecting up to 4.8 million food insecure people in 2024. SDC’s continued funding to FAO seeks to further strengthen the resilience of crisis-affected people by sustainably improving their food production and productivity with a particular focus on women.

Object 1 – 12 of 126