Land investment is always a major activity that has great impact on local communities. In the best case, it can be an opportunity to drive sustainable development and enhance livelihoods. On the other hand, irresponsible land use can bring about conflict, displacement and harm to community welfare. 🌾🚜 The GiZ project “Responsible Governance of Investment in Land” (RGIL) sought to ensure investments in land that respect local communities and their rights while increasing productivity and development in a sustainable, inclusive manner. Operating in three countries—Ethiopia, Lao PDR and Uganda—the project engaged stakeholders from the top down, from government authorities and land investors to representatives from local communities, toward building a harmonious relationship with each other and with the land. 🕊️🌱 To this end, RGIL has enacted a varied set of interventions, a few examples of which are detailed below: 🇪🇹 In the Gambella region of Ethiopia, government authorities’ capacities to intervene in the land investment process were greatly improved through training in how to administer and guide investments in accordance with international best practices and recognised principles. Gambella is a highly suitable region for large-scale mechanised farming, but irresponsible land investments have had an impact on biodiversity in the area, including deforestation and the migration of animals from the national park to neighbouring Kenya. Through RGIL, government officials at the local, regional and national levels were able to create interventions through the crafting of effective policies that guide the sustainable use of land from the top down. 🇺🇬 In Uganda, working with land investors such as Loy Kitamirike has helped enhance community welfare. Loy runs a farm in the Mityana district of Central Uganda, where she works with small-scale farmers and other members of the community, many of them women, and shares the fruit of her learnings with them. RGIL provided capacity building resources which land investors like Loy are able to apply in engagements with the local community. “Sometimes, policies are made behind the desks, and they never get down to the community,” she says. “But through RGIL, we’ve been able to bring those things down to the community.” 🇱🇦 Meanwhile in Lao PDR, RGIL has facilitated dialogue between owners of a tapioca processing plant in Bolikhamxay Province and a local community to help deliver the renovation of the village meeting hall as well as the laying of pipes for a new road that would help the villagers get to market. With the new road in place, tapioca transportation has also become much easier for the company, in addition to fostering goodwill with the local community. These are only select examples of the widespread impact RGIL has had. To find out more, including NIRAS’s specific role in the project, read the full article. 👇🏽 https://lnkd.in/ea8njVNM
Ashutosh Agarwal
9mo
Impressive work by the GiZ project "Responsible Governance of Investment in Land" across Ethiopia, Lao PDR, and Uganda! Ensuring sustainable land use, fostering community engagement, and empowering local stakeholders highlight the project's meaningful impact. Kudos to NIRAS and all involved for this positive change!
Alex Muhumuza
9mo
This is well received, thanks for the information.
Project Developer, visionary Writer
9moThanks for sharing the information, well noted!