Empowering millions of women and men with a powerful tool they can use to improve their lives:

LAND RIGHTS

EXPLORE OUR IMPACT
Check out Landesa's 2022 Annual Report →

WHY DO LAND RIGHTS MATTER?

Around the world, people experiencing poverty often share three traits: they live in rural areas, rely on agriculture and forests to survive, and don’t have legal control over the land on which they depend. We offer the tools to help people lift themselves out of poverty. Stronger rights to land have the power to reduce poverty and conflict, increase economic activity, empower women, strengthen food security, and improve environmental stewardship — for an individual, a family, a community, and an entire country.
WHO WE ARE

ENGAGE

Landesa partners with progressive governments and civil society to develop pro-poor and gender-sensitive laws, policies, and programs that strengthen land rights for people experiencing extreme poverty. In Africa and Asia, our land rights experts work shoulder to shoulder with government officials, local leaders, and rural residents developing scalable, practical, and innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems – food insecurity, conflict, climate change, women’s lack of empowerment.
WHAT WE DO

EXPLORE

Strong, legal rights to land can provide people in rural areas with the opportunity, security, and incentive they need to invest in their land to improve their harvests and their lives. Learn more about the connection between land rights and the most significant challenges of our time, from nutrition to climate change, from inclusive economic development to gender equality.
RESOURCES

JOIN

In an era defined by concerns over food security, environmental sustainability, stubborn cycles of poverty, and conflict over land, strong land rights are critical. Landesa champions the power of land rights for people and communities in rural areas as a fundamental building block for a safer and more prosperous future. Join the global land rights movement—make your gift to Landesa today.
GIVE

RECENT NEWS
What's New

United Nations committee publishes landmark statement on land and human rights

February 07, 2023

This General Comment marks a historic juncture: the first comprehensive statement from a human rights treaty-monitoring body on the relationship between land and human rights.

Read More
What's New

Landesa’s 2022 Annual Report

February 01, 2023

We are pleased to share our 2022 Annual Report with you. This year’s report provides a look back at a watershed year for Landesa – and a look ahead to what’s on the horizon.

Read More
What's New

Staff Spotlight: Ayman Soliman

February 01, 2023

Learn more about Ayman Soliman, a Global Advocacy Program Officer based in Washington, D.C. Ayman began working for Landesa in 2022.

Read More
Plotlines

January Plotlines: Building a movement

January 18, 2023

Stand for Her Land launches in Bangladesh; Promoting youth land rights in Tanzania; Meet Susan Waruhiu.

Read Article
What's New

Staff Spotlight: Susan Waruhiu

January 14, 2023

Learn more about Susan Waruhiu, a Program Coordinator based in Nairobi, Kenya. Susan began working for Landesa in 2022. 

Read More
Field Focus Blog

A Growing Momentum to Promote Youth Land Rights in Tanzania

December 19, 2022

Because youth constitute the majority of the population across Africa, investing in youth access to land is recognized as a key strategy for both economic and agricultural development. A number of countries have embraced this strategy, with Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania among others advancing efforts to improve youth land rights.

Read Article
Featured image for “A Growing Momentum to Promote Youth Land Rights in Tanzania”

A Growing Momentum to Promote Youth Land Rights in Tanzania

Because youth constitute the majority of the population across Africa, investing in youth access to land is recognized as a key strategy for both economic and agricultural development. A number of countries have embraced this strategy, with Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania among others advancing efforts to improve youth land rights.
Read More
Featured image for “To protect women and uproot patriarchy means confronting the links between land and gender-based violence”

To protect women and uproot patriarchy means confronting the links between land and gender-based violence

We are inspired by the possibility of strengthening women’s land rights as a way to empower women socially and economically. One such potential benefit concerns the ways in which land rights may protect women from domestic or gender-based violence – a relevant topic as the global community observes the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence.
Read More
Featured image for “Working Together to Advance Respect for Land Rights”

Working Together to Advance Respect for Land Rights

Mars is working with Landesa to create guidance for Mars’ suppliers in their efforts to respect and strengthen land rights. This framework is designed to provide practical steps that suppliers can take to respect the land rights of individuals, families, and communities.
Read More
Featured image for “At COP27, a Call to Root Climate Action and Justice in Land Rights for Women and Rural Communities”

At COP27, a Call to Root Climate Action and Justice in Land Rights for Women and Rural Communities

In Bangladesh’s Sundarbans, life revolves around coastal mangrove forests. But as climate change effects worsen, livelihoods are under threat. Read about what global actors at COP27 can do amid the deepening climate crisis.
Read More
Featured image for “Land and Climate Conversations”

Land and Climate Conversations

In November, the world gathers in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, for the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27). To elevate the voices of our local partners, Landesa spoke with a few of our partners about climate change themes in their work.
Read More
Featured image for “Land Tenure: A Cross-Cutting Solution for Poverty, Climate Change, and Women’s Rights”

Land Tenure: A Cross-Cutting Solution for Poverty, Climate Change, and Women’s Rights

If we want to improve lives and alleviate poverty, achieve food security globally, and guarantee human rights and full dignity for all, we must invest in land rights for women.
Read More
What's New

United Nations committee publishes landmark statement on land and human rights

February 07, 2023

This General Comment marks a historic juncture: the first comprehensive statement from a human rights treaty-monitoring body on the relationship between land and human rights.

Read More
What's New

Landesa’s 2022 Annual Report

February 01, 2023

We are pleased to share our 2022 Annual Report with you. This year’s report provides a look back at a watershed year for Landesa – and a look ahead to what’s on the horizon.

Read More
What's New

Staff Spotlight: Ayman Soliman

February 01, 2023

Learn more about Ayman Soliman, a Global Advocacy Program Officer based in Washington, D.C. Ayman began working for Landesa in 2022.

Read More
Plotlines

January Plotlines: Building a movement

January 18, 2023

Stand for Her Land launches in Bangladesh; Promoting youth land rights in Tanzania; Meet Susan Waruhiu.

Read Article
What's New

Staff Spotlight: Susan Waruhiu

January 14, 2023

Learn more about Susan Waruhiu, a Program Coordinator based in Nairobi, Kenya. Susan began working for Landesa in 2022. 

Read More
Field Focus Blog

A Growing Momentum to Promote Youth Land Rights in Tanzania

December 19, 2022

Because youth constitute the majority of the population across Africa, investing in youth access to land is recognized as a key strategy for both economic and agricultural development. A number of countries have embraced this strategy, with Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania among others advancing efforts to improve youth land rights.

Read Article
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Land rights are a key that unlocks a world of possibilities, giving rural families hope, opportunity, and the tools to lift themselves out of poverty. Become a partner in this global movement.
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