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

On International Women’s Day, a call to Stand for Her Land

March 08, 2023

Learn more about the movement to strengthen women's land rights, and to secure a better future for people and planet.

Read More
What's New

Technology that bridges the land gap for women in India

March 08, 2023

Learn more about our work in India to train women in the necessary technical skills to provide land records updation services for other women and families in their community. The Sangha Facilitation Centers program embodies this year’s International Women’s Day theme, DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.

Read More
What's New

Staff Spotlight: Shipra Deo

March 07, 2023

Meet Shipra Deo, Landesa’s Director – Women and Land based in Uttar Pradesh, India. Shipra began working for Landesa in 2015.

Read More
Event

An evening to Seed the Change 2023

March 01, 2023

Join us March 15th for an evening to remember as we honor International Women's Day and raise awareness about the powerful impact of land rights at Landesa's signature event, Seed the Change!

See Event
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
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

On International Women’s Day, a call to Stand for Her Land

March 08, 2023

Learn more about the movement to strengthen women's land rights, and to secure a better future for people and planet.

Read More
What's New

Technology that bridges the land gap for women in India

March 08, 2023

Learn more about our work in India to train women in the necessary technical skills to provide land records updation services for other women and families in their community. The Sangha Facilitation Centers program embodies this year’s International Women’s Day theme, DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.

Read More
What's New

Staff Spotlight: Shipra Deo

March 07, 2023

Meet Shipra Deo, Landesa’s Director – Women and Land based in Uttar Pradesh, India. Shipra began working for Landesa in 2015.

Read More
Event

An evening to Seed the Change 2023

March 01, 2023

Join us March 15th for an evening to remember as we honor International Women's Day and raise awareness about the powerful impact of land rights at Landesa's signature event, Seed the Change!

See Event
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
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PLANT SEEDS OF HOPE

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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