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

LAND RIGHTS

EXPLORE OUR IMPACT

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
Field Focus Blog

Land and Climate Conversations

October 24, 2022

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 Article
Field Focus Blog

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

October 13, 2022

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 Article
What's New

September Plotlines: Reclaiming rights

September 08, 2022

New blogs on gendered language and reproductive justice; Meet summer intern Melissa Padilla; How to make a planned gift.

Read More
What's New

Intern Spotlight: Melissa Padilla

September 07, 2022

Melissa interned with Landesa’s Center for Women’s Land Rights this summer. She supported the Stand for Her Land Campaign and co-authored an article examining the parallels between reproductive rights and women’s land rights.

Read More
Field Focus Blog

The chaos of gendered language and land: A lesson from cricket

August 29, 2022

Land laws in India consistently use masculine pronouns and very often refer to men as the primary or exclusive legal subjects. These linguistic choices often produce social consequences that damage and limit the identity, dignity and equal opportunities for women.

Read Article
Field Focus Blog

The Dobbs Decision Reminds Us Feminism Must Be Global and Intersectional

August 23, 2022

Landesa’s Beth Roberts, Gina Alvarado, and Melissa Padilla examine the parallels between reproductive rights, the still-raging fight to affirm equal personhood for women in the United States, and the global movement to advance women’s human rights by securing their rights to land.

Read Article
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
Featured image for “The chaos of gendered language and land: A lesson from cricket”

The chaos of gendered language and land: A lesson from cricket

Land laws in India consistently use masculine pronouns and very often refer to men as the primary or exclusive legal subjects. These linguistic choices often produce social consequences that damage and limit the identity, dignity and equal opportunities for women.
Read More
Featured image for “The Dobbs Decision Reminds Us Feminism Must Be Global and Intersectional”

The Dobbs Decision Reminds Us Feminism Must Be Global and Intersectional

Landesa’s Beth Roberts, Gina Alvarado, and Melissa Padilla examine the parallels between reproductive rights, the still-raging fight to affirm equal personhood for women in the United States, and the global movement to advance women’s human rights by securing their rights to land.
Read More
Featured image for “Centering Humanity: Gender and Social Inclusion in International Development (Recorded)”

Centering Humanity: Gender and Social Inclusion in International Development (Recorded)

Panelists from several NGOs engaged in a moderated discussion on advancing inclusive international development. Learn from their experiences and lessons on using a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) approach and other frameworks to avoid unintended harm, and ultimately advance equity in the communities in which we work.
Read More
Featured image for “Land-based investment in Tanzania: how simplified legal guides are empowering communities”

Land-based investment in Tanzania: how simplified legal guides are empowering communities

Masalu Luhula discusses how the use of simplified legal guides is helping to empower communities to engage in dialogue and negotiations with government authorities and investors – and to promote socially responsible land-based investment.
Read More
Field Focus Blog

Land and Climate Conversations

October 24, 2022

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 Article
Field Focus Blog

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

October 13, 2022

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 Article
What's New

September Plotlines: Reclaiming rights

September 08, 2022

New blogs on gendered language and reproductive justice; Meet summer intern Melissa Padilla; How to make a planned gift.

Read More
What's New

Intern Spotlight: Melissa Padilla

September 07, 2022

Melissa interned with Landesa’s Center for Women’s Land Rights this summer. She supported the Stand for Her Land Campaign and co-authored an article examining the parallels between reproductive rights and women’s land rights.

Read More
Field Focus Blog

The chaos of gendered language and land: A lesson from cricket

August 29, 2022

Land laws in India consistently use masculine pronouns and very often refer to men as the primary or exclusive legal subjects. These linguistic choices often produce social consequences that damage and limit the identity, dignity and equal opportunities for women.

Read Article
Field Focus Blog

The Dobbs Decision Reminds Us Feminism Must Be Global and Intersectional

August 23, 2022

Landesa’s Beth Roberts, Gina Alvarado, and Melissa Padilla examine the parallels between reproductive rights, the still-raging fight to affirm equal personhood for women in the United States, and the global movement to advance women’s human rights by securing their rights to land.

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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