US- Land
Introduction
Purpose of the NAP [page 5]
The NAP focuses on a broad range of issues including but not limited to: human rights…land tenure and property rights…
The National Action Plan
Leading by example
Outcome 1.4: Conducting Due Diligence in U.S. Development Funding and Trade Finance
New Actions
Land Tenure in Development Assistance Activities [page 12]: The U.S. government reaffirms its support for the consistent implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT), which provides a global framework for improved land and resources governance. The U.S. government will commit to adhering to and aligning its relevant overseas development assistance activities to the VGGT. Implementing department or agency: USAID
Facilitating RBC by Companies
Outcome 3.1: U.S. Government Reports
New Actions
Country-Level Land Governance Profiles [page 17]: USAID will develop and/or update 15 public country-level land governance profiles, which explain the land laws, land use patterns, gender concerns, land administration, and land markets within a given country. These profiles are an invaluable introduction for businesses that are looking to make land based investments in a given country, and are conscientious about investing in an ethical and responsible manner. These profiles are also a critical resource for Embassy staff and others who counsel foreign businesses on potential investments. Implementing department or agency: USAID
Outcome 3.3: Capacity Building and Technical Support to Promote Enabling Environments
New Actions
Responsible Land-Based Investment [page 19]: USAID will support responsible land-based investment by helping the private sector pilot the Analytical Framework for Land-Based Investments in African Agriculture, which are internationally accepted guidance that helps companies mitigate land tenure risks and make their investments more inclusive, responsible, and sustainable. This commitment will provide limited financial assistance, as well as technical assistance, to help first mover companies implement the guidance and make their investments more responsible and inclusive of local communities, including indigenous peoples. USAID will coordinate closely with other G-7 governments and the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition. Implementing department or agency: USAID
Support for Reducing Land Conflict in West Africa: State is supporting a program to reduce land conflict in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea by strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations to work on land rights and tenure issues as they relate to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. This program complements USAID’s existing investments in Côte d’Ivoire to support responsible business practices in the process of diamond sourcing, support country compliance with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, and stem the flow of conflict diamonds, while improving community land rights. Implementing department or agency: State.
Ongoing commitments and initiatives
Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Land Tenure and Property Rights: [page 21]: USAID successfully developed and led a MOOC on Land Tenure and Property Rights in 2015. The university-level course was free and open to the public. Almost 2,000 participants from more than 60 countries participated in the 14-week course, which features lectures and case studies from a wide variety of experts in the field. A second Land Tenure and Property Rights MOOC will launch in 2017 with expanded lessons on responsible land tenure activities within USAID’s program cycle, utilizing geospatial analytics and data for evidence-based programming, and the importance of understanding and supporting customary tenure in development programming. Implementing department or agency: USAID