Date 2021 - 2022
Country Indonesia
Implementor AKAR Foundation
Funding Amount 19,946
Details
As a result of this project, land prioritized by communities in Bengkulu province is being processed by the Agrarian Affairs Ministry for land redistribution under the Agrarian Reform program. This process will ensure legal recognition of smallholders’ land rights on a disputed ex-concession area and empower the community in their land governance. Activities to date include a field visit by the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs to measure claimed land, and the creation of a local taskforce for Agrarian Reform implementation, which AKAR will be part of.
Media link here.
Date 2021 - 2022
Country Guatemala
Implementor ACOFOP (Association of Forest Communities of Petén)
Funding Amount 100,000
Details
ACOFOP, with support from RRI and after a tough and accelerated political, administrative and legal process, achieved its goal of extending 3 Community Concession Contracts for 25 more years and the awarding of 2 new community forest management units (70,000 ha) in the Maya Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala, the largest block of continuous tropical forest in North America. During this participatory process between men and women, it was possible to demonstrate to the evaluators and the government, the good management and willingness of the communities to continue the process even in the face of the very difficult political, economic, climatic and health situation in Guatemala. The President of the Republic, Alejandro Giammettei, together with the representative of the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP), the Minister of the Environment, the Governor of Peten and ambassadors from the US, UK and Mexico were present at the protocol signing of the extension and awarding of the concession.
This case continues to demonstrate the contributions of Indigenous Peoples and local communities to conservation, sustainable use of biodiversity, and the generation of forest value chains worldwide. The Peten community concession model generates income, health, education, and other benefits to more than 50,000 people. Finally, this project advanced the processing of 4 remaining extensions, which would potentially add an additional 150,500 ha.
Date 2021
Country Cambodia
Region Asia
Implementor CIPO (Cambodia Indigenous Peoples Organization)
Funding Amount $36,940
Details
With SRM funding, the Cambodia Indigenous Peoples Organization (CIPO) increased capacity and became involved in the Ministry of Interior’s report on the status of community land tenure. CIPO is now able to critique, gather information, influence the government research, and build data-backed counter-narratives. At the same time, the organization is advancing community land tenure recognition on the ground in villages in Mondulkiri. By involving government officials as allies in this effort, they built political will for broader implementation of Community Land Titling and improved implementation of LASED-III. With SRM funding, CIPO produced fieldwork to collect GPS data and produce community and village maps. CIPO also assisted communities in passing the first level of CLT self-identification at the Ministry of Rural Development and submitted the documents to Ministry of Interior for recognition as legal community entities.
Media Links: Landmark report detailing life for indigenous peoples issued | Phnom Penh Post
Date 2021
Country Liberia
Region Africa
Implementor SESDev (Social Entrepreneurs for Sustainable Development)
Funding Amount $10,000
Details
With support from RRI’s SRM, SESDev assembled a team to lead the investigation into the issuance of title by the Liberia Land Authority (LLA) in Western Liberia and conducted the investigation in four counties. Preliminarily results showed that the LLA converted tribal certificates into deeds but the process of validating regulations pertaining to tribal certificates is not yet complete. This is a sign that there are possible violations of laws and community rights going on right now on their lands. The action will lead to formal recommendations to correct violations and restore community rights.
Date 2021
Country DRC
Region Africa
Implementor CFLEDD (Coalition of Women Leaders for Environment and Sustainable Development)
Funding Amount $40,000
Details
With support from RRI’s SRM, CFLEDD successfully conducted a workshop for the validation of the National Land Policy Document, and ensured that RRI-supported inputs and efforts were adequately represented in the document, particularly as these inputs pertain to women and collective land rights. More than 200 representatives from Indigenous and local communities attended the workshop.
As a result of this work, the Land Policy Document is now validated. This progressive policy contains provisions that: 1) recognize and secure the rights of communities over their traditional lands; 2) recognize and secure the rights of women to own land and participate in decision-making processes regarding land governance at all levels; 3) secure the rights of communities to FPIC; and 4) promote an effective decentralization of land administration at the local level.
Date 2021
Country Togo
Region Africa
Implementor ADHD (Organization for the Self-Promotion of Rural Sustainable Human Development)
Funding Amount $40,906
Details
With SRM funding, the Organization for the Self-Promotion of Rural Sustainable Human Development (ADHD) has organized four community meetings to inform the Bato, Kadjafe, and Sanouboui communities of the Togolese Land Code. Additionally, local authorities raised awareness in all communities on the process for land dispute resolution and social cohesion. Not only have Bato community members been trained in agroforestry and organic fertilizers, they have also produced ten maps identifying conflict zones.
This project enabled the securing of the customary land tenure rights of the Bato community, estimated at more than 4,000 hectares and allowed for the strengthening of local land governance and community livelihoods.
