ABSTRACT
Following the global food and fuel crises of 2007–2008 and the subsequent rise in large-scale land acquisitions, or “land grabs,” several global initiatives have emerged to advise governments, investors, and activists on how to ensure agricultural land rights for the world’s rural populations. Civil society organizations (CSOs) likewise call for greater recognition of customary land use, as well as the rights of women to control land (Geary 2012). Given the influx of corporate interest in agricultural land in sub-Saharan Africa and South America, a common refrain has been to promote the formal recognition of heretofore considered “informal” land tenure and the usufruct land rights of women. Regional and global actors alike have begun enshrining these principles in global recommendations and agreements. The African Union, the World Bank, and the FAO have all introduced principles or recommendations for stronger land governance in countries targeted for large-scale investment.
