Grassroots Movements and Initiatives for Land Reform

There is a consensus among national and international actors about the need for land reform in order to reduce poverty and hunger. The justifications for promoting land reform are many and compelling. In developing countries, the majority of the population consists of landless and near landless rural workers vulnerable to hunger, with inadequate access to land and other productive resources. Much of the cultivated, fertile land is held by a small number of powerful landowners and elites. Thus the social reasons for land reform are the possibility of improved justice and equity; a reduction in rural conflict and violence; and greater food security, income and family welfare.

This project, which began in January 1997, was integrated into the Civil Society and Social Movements programme area in 2000. It aimed to identify and document valuable cases of civil society involvement in land redistribution and titling, and securing rights to land and other productive assets by landless and other marginalized groups in different agrarian contexts. The project was carried out in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Popular Coalition and other organizations.

The project was completed in 2001 with the publication of several books and discussion papers.