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

LAND RIGHTS

EXPLORE OUR IMPACT

IN MEMORIAM

Roy Prosterman

1935 - 2025

Visit the Memorial Page

IN MEMORIAM

Roy Prosterman

Landesa Founder and Chairman Emeritus

1935 - 2025

Visit the Memorial Page

IN MEMORIAM

Roy Prosterman

1935 - 2025

Visit the Memorial Page

Read our 2023 Annual Report

EXPLORE NOW

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

Suku Karo’s Ulayat Land Officially Registered, Becomes Indonesia’s First Participatory Land Administration Process

June 26, 2025

BAJAWA, KUPANGNEWS.COM — Marking a historic milestone, the Government of Ngada Regency, in partnership with the Ngada Land Office and Landesa Indonesia, formally recognized the Karo Indigenous Community’s customary land—the first such registration in Indonesia’s national land system through a participatory, community-led process.

Read Article

Success Stories

From Challenge to Change: A Journey to Secure Land Rights

June 25, 2025

After decades without secure shelter, Naima and her family in Bangladesh’s Sundarbans gained legal access to land through a government lease program after attending a training supported by Shushilan and Landesa. They are now building a permanent home and planting a garden—laying the groundwork for a more stable future.

Read Article

What's New

Equal Rights, Equal Power

June 24, 2025

Liberian Observer — On International Widows’ Day, Landesa’s Dr. Monica Mhoja shares Sarah’s story to spotlight the urgent need for gender-equitable land rights in rural Liberia. Through tools like Amplio Talking Books and support for community land formalization, widows like Sarah are reclaiming their land, their voice, and their future under Liberia’s progressive Land Rights Act.

Success Stories

Restoring Dignity Through Land Rights: The Journey of Nyiramariza Gaudence

June 23, 2025

For a widow living with a disability, correcting her land boundaries was more than a technical process; it was a gateway to dignity, peace of mind, and community inclusion.

Read Article

What's New

Exploring Women’s Land Rights Through Ethiopian Christianity

June 11, 2025

A new guide highlights the powerful role churches can play in promoting women’s land rights in Ethiopia. Rooted in Christian teachings and local research, it offers practical insights for bridging the gap between legal protections and community norms.

What's New

Staff Spotlight: Lucy James

June 10, 2025

Meet Lucy James, Landesa’s Director of Global Human Resources. Lucy started working for Landesa in 2012.

Suku Karo’s Ulayat Land Officially Registered, Becomes Indonesia’s First Participatory Land Administration Process

BAJAWA, KUPANGNEWS.COM — Marking a historic milestone, the Government of Ngada Regency, in partnership with the Ngada Land Office and Landesa Indonesia, formally recognized the Karo Indigenous Community’s customary land—the first such registration in Indonesia’s national land system through a participatory, community-led process.

What Does Tanzania’s New Land Policy Say on Women’s Land Rights?

Progress for gender-equal land rights comes with the launch of Tanzania’s revised National Land Policy.

New National Land Policy Offers Promise for Tanzania’s Rural Residents

The Government of Tanzania launched its revised National Land Policy, which contains provisions to improve land governance nationwide.

A community-led revival: Mangrove plantations offer a pathway to climate resilience and ecosystem restoration

In Singhortoli, Bangladesh, a community-led mangrove restoration effort—supported by Landesa partner Shushilan—is helping residents like Robtob Mandal build climate resilience, protect coastal ecosystems, and pursue sustainable livelihoods.

Beyond land tenure, youth land rights foster socioeconomic development

With progress on youth land rights, we can help ensure that the next generation of young Africans will be able to secure their futures, putting the continent on the path toward socio-economic development and realizing “the Africa We Want.”

Climate-smart agriculture offers agency and resilience in rural Liberia

In Liberia’s Bong County, Landesa is helping communities like Diagmah Clan secure formal land rights and adopt climate-smart agriculture, empowering farmers to grow food sustainably and build resilience against climate change.

Field Focus Blog

Suku Karo’s Ulayat Land Officially Registered, Becomes Indonesia’s First Participatory Land Administration Process

June 26, 2025

BAJAWA, KUPANGNEWS.COM — Marking a historic milestone, the Government of Ngada Regency, in partnership with the Ngada Land Office and Landesa Indonesia, formally recognized the Karo Indigenous Community’s customary land—the first such registration in Indonesia’s national land system through a participatory, community-led process.

Read Article

Success Stories

From Challenge to Change: A Journey to Secure Land Rights

June 25, 2025

After decades without secure shelter, Naima and her family in Bangladesh’s Sundarbans gained legal access to land through a government lease program after attending a training supported by Shushilan and Landesa. They are now building a permanent home and planting a garden—laying the groundwork for a more stable future.

Read Article

What's New

Equal Rights, Equal Power

June 24, 2025

Liberian Observer — On International Widows’ Day, Landesa’s Dr. Monica Mhoja shares Sarah’s story to spotlight the urgent need for gender-equitable land rights in rural Liberia. Through tools like Amplio Talking Books and support for community land formalization, widows like Sarah are reclaiming their land, their voice, and their future under Liberia’s progressive Land Rights Act.

Success Stories

Restoring Dignity Through Land Rights: The Journey of Nyiramariza Gaudence

June 23, 2025

For a widow living with a disability, correcting her land boundaries was more than a technical process; it was a gateway to dignity, peace of mind, and community inclusion.

Read Article

What's New

Exploring Women’s Land Rights Through Ethiopian Christianity

June 11, 2025

A new guide highlights the powerful role churches can play in promoting women’s land rights in Ethiopia. Rooted in Christian teachings and local research, it offers practical insights for bridging the gap between legal protections and community norms.

What's New

Staff Spotlight: Lucy James

June 10, 2025

Meet Lucy James, Landesa’s Director of Global Human Resources. Lucy started working for Landesa in 2012.

OUR BLOG

LATEST UPDATES

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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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