Stakeholders in Tanzania’s land sector launch project to develop guidance for more socially responsible investment practices
A new project aimed at ensuring investments in land and commodity procurement through supply chains are beneficial to local communities is launching in Tanzania today. The Responsible Investments in Property and Land (RIPL) project will develop country-specific, practical guidance tailored for use by investors, governments, and civil society organizations to equip each actor to engage in more gender sensitive and socially responsible investments. These guidebooks will outline internationally recognized standards and principles, such as the African Union Guiding Principles, and take into consideration the national governance framework and local context of Tanzania with the goal of improving investment practices so all stakeholders can share more equitably in the benefits of land-based investments.
“The current, increased interest in large scale land investments in Tanzania holds great promise,” said Godfrey Massay of the Tanzania Natural Resource Forum (TNRF). “But this wave of investment also comes with risk. We know that 75 percent of Tanzanians live in rural areas and rely on land for their livelihoods. Land is their most important asset and their claim to the land must be respected. This new partnership, called the RIPL project, aims to provide all stakeholders with the tools they need to produce successful and equitable outcomes for all parties – including women and men smallholder farmers.”
The civil society organization TNRF is leading the implementation of the project in Tanzania over the next year. The project is being co-implemented with Landesa, a U.S.-based non-profit, with funding from the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID). Wednesday’s project launch will bring together representatives from both organizations, Tanzania’s Ministry of Lands and other land sector stakeholders, including academics, civil society, and donors to discuss the project.
The RIPL project is conducting parallel work in Ghana being led by Ghanaian nongovernmental organization Community Land Development Foundation (COLANDEF). Based on the country-specific guidance developed in both Ghana and Tanzania, the project plans to develop a model guidance document that can be adaptable to different country contexts.
CONTACT:
Mr. Godfrey Massay
TNRF RIPL Project Coordinator
+255 272 543 053
LAUNCH LOCATION:
Kijitonyama Area
Sinza Mori Street, Opposite Hakiardhi Offices
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.