Landesa's Responsible Investments in Property and Land (RIPL) project has selected Tanzania as its first focus country for the development of "Playbooks" to support equitable and socially responsible land-related investments. The Playbooks will serve as "how-to" guides for investors, governments, and communities engaged in land acquisition and commodity procurement. The Playbooks will help all parties -- communities, government, and investors alike -- better understand and follow international best practices, such as the Voluntary Guidelines and African Union Guiding Principles. Seventy-five percent of Tanzanians live in rural areas, and most rely on the land for their livelihood. Large scale investments are both an opportunity and a threat to these communities. The Playbooks under development aim to ensure that the land rights of these rural communities are protected. The project will be grounded in Tanzania's unique cultural, governance, and investment context, and will be gender-sensitive. This first set of three Playbooks, each tailored to one key audience (government, investors, and communities) will serve as a starting point for similar customized guides across the globe.
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