Securing the commons

Background: 

In much of Africa, rural populations depend on access to common property resources such as rangelands and forests. Securing local rights of access to such resources against encroachment by outsiders is key to protecting the livelihoods of local people. Over the past few years, IIED has worked to support and disseminate innovative ways of securing access to the commons. This entails working at the local, national and international level.

Project objectives: 

We aim to have an impact at both a local and international levels. At local and national level our aims are to:

  • support the development of innovative tools to secure resource rights for vulnerable rural groups and communities
  • support the development of innovative methodologies to accompany the negotiation of local conventions
  • promote exchange of experience among practitioners, to promote lesson learning and, ultimately, better practice.
  • At the international level our aims are to:
  • engage with policy debates through publications, international workshops and building networks and alliances.
Publications: 

The IIED series on Securing the Commons includes French and English language publications that provide information, experience and ideas on land and common property resource management issues across Europe and Africa.