Introduction to legal tools for citizen empowerment

Can a half-acre of dry earth be more precious than gold? To farmers, herders and foragers in some of the world's poorest countries, the answer is very literally yes. Gold mining, agribusiness and other natural resource investments typically promise new jobs and public revenues. But they can also push poorer groups off their land and pollute their waterways.

Farm labourers in a field — Farm workers in Mozambique working to clear land for planting crops (Photo: Mike Goldwater/IIED)

While investment can be a force for good, it is now more urgent than ever to ensure that local rights to land, water and other resources are respected, that people have the support they need to engage on an equitable basis, and that the national and international legal frameworks and decision-making processes that govern investments are properly configured.

Collaborating closely with partner organisations in Africa, Asia and Latin America, IIED’s Legal Tools for Citizen Empowerment initiative works to strengthen rights and sustain agency in the arenas where natural resource governance meets the global economy.

Our work supports local-to-global efforts through:

Carrying out high-impact analysis, for example on global trends in land-based investments, the law regulating investments, gender dimensions, and strategies for empowerment and accountability

Developing approaches to support informed decision making at local to global levels – for example on rethinking investment treaties, contracts and laws, and helping people to secure their land rights, renegotiate value chain relations and obtain redress, and

Facilitating international sharing of lessons from innovation on how to help people make informed choices, claim their rights and advance their development priorities.

To find out more about the overall approach and how different elements fit together, please read: