Securing the commons
In much of Africa, rural populations depend on access to common property resources such as rangelands and forests for their livelihoods. Securing local rights of access to and management of such resources against encroachment or alienation by national or international actors is key to protecting the livelihoods of local people.
Senior fellow, Climate Change; team leader, climate resilience, productivity and equity in the drylands
Common land resources are important to rural communities in much of Africa (Photo: Marie Monimart)
From 2000-05, IIED worked at multiple levels to support and disseminate innovative ways of securing access to the commons.
At local and national levels, we aimed to support the development of innovative tools to secure resource rights for vulnerable rural groups and communities and innovative methodologies to accompany the negotiation of local conventions. We also promoted experience exchanges among practitioners to encourage lesson learning and improve practice.
At international level, we aimed to engage with policy debates through publications, international workshops and building networks and alliances.
We also published a series of papers in English and French, called 'Securing the commons', to provide information, experience and ideas on land and common property resource management issues across Europe and Africa.
