Neil Sorensen joined the Land Portal as its Communications Specialist in October 2015. He has extensive experience leading communications for international organizations and developing relationships with civil society, donors, intergovernmental agencies, the media and the private sector. Previously, Neil worked for the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) as a Governing Bodies Officer and Strategic Adviser to the Secretary of IFAD. He has also led communications for three international organizations, including the International Land Coalition, the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). He holds a Master’s degree in Global Diplomacy from the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) as well as a Bachelor’s degree with a double major in German and Sociology from St. Cloud State University.
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Scholarships for Land Governance course organized by Wageningen University & Research
The Land Governance course challenges forest and nature management professionals to adopt an integrative perspective, to look beyond the forest, and build bridges between the public and the private sector. It focuses on the development of institutional development at landscape level including multistakeholder platforms and networks, and financial support mechanisms to guide landscape dynamics on the ground.
Land for Life Youth Social Media Activist Challenge
The Land for Life Youth Social Media Activists Challenge: “Are You the ONE?” campaign aims to recognize active, passionate and dedicated young people who are currently active in conserving natural resources and promoting such actions to their peers and local communities via social media. Winners' initiatives, stories, experience and /or challenges encountered, ideas or solutions will be communicated and highlighted through UNCCD’s various communication channels such as social media platforms and website.
Land Portal Launches Innovative Dynamic Country Portfolios Based On Linked Open Data
Inclusive approach in concert with Mekong region partners forges unprecedented access to data and information on land
Voice - Call for proposals, Innovate and learn grants
Voice is a new innovative grant facility that supports the most marginalised and discriminated people in ten low- and lower-middle income countries in Africa and Asia. It aims to amplify and connect thus far unheard voices in efforts to leave no one behind. Voice is an initiative by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is executed by a consortium between Oxfam Novib and Hivos.
GODAN Action - Enabling practical engagement with open data in agriculture and nutrition
As the world’s population grows, global demand for food is predicted to nearly double. The number of people at risk of hunger in the developing world is estimated to grow to more than a billion people by 2050. New data-driven solutions in agriculture and nutrition are increasingly being seen as a way to tackle this challenge.
Ivory Coast drives thousands of cocoa farmers out of national park
Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation
Author: Ange Aboa
Ivorian security forces have driven thousands of cocoa farmers out of a national park this week at the start of an operation to preserve the refuge for endangered chimpanzees and forest elephants, a government source and locals said on Thursday.
South Africa: Land rights act is entirely invalid, Constitutional Court judges declare
Source: BDLive
Author: Franny Rabkin
ALL land restitution claims made after December 1998 have been put on hold by the Constitutional Court, after the court found that Parliament did not properly consult the public before deciding to reopen the window for claims.
The Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Act — which reopened the window for claims — was rushed through Parliament in 2014 ahead of national and provincial elections.
Garma festival: Indigenous leaders say Land Rights Act is not protecting them
Source: The Guardian
Author: Helen Davidson
The Land Rights Act is “fast asleep”, and it continues to be easy for non-Indigenous people and groups to claim a share of Aboriginal land, the Gumatj leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu has said.