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Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT)

Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT)

 

The VGGT are the internationally negotiated framework to improve land governance. Drafted by over 1000 stakeholders with different cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the VGGT were negotiated by Member States of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and endorsed on 11 May 2012. 

  

Understanding the VGGT

Purpose, stakeholders, content
and history of VGGT
 

Putting the VGGT into practice

What does implementation mean?
Who can Implement?
How is implementation monitored?

Key resources

Multimedia

Organisations

CFS logo

FAO, Committee on World Food Security (CFS)

The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) was set up in 1974 as an intergovernmental body to serve as a forum for review and follow up of food security policies. In 2009 the Committee went through a reform process to ensure that the voices of other stakeholders were heard in the global debate on food security and nutrition. The vision of the reformed CFS is to be the most inclusive international and intergovernmental platform for all stakeholders to work together in a coordinated way to ensure food security and nutrition for all.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (FAO)

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy. FAO is also a source of knowledge and information.

Library

Experiences and Good Practices In The Use and Application of The Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT) - Summary and Key Elements cover image

Experiences and Good Practices In The Use and Application of The Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT) - Summary and Key Elements

Reports & Research
July 2016
Global
Land & Food Security
VGGT
land governance
sustainable development
food security
land rights
capacity development
development agencies

At its 42nd Plenary session in 2015, the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) decided to hold a global thematic event at the 43rd session in October 2016 to share experiences and take stock of the use and application of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT), as a contribution to monitorin

Increase the use of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure among CSOs and Grassroots Organizations_South Africa

Policy Papers & Briefs
March 2018
South Africa
VGGT
land governance
sustainable development
food security
forest land
land rights
land tenure
tenure security

The Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT) set out internationally-accepted principles and standards for responsible practices, providing a framework for governments, the private sector and civil society to use when developing policies and programmes for improving food security.

Voluntary Guide on the Responsible Governance of land fisheries and forests in the context of national food security

Directrices voluntarias sobre la Gobernanza Responsable de la Tenencia de la Tierra, la Pesca y los Bosques en el contexto de la Seguridad Alimentaria Nacional

Reports & Research
December 2012
Africa
Algeria
Egypt
Libya
Morocco
Sudan
Tunisia
Burundi
Comoros
Djibouti
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Kenya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mauritius
Mozambique
Rwanda
Seychelles
Somalia
South Sudan
Tanzania
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Angola
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Gabon
Sao Tome and Principe
Botswana
Lesotho
Namibia
South Africa
Eswatini
Benin
Burkina Faso
Cape Verde
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Côte d'Ivoire
Liberia
Mali
Mauritania
Niger
Nigeria
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Togo
Americas
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Cuba
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Grenada
Haiti
Jamaica
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
Belize
Costa Rica
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Northern America
Canada
United States of America
Asia
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
China
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Japan
Mongolia
Republic of Korea
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
Indonesia
Laos
Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Iran
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Cyprus
Georgia
Iraq
Israel
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Syrian Arab Republic
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
Yemen
Europe
Belarus
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Hungary
Moldova
Poland
Russia
Slovakia
Ukraine
Denmark
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Finland
Iceland
Ireland
Latvia
Lithuania
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom
Albania
Andorra
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia
Greece
Holy See
Italy
North Macedonia
Malta
Montenegro
Portugal
San Marino
Serbia
Slovenia
Spain
Austria
Belgium
France
Germany
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Monaco
Netherlands
Switzerland
Oceania
Australia
New Zealand
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Nauru
Palau
Cook Islands
Niue
Samoa
Tokelau
Tonga
Tuvalu
Global
VGGT
land governance
land tenure

Con estas Directrices se busca aportar beneficios a los individuos en todos los países, aunque se hace hincapié en las personas vulnerables y marginadas. Las Directrices sirven como texto de referencia en el que se estipulan principios y normas internacionalmente aceptados para las prácticas responsables de la gobernanza de la tenencia.

Assessing implementation of the Voluntary Tenure Guidelines and the AU Framework and Guidelines for Land Policy; A toolkit approach

Training Resources & Tools
November 2017
Global
Indigenous & Community Land Rights
VGGT
land governance
sustainable development
fisheries
forestry
agriculture
land rights
land tenure
women

ActionAid International has been working over the last few years with women and rural communities to challenge commercialization of land, which leads to loss of their rights to land.

Data

VGGT Logo

VGGT Expropriation, Compensation, Resettlement

This qualitative dataset shows how national laws measure up against the international standards on expropriation, compensation, and resettlement as established in Section 16 of the UN Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGTs). The UN Committee on World Food Security, a body consisting of 193 governments, endorsed the VGGTs in 2012.

The dataset contains indicators which ask yes or no questions about the legal provisions established in national laws.

Map of Donors (Land governance Programme Map)

Land governance Programme Map

The original dataset - Land governance Programme Map & Database by Global Donor Platform For Rural Development - retains more than 800 projects which are being implemented in 140+ countries. The Map & Database contains information about the location, duration, funding and scope of each programme, as well as on the specific aspects of the Voluntary Guidelines it supports.

VGGT endorsement

This dataset lists the countries that have officially endorsed the VGGT  as part of three international forums between 2012 and 2015. They include: 

  • the 2012 Committee on World Food Security (CFS 2012)
  • the 2014 Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA 2014)
  • or the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture 2015 (GFFA 2015)

 

Events

Third international Youth Land Governance Conference in Africa (CIGOFA 3)

Third international Youth Land Governance Conference in Africa (CIGOFA 3)

1 November 2022 to 4 November 2022

Location

Dakar
Senegal
See map: Google Maps
SN
Africa
Senegal
Global
COVID-19
VGGT
land governance
sustainable development
sustainable land use
land rights
farmers
youth

The Third Youth Land Governance Conference is an international event themed: “Youth Access to Land for Peace and Security in Africa.

Organizers: 
Youth Initiative for Land in Africa (Yilaa)
CFS 50 Land Degradation Neutrality

Unlocking the potential of the VGGT through Land Degradation Neutrality

13 October 2022

Location

Virtual
Italy
See map: Google Maps
IT
Global
Land & Food Security
Land Degradation & Tenure
VGGT
land governance
poverty
food security
desertification
land degradation
women

This event will launch the technical guide on integrating the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forest in the context of National Food Security (VGGT) into land degradation neutrality (LDN) in all 6 UN languages, produced jointly by UNCCD and FAO.

Organizers: 
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Land Portal Foundation
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
TMG-ThinkTank for Sustainability

Commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the CFS VGGT- Reflection on 10 years of VGGT Application

6 October 2022 to 7 October 2022

Location

Rome, online
Italy
See map: Google Maps
IT
Global
VGGT
food security
open data

Open discussion between partners and the audience  on the impact of the VGGT 10 years later: what have we learned, what can we  do better, where are the evident needs, gaps, and unmet expectations.

Organizers: 
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Land Portal Foundation
VGGT 10th Anniversary

10-Year Anniversary of the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (CFS VGGT)

27 May 2022
Global
Land & Food Security
VGGT
gender equity
gender equity in access to land
land governance
food security
land law
land rights
land tenure
community land rights
tenure security
property rights
marital property rights

Secure tenure rights and equitable access to land, fisheries and forests are critical means of eradicating hunger and poverty, supporting sustainable development and enhancing the environment.

Organizers: 
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
FAO, Committee on World Food Security (CFS)

Latest news

Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone

New Portfolio Highlights the Promises and Pitfalls of Land Investments

18 April 2023
Sub-Saharan Africa
Colombia
Cambodia
Global
Land & Investments
VGGT
land information systems
land governance
sustainable development
conflicts
land investments
foreign investment
investment funds
responsible investment
dispossession
land conflicts
local communities

The Land Portal Foundation has launched a new Land & Investments Portfolio that unpacks the key concepts, terms, international frameworks and policies, and many other aspects critical to understanding how land investments affect society.

Blogs

Responsible land-based investments

What communities, governments and the private sector need to know about responsible land investments

5 April 2023
Authors: 
Darryl Vhugen
Mr. Lorenz Jenni
Global
Land & Investments
VGGT
land governance
expropriation
land law
environment
land investments
responsible investment
land tax
land valuation
displacement
land dispute
land tenure
local communities
private sector

Access to and secured long-term rights to use land are an essential precondition for rural development, food production, security and social peace. The distribution and use of land is fundamental in rural areas and connected to a variety of thematic areas targeted in the Sustainable Development Goals.

CFS 50 Land Degradation Neutrality

Event Recap: Unlocking the potential of the Voluntary Guidelines on Land Tenure in food system transformation

31 October 2022
Global
Land Degradation & Tenure
VGGT
gender equity
gender equity in access to land
sustainable development
food security
land degradation
agriculture
sustainable land management
land tenure
land tenure systems
tenure security
women

Co-organized by FAO, UNCCD, TMG and the Land Portal, this side event specifically aimed to discuss how integrating the VGGT into land degradation neutrality (LDN) initiatives can re-ignite momentum to enhance tenure security and unlock multiple social, economic and environmental benefits. 

10th Anniversary of the VGGT

10th anniversary of the CFS VGGT

12 October 2022
Authors: 
Dr. Paolo Groppo
Global
Indigenous & Community Land Rights
Land & Corruption
VGGT
land governance
land rights
land tenure
tenure security
farmers

Once again International Development organizations (World Bank, IFAD, FAO, USAID, GIZ and others) came together to discuss the Voluntary Guidelines, which were approved in May2012. An indisputable success of this was to have also associated the largest peasant movement, La Via Campesina, which from the day of approval enthusiastically applauded this process.

Data story: data compatibility in linking land degradation and tenure security

Data Compatibility in Linking Land Degradation and Tenure Security

11 October 2022
Authors: 
Daniel Hayward
Benin
Argentina
Kazakhstan
Thailand
India
Global
Land Degradation & Tenure
Land, Climate Change & Environment
VGGT
desertification
land degradation
deforestation
tenure security
women
open data

This data story investigates the challenges to align action on land degradation and tenure security based on the screening of available datasets in both domains.

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