International Land Coalition (ILC), Core contribution

Tenure security is a critical foundation for human develop-ment and the sustainability of our planet. Tenure security and equal land rights are critical to address four major global chal-lenges: addressing the climate and environmental crisis; strengthening sustainable and resilient food systems; building peaceful and democratic societies; and overcoming extreme inequalities.

Global instruments supported by Switzerland since many years, such as the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGT), constitute im-portant normative and reference frameworks. However sub-stantial gaps remain to their implementation. ILC, founded in 1995, is a global alliance with 323 organisations (110 in Af-rica) representing 84 million people (64 million in Africa) in 85 countries (32 in Africa). ILC, working on people centred land governance aims at securing land rights for people who live on and from the land and thus contribute to close this gap.

Evidence shows that secure tenure rights allow farmers to make better agricultural investments, leading to increased productivity and improved food security and nutrition.

Secure land rights

by responding to the needs and pro-tecting the rights of those who live on and from the land; and by prioritizing women, whose leadership brings the greatest change.

• Enhanced people-centred land governance and tenure security
• More targeted data that respond to People’s need is produced and used and governments are held more accountable
• Advanced regional and global political commitment to people-centred land governance and tenure security.

Expected results:  

• National Land Coalitions (NLCs) as a force for change towards people-centred land governance: 40 NLCs established and vibrant
• Fulfilling ILC’s pledges to gender justice and defending the defenders: Stand for her Land (S4HL) campaigns in 14 countries
• Data produced and used to hold governments accountable: LandEx indicators track progress and inform policy dialogue
• Recognition of the importance of land rights for climate and biodiversity: ILC with Peoples’ Organizations influencing outcomes, indicators and monitoring in the context of the Rio-Conventions.

Results from previous phases:  

• 2’624’311 people with more secure tenure rights
• 52 policies and laws changed (15 in Africa)
• 74 practices changed (28 in Africa), such as land titeling
• CBD COP 16: Endorsed the traditional knowledge indicator on land rights ensuring the recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ land rights as a pathway to protect biodiversity and traditional knowledge.

Strategic Partners contributing to ILC:

SDC, European Commission, Germany and IFAD

Synergies with SDC Projects: UN Convention to Combat Desertification, Governance Pro-jects in the Mekong Region and in other SDC priority countries in Africa working with pastor-alists and other human rights in food systems projects.