The Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure at a Crossroads

This international statement, published by Friends of the Earth International and signed by numerous social movements and NGOs, criticizes the emergence of corporate-focused guides for implementing the UN's Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT). The authors argue that these guides shift the focus from human rights and the needs of marginalized communities to the business interests and risk management of private investors, effectively facilitating 'corporate capture' of natural resources.

• The authors contend that recent guides developed by entities such as USAID, the G7 New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition in Africa, and the Interlaken Group transform the Tenure Guidelines from a human rights framework into a business tool. They argue these guides prioritize reducing economic and reputational risks for investors over the rights of vulnerable populations, potentially allowing corporations to 'whitewash' their activities.
• The statement criticizes the 'multi-stakeholder' approach used in these guides, which treats states and private companies as equal stakeholders. The authors argue this wrongly transfers state duties—such as identifying legitimate tenure rights and resolving disputes—to private investors who lack the necessary legitimacy and have conflicting economic interests.
• The document rejects the premise that land acquisitions by corporations are inherently beneficial to local communities. It argues that the 'partnership' model promoted in the guides ignores power asymmetries and risks trapping communities in dependence on powerful companies through mechanisms like contract farming and out-grower schemes.
• The signatories call on states to implement the Tenure Guidelines by prioritizing the rights of the marginalized over corporate interests. Specific demands include enacting laws to limit large-scale land transactions, guaranteeing free prior and informed consent (FPIC), and criminally prosecuting companies that violate human rights or tenure rights.
• The statement urges the establishment of a robust monitoring mechanism within the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS) to ensure accountability in the application of the Tenure Guidelines, specifically mentioning the 43rd CFS session in 2016 as a key event for global monitoring.
• The authors advocate for the adoption of an international legally binding instrument at the UN Human Rights Council to hold transnational corporations accountable for human rights abuses, including mandatory rules on due diligence and liability.

APA

Friends of the Earth International (2015). The Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure at a Crossroads. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/The-Guidelines-on-the-Responsible-Governance-of-Tenure-at-a-Crossroads.pdf

Chicago

Friends of the Earth International. The Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure at a Crossroads. 2015. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/The-Guidelines-on-the-Responsible-Governance-of-Tenure-at-a-Crossroads.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Friends of the Earth International |title=The Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure at a Crossroads |date=10 December 2015 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/The-Guidelines-on-the-Responsible-Governance-of-Tenure-at-a-Crossroads.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{friendsoftheearthinternational2015guidelines, author = {{Friends of the Earth International}}, title = {{The Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure at a Crossroads}}, publisher = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2015}, month = dec, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/The-Guidelines-on-the-Responsible-Governance-of-Tenure-at-a-Crossroads.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }