Memorandums of Understanding

This briefing from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of investor-state memorandums of understanding (MOUs) in agricultural investments, highlighting how their drafting can either create legal risks or support responsible governance.

• Memorandums of understanding (MOUs) often serve as the initial formal stage of collaboration between host governments and private, usually foreign, investors. In agribusiness, this phase is critical for managing precontractual steps to protect local community interests and tenure rights, yet these documents are frequently rushed or lack careful vetting.
• The legal impact of an MOU on a host government depends on its specific drafting, content, and usage. Poorly drafted MOUs can lead to unforeseen risks and legal consequences, while carefully crafted ones can minimize these risks and facilitate the governance of responsible agricultural investment.

APA

Brewin,, S. (2023). Memorandums of Understanding. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/legal-tools-investment-agriculture-memorandums-understanding

Chicago

Brewin,, Sarah. Memorandums of Understanding. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2023. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/legal-tools-investment-agriculture-memorandums-understanding.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Brewin, |first1=Sarah |title=Memorandums of Understanding |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=4 April 2023 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/legal-tools-investment-agriculture-memorandums-understanding |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{brewin2023memorandums, author = {Brewin,, Sarah}, title = {{Memorandums of Understanding}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2023}, month = apr, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/legal-tools-investment-agriculture-memorandums-understanding}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }