It appears the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are wobbling along fitfully, and the general consensus among attendees at this year’s annual World Bank Land and Poverty Conference seemed to be that we’re not on track to meet our goals related to land and property rights. This year’s conference offered a smorgasbord of lessons learned, applied…
This review was undertaken as part of a joint initiative, the Conservation Solutions Lab, between Arizona State University and Chemonics, and seeks to build knowledge and evidence-based approaches for more effective community engagement in conservation. The analysis revealed that the current evidence base is lacking the robust data needed to uncover the links between governance…
Salomat Chorieva Breaks the Mold At age 16, Salomat Chorieva started her first job on a farm in Tajikistan. She endured harsh working conditions, growing cotton and wheat on 700 square meters of farmland. She handed over all her harvests to the head of the farm, who undercompensated her for her labor. Working within a…
In Colombia, a country highly dependent on natural resources, climate change will have significant consequences. As the country consolidates a historic peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), it must also prepare for potential environmental deterioration as former combatants and displaced people resettle in rural areas. These challenges call for early action…
A few basic facts: there were 1.2 billion youth aged 15 to 24 years globally in 2015, accounting for one out of every six people worldwide. By 2030, the target date for achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the number of youth is projected to grow by 7 percent, to nearly 1.3 billion. Given…
The land tenure challenges that youth face are complex and connected to larger issues of agency, assets, enabling environment, and contribution. Using a deliberate “youth lens” can play a critical role in strengthening young people’s sense of agency when it comes to land. In terms of cultivating awareness of land rights among those in rural…
Brian App is an international natural resource management specialist with over 20 years of experience working in the climate and environmental sectors. Brian currently serves as a Senior Climate Services Director in Chemonics’ Climate Group where he helps identify and better understand climate risks and opportunities to improve climate integration into programs and proposals across…
In Rwanda, as in most African countries, land is one of rural citizens’ primary livelihood assets. Because Rwanda has the highest population density in Africa, however, land has often been a source of conflict. To redress such conflict and promote effective land policy, the USAID Rwanda LAND project partnered with Rwandan government institutions to research…
Agriculture is a key economic driver in Tajikistan, employing more than 75 percent of the labor force. Household farms are a vital source of income and food for rural households, but farms rarely provide enough for subsistence. The USAID Land Reform and Farm Restructuring Project (LRFRP) empowered citizens of Khatlon Province to exercise their property…
Ukraine has some of the world’s most fertile soil, but fragmentation of the land has limited the agriculture sector’s success: More than half of Ukraine’s gross agricultural product is generated by approximately 4 million smallholder farmers scattered across the country. The USAID Agriculture and Rural Development Support program worked with the government, businesses, and community…
Ukraine is the world’s fourth largest exporter of grain and top exporter of sunflower oil. The country’s agriculture sector is a major driver of the economy, employing nearly a quarter of the workforce. The USAID AgroInvest project supported Ukraine’s agriculture industry, improving access to finance and facilitating the creation of market infrastructure for small- and…