As multinational corporations continue to invest in large-scale, land-based, commercial ventures in Africa, a need to regulate such investments to protect the rural poor, especially women, has been identified. A number of stakeholders have intensified efforts since 2009 to promote ‘responsible’ investment in land, in particular by
deploying regional and international principles and guidelines on large-scale, land-based investments. This booklet identifies, describes and critiques seven instruments which have been developed from 2009. Although each of these frameworks focuses on a different set of principles, taken together they offer guidelines that may help to secure and promote food security; human rights; gender and women’s rights; more comprehensive land and tenure rights, including in relation to natural resources; a more sustainable environment; good governance; social sustainability; and due diligence in investments. In addition, notwithstanding the particular strengths and
weaknesses of each instrument, they indicate a number of common problems. In this regard, it is important to note that these regulatory instruments were designed by global stakeholders to foster or regulate investments rather than to stop them. They tend to seek to promote the idea of win-win-win arrangements for governments, investors and local communities.
