Nairobi action plan to advance land-based investments that benefit Africa

Abstract

High-Level Forum on Foreign Direct Investments in Land in Africa have resolved to promote land-based investment models that increase agricultural productivity and maximize opportunities for Africa’s farmers. The traditional leaders, government representatives, private sector and civil society actors at the Forum stressed that the majority of Africans derive their livelihoods from agriculture, including pastoralism, and that women comprise the majority of smallholder famers. The outcome - dubbed the Nairobi Action Plan - underscores the need to minimize the negative impacts of large-scale land acquisitions. The forum agreed to promote assessments of past, and on-going large-scale investments within the next 12 months; the assessments will be gender differentiated and indicate the impact on poverty. The move is aimed at supporting evidence based advocacy to promote profitable, equitable and sustainable land-based investments.