The Global Donor Working Group on Land has welcomed the Committee on World Food Security's (CFS) endorsement of the Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (RAI), especially Principle 5 on ‘Respect tenure of land, fisheries, forests and access to water.' The voluntary RAI principles aim to promote food and nutrition security and support the progressive realization of the right to adequate food.
23 October 2014: The Global Donor Working Group on Land has welcomed the Committee on World Food Security’s (CFS) endorsement of the Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (RAI), especially Principle 5 on ‘Respect tenure of land, fisheries, forests and access to water.’ The voluntary RAI principles aim to promote food and nutrition security and support the progressive realization of the right to adequate food.
Principle 5 aligns with both the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Forestry and Fisheries (VGGT) and the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication.
There are ten RAI Principles: contribute to food security and nutrition; contribute to sustainable and inclusive economic development and the eradication of poverty; foster gender equality and women’s empowerment; engage and empower youth; respect tenure of land, fisheries, forests and access to water; conserve and sustainably manage natural resources, increase resilience and reduce disaster risk; respect cultural heritage and traditional knowledge and support diversity and innovation; promote safe and healthy agriculture and food systems; incorporate inclusive and transparent governance structures, processes and grievance mechanisms; and assess and address impacts and promote accountability.
According to the Global Donor Working Group, the principles are the outcome of an inclusive, transparent process among UN agencies, governments, the private sector, development banks and foundations, civil society, academia and research and others to agree on the definition of responsible investment in agriculture and food systems.
The Global Donor Working Group on Land is a coalition of 23 bilateral and multilateral donors and development agencies that aims to improve information exchange, coordination and collaboration for improved land governance. [Global Donor Platform for Rural Development Press Release] [Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investments Website] [Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investments] [FAO Press Release on RAI Principles]