The Global Land Observatory (GLO) is an initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), developed in partnership with the International Land Coalition (ILC) and the French Agricultural Research Center for International Development (CIRAD). Its objectives are to generate and make available data and analyses on the status of land tenure and governance issues, as a reference point for policy makers, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), civil society, the private sector and academia, and to support the implementation and monitoring of global commitments within the frameworks of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT).

More specifically, the GLO documents and analyses land tenure and governance by bringing together land data generation and monitoring initiatives and making them visible and usable, by strengthening analyses on the status quo and trends related to land tenure and land rights and governance, by undertaking policy research that feeds the development of specialized reports, knowledge exchange and high level advocacy events, and by providing evidence on the relevance of responsible governance of tenure to promote food security, reduce inequality and enhance the sustainability of agri food systems in the long term.

⇒ Access here the GLO Platform ⇐

The State of Land Tenure and Governance (SLTG) report is the main knowledge product of the Global Land Observatory. It presents and assesses innovative data on land tenure systems, land distribution, governance frameworks, women’s land rights, and the contribution of customary tenure to climate change mitigation and biodiversity protection, bringing together sex disaggregated data and analyses from governments, civil society and academia at different levels, from local to global. The report builds an evidence base to support action towards the achievement of the SDGs and the uptake of the VGGT, and contributes to shaping global policy dialogue on land governance.

Governance of GLO

GLO Secretariat

The Secretariat is composed of FAO, ILC and CIRAD.

Technical Reference Group (TRG)

The GLO TRG consists of land tenure and governance experts from UN agencies and leading land data and research institutions. Through regular consultations and extensive feedback, TRG members helped shape the report. The process also benefited from contributions and feedback from a wide range of organizations, including Indigenous peoples’ groups, civil society organizations, research institutes, international bodies, and development partners.

Advisory Group (AG)

The GLO AG has a broader and more open membership, including both land data experts and non-technical members. It ensures diverse voices are included and plays a key role in guiding the report’s orientation and supporting uptake of its findings. The AG includes representatives from governments, research institutes, civil society and Indigenous peoples’ platforms, the private sector, donor groups, and regional formations, ensuring balanced participation across actors from both the Global North and South.