FAO promotes responsible governance of tenure through global guidelines, tailored tools, capacity development and technical support to countries. This website shares resources, news, and updates on FAO’s efforts to strengthen tenure systems worldwide and ensure that natural resources are managed sustainably, inclusively and for the benefit of present and future generations.
FAO’s work on governance of tenure
Tenure is crucial to the livelihoods of billions of people. For many, their food security is linked to their tenure security. People with weak, insecure tenure rights risk losing their means to support themselves if they lose their access to natural resources. Women often have weaker tenure rights where there is discrimination in laws and customs. Tenure systems define who can use which natural resources, for how long and under what conditions. Many tenure problems are caused by weak governance and attempts to address them are affected by the quality of governance.
What we do
Highlights
blog
Reflections from the UNCCD's 17th Conference
Some reflections on the key outcomes and what they mean for the land tenure agenda. Some reflections on the key outcomes and what they mean for the land tenure agenda.
VGGT
Voluntary guidelines on the governance of tenure
The Guidelines promote responsible governance of tenure of land, fisheries and forests, with respect to all forms of tenure: public, private, communal, indigenous, customary, and informal.
technical guides
Governance of tenure technical guides
The technical guides are prepared by technical specialists, to help develop capacities to improve tenure governance and thereby assist countries in applying the Voluntary Guidelines.
elearning
E-learning courses on the governance of tenure
They cover a range of areas related to tenure including land tenure in the context of natural disaster and how to monitor and promote policy changes on governance of tenure.
blog
FAO and FCLP join forces on land tenure accountability
Land tenure commitments are only as strong as the frameworks that track them. This simple truth sits at the heart of a new collaboration between FAO and FCLP.
Where we work
Teams implementing projects to improve the governance of land tenure are increasing their technical capacity by sharing experiences and learning from each other.
Latest publication
Land and conflict | Land Tenure Journal No. 1–26
04/2026
Focuses on the increasing incidence of land disputes driven by population growth, climate change, migration and conflict, and their implications for development, food security and peace. It reviews responses to improve land governance, including legal reforms and tenure formalization, while recognizing their limitations, and highlights more inclusive approaches.
Latest event
9/11
2026
CFS Resources Toolkit – Turning Global Standards into local action
Metropolitan City of Rome Capital (Italy), 09/11/2026
Join the second session organized by the responsible agricultural investment (RAI) team to discover FAO’s new publication,
10/11
2026
Land Tenure Tuesday | Webinar on regional perspectives on land tenure and family farming: emerging priorities, policy directions and regional cooperation
Metropolitan City of Rome Capital (Italy), 10/11/2026
This webinar aims to consolidate findings from the series, identify shared regional priorities and policy directions, and generate the Asia-Pacific messages and recommendations that can inform the Interregional Dialogue while strengthening longer-term regional cooperation.
Latest video
The status of land tenure and governance: Progress in Policy, Lagging in Practice
11/03/2026
Tenure security and responsible land governance are crucial..