Land Tenure Security, Migration and the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of

Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGTs)

Marcela Villarreal, PhDDirector of the Partnerships and South-South Cooperation Division at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

World Bank Land and Poverty Conference 2018

Structure

1. Objective

2. Current data and research

3. An analytical Framework linking land tenure security and migration

4. The Voluntary Guidelines

5. Conclusions

⬆️ Tenure Security = ⬇️ Migration

• VGGT contribute to create a culture of good governance where tenure rights are respected and migration can be an effective choice rather than a necessity

Hypothesis

Growing number of migrants in the world

From 2000 to 2017

• Up from 173 to 258 million

• Rate has surpassed that of populationgrowth

• Increase in the share of migrants in theworld population from 2.8% to 3.4%

• About half are women

In 2050

• Expected to exceed 400 million0 100 200 300 400 500

2000

2017

2050

Chart 1: International Migrants (Millions)

Source: UNDESA Population Division (2017): Trends in International Migrant Stock

Differentiating migration flows

Source: IOM Global Migration Trends Factsheet (2015)

International and Internal Migration

258

763

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Total International Migrants (2017) Total Internal Migrants (2013)

There are over a billion migrants across the globe

Forced Migration in the World

Over 84 million persons were forcibly

displaced in 2015

Assylum Seekers:

3.2 million

Internally Displaced

People - IDPs : 40.8 millionRefugees:

21.3 million

Displaced by natural disasters:

19.2 million

Source: IOM Global Migration Trends Factsheet (2015)

Source: UNDESA Population Division (2017): Trends in International Migrant Stock

Percentage distribution of international migrants by region of destination, for regions of origin, 2000 and 2017

Most migrants stay within their region of origin

Migration occurs primarily between countries that are located within the

same region of origin with the

exception of the Americas

Source: UNDESA Population Division (2017): Trends in International Migrant Stock

High-income countries host most international migrantsInternational migrants by country income group, 2000 and 2017

High-income64%

Middle-income

32%

Low-income4%

2017

81 m

165 m

11 m

High-income

58%

Middle-income

37%

Low-income5%

2000

Remittances are larger than ODA

Source: World Bank (2017): Migration and Development Brief 28

Remittance Flows to Developing Countries 1990–2019

Acronyms: FDI = Foreign Direct Investment; ODA = Official Development Assistance.

• Remittances are estimated

to reach $596 billion

worldwide with $450 billion

going to low and middle

income countries

• Flows are significantly bigger

than ODA and are more

stable than private capital

flows

Causes of rural-out migration

• Dramatic land degradation and

desertification affect around one third of the

land used for agriculture and 1.2 billion

people worldwide

• 73% of global population without access to

social protection live in rural areas

• Migration due to natural-hazard and climate

related disasters is estimated at 26.4 million

persons per year (2008- 2015)

Food insecurity &

low agricultural productivity

Rural-urban inequalities in the provision of services & opportunities

Lack of access to income

generating opportunities

Climate change and

weather related

disasters

Lack of access to services,

technology, inputs and

markets

Lack of Social Protection

Bad Governance & Conflict

Depletion of natural

resources due to

environmental degradation

Migration studies

• Individual’s utility function

•Household influence

•Community/contextual variables

Little on Governance issues

Governance fundamental to both migration and land tenure

• Poor governance underlies many of the factors that directly affect migration: from the socio-economic to those relating to conflict and unrest

• Need to focus on the role of governance variables as relevant factors in the migration process

• These factors are also essential to ensure secure land tenure rights for rural populations

Governance factors shaping

the decision to migrate

Strength of institutions

Adequacy of policy

Ability to participate and influence policy processes

Transparency and accountability of

government

What is Good Governance?

• Participation and voice: all women and men should have a voice in the decisions that will affect their lives• directly or indirectly through intermediate institutions that represent

their intention

• Transparency: all relevant information is open, available and accessible to all

• Accountability: all decision makers are accountable

• Rule of law: legal frameworks should be fair and enforced regardless of power, influence or wealth

Factors for successful implementation of VGGT

• Political will from the Government at all levels and sectors: involving sectors as important as involving different actors

• Institutional framework with clear mandates, roles and responsibilities to ensure effective follow-up and implementation of the recommendations made by the multi-stakeholder platform

• An inclusive and consensus-building steering committee• Multi-stakeholder platform that guarantees voice to all relevant

stakeholders at central as well as decentralized levels• Development of the capacities of all actors to participate effectively

in the platform and to perform their roles and responsibilities • Strong accountability mechanisms for all actors engaged in the

process, including the United Nations

Land tenure security and Migration

• Highly contextual

• Complex set of variables affecting decision to migrate• Hierarchy of factors

• Thresholds

• Inconclusive evidence in the literature

Analytical FrameworkLAND TENURE INTERMEDIATE VARIABLES MIGRATION

CONFLICT

NATURAL DISASTER

UNREST

PRODUCTIVITY• Credit• Services• Inputs• Soil quality

FORCED

VOLUNTARY

INSTITUTIONS / POLICIES / PARTICIPATION / TRANSPARENCY / ACCOUNTABILITY

INTERNALLY DISPLACED

ASSYLUM SEEKERS

REFUGEES

INTERNATIONALINTERNAL

RURAL-RURALRURAL-URBAN

POPULATION PRESSURESOCIAL SECURITY

EDUCATION

FOOD SECURITY

INV

ESTM

ENT

TENURE RIGHTS

G

O

V

E

R

N

A

N

C

E

Investment is a key mediating factor

⬆️ Security of Tenure ⬆️ Investment ⬆️ Food security ⬇️ Migration

⬆️ Agricultural Productivity / ⬆️ Soil quality

Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forestry in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT)

• 3 years consultation/negotiation member countries, civil society organizations and private sector

• Legitimacy of a multi-stakeholder process

• Over 60 countries-- some improved land policy/ laws

• Foundations of a culture of respect, shared power, rights and responsibilities

• VGGT implementation contributes to create a culture of good governance where tenure rights are respected and migration can be an effective choice rather than a necessity

VGGT Principles

GENERAL

1. Recognition and respect of all legitimate tenure right holders

2. Safeguard legitimate tenure rights against threats and infringements

3. Promote and facilitate enjoyment of legitimate tenure rights

4. Provide access to justice to address the infringement of these rights

5. Prevent tenure disputes, violent conflicts and corruption

IMPLEMENTATION

1. Human dignity

2. Non-discrimination

3. Equity and justice

4. Gender equality

5. Holistic and sustainable approach

6. Consultation and participation

7. Rule of law

8. Transparency

9. Accountability

10. Continuous improvement

Conclusions1. Evidence partially supports the assumption that

increased tenure security would reduce migration

2. Highly contextual relationship

3. Significant intermediate variables such as investment, agricultural productivity, land degradation, demographic pressure

4. Factors: tenure system, tenure rights, rights holders

5. Good governance is crucial. It improves both security of tenure and the possibility of making migration a choice rather than a need

6. VGGT implementation promotes a culture of good governance