Deadline – 15 February 2014: Call for Self-Nominations – Coordinating partners of the Land Matrix for 1) Latin America; 2) Asia and Eastern Europe; and 3) Central Asia

Download: Land Matrix Call for Self-Nominations

Deadline: 15 February 2014

The   Land Matrix partnership is issuing a call for submission for  self-nominations   for organisations wishing to join the Land Matrix  partnership and be part of   a global and independent land monitoring  initiative that promotes   transparency and accountability in decisions  over land and investment.  The initiative supports a Global    Observatory (www.landmatrix.org)   as well as a number of country and thematic observatories.

The  initiative is currently coordinated by CIRAD, CDE, GIGA, GIZ and ILC.  It is   implemented through a network of in-country partners and data  coordinators.   Through this call, three new partners will be  considered, who will   respectively coordinate the data collection and  facilitate regional networks,   research and communication activities  for Latin America, Asia and Eastern Europe & Central Asia.

The  three new partners will be responsible for collecting and managing  data for   countries in their region, including regular updates and  quality control. For details of data collection procedures see www.landmatrix.org/about.    A major aspect of this task will be facilitating a network of  organisations   and individuals in the region with an interest in  providing data and using   the dataset to inform their work.

Land    Matrix partners are responsible for meeting their own financial  obligations   for their activities within the partnership. While joint  fundraising is   possible, Land Matrix partners will be expected  to be  prepared to carry a large proportion   of expenses themselves. Limited  seed funding of up to USD15,000 for each region may be available on an as-needed basis.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURE

Please   submit a brief 3-5 page concept note addressing  how  your organization meets the   requirements  below and how it plans  to   coordinate around the following areas: data-collection,  network-building,   research and communication.

The   concept note should also include a full budget for at least one year,   indicating the portion of the budget that will  be borne by the host   organisation and that for which funding support  is requested, as well as the   strategies that will be used to ensure  the financial sustainability of the   initiative beyond the first year.

Proposals   are to be submitted by 15 February 2014 to s.forno@landcoalition.info.    Applications will be assessed through a participatory process  involving Land Matrix founding partners and ILC regional coordinators.  Selected institutions will be notified by 12 March 2014. We expect the prospective partner to   have identified a Regional Data Coordinator and set-up a Regional Data Unit by 10 April 2014.

The Regional Data Coordinator will be trained in using the Land Matrix  database   at a training workshop to be organised in April 2014 (travel  expenses will be  covered by the Land Matrix partnership).

Requirements

1. The  organisation must  have expertise in issues related to land,  agriculture or rural development in   the region – ideally in  large-scale land acquisitions (LSLAs).
2. The organization must   be well integrated into networks working on land-related issues in the    region, and enjoy a good regional reputation.
3. The organization  must   have a diverse network of partners in the region, including local    communities, civil society, governments, scientific community,  development   cooperation, journalists etc.
4. The organization  must   be able to disseminate and promote their work in the Land Matrix  in different   forums and platforms (nationally and regionally).
5. The  organization must   be willing to provide dedicated staff to the  initiative, ideally a full-time   Regional Data Coordinator and required  assistants (Regional Data Unit). The   Regional Data Coordinator is  required to participate in the above mentioned   training workshop.
6. The  Regional Data Unit   should have technical experience in collection and  management of standard and   ideally geographical data, both direct  (methodologies, surveys, plotting) and   computer-assisted (intermediate  to advanced knowledge of concepts such as   working with datasheets,  polygon-mapping, GIS, relational databases, online   editing tools).
7. The  organization must   be able to assist the Regional Data Coordinator in  the identification of   potential regional/national sources of data for  LSLAs from CSOs, government,   international organizations and other  information holders.
8. Key staff members of   the organization must have a good command over English. Other regional   languages are a plus.
9. The organisation must   agree with the Principles by which the Land Matrix Partnership operates (see   below).
10. The  organisation must be willing to ensure close coordination with the  other   coordinating partners of the land matrix, and participate in an  annual   partners meeting.

What is the Land Matrix?

The    Land Matrix is a global and independent land monitoring initiative  that   promotes transparency and accountability in decisions over land  and   investment.  The Global Observatory www.landmatrix.org provides an overview of land acquisitions at global level. It offers  clear   and communicative data visualizations. Users can access data  through multiple   entry points www.landmatrix.org/get-the-detail/   (by target country, by target region, by   crop, by intention of  investment, by investor, by investor country, by   investor region, by  data source type). The Land Matrix monitors deals that   are made for  agricultural production, timber extraction, carbon trading,   industry,  renewable energy production, conservation, and tourism in low- and    middle-income countries. 

PRINCIPLES

The Land Matrix initiative is led and inspired by the following principles:

Decentralized : In  order to provide an unbiased, updated and representative observatory    of land deals, the Land Matrix relies on a decentralised data collection    strategy. This is achieved through the creation of regional and  national   networks of information providers, as well as through  crowdsourcing.

Independent:   The  Land Matrix is a public tool independent from any single interest    group other than a common belief by its partners in the importance of  open   data and the need for inclusive and evidence-based  decision-making over land   resources.

Open:   The  Land Matrix data and visualisations are available for anyone to use,    for any purpose, at no cost. It aims at providing a comprehensive  package for   independent multiplications of the model, and will  incorporate innovations by   its open source community.

Relevant:   The  Land Matrix will be as strong as its relevance for users, and as    strong as its actively involved collaborators and co-creators. The Land    Matrix is conceived as a service provider, offering support on demand  on:   data collection and research; decentralized crowd-sourcing  strategies;   strategic use of data for policy influence.

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SNIS research workshop “Large-scale land acquisitions in South East Asia: Rural transformations between global agendas and peoples’ right to food”, Rome, 8-11 October

October 2013

The ILC Secretariat participated in a research workshop organised by the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, and the Centre for
Development and Environment (CDE), of the University of Bern, in the wider framework of the Swiss Network for International Studies (SNIS). Participants discussed preliminary findings and policy recommendations coming from a
three-year research project addressing the impact of large-scale land acquisitions in South-East Asia, especially on the right to food of the most vulnerable sections of the society. Final research papers will be published in 2015.

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