CFS Policy Convergence Products Database

Ensure that women have equal access to health, education, land, water and other natural resources, including by enacting gender-sensitive legislation.

Member States to involve women in the decision-making process with regards to national and international responses to global challenges to food security and nutrition.

Member States to actively promote women's leadership and to strengthen women's capacity for collective organizing, especially in the rural sector.

States have the primary responsibility for achieving food security and nutrition, fulfilling their obligations under international instruments relevant to the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security; and respecting, protecting and fulfilling the human rights of all individuals. States should set out clearly the expectation that investors domiciled in their territory and/or jurisdiction respect human rights throughout their operations. States should ensure, to the extent possible, that actions related to responsible investment in [...]

Responsible investment in agriculture and food systems should abide by national legislation and public policies, and incorporate inclusive and transparent governance structures, processes, decision-making, and grievance mechanisms, accessible to all, through: i) Respecting the rule and application of law, free of corruption; ii) Sharing of information relevant to the investment, in accordance with applicable law, in an inclusive, equitable, accessible, and transparent manner at all stages of the investment cycle; iii) Engaging with and seeking the support of those who could be directly [...]

Responsible investment in agriculture and food systems conserves, and sustainably manages natural resources, increases resilience, and reduces disaster risks by: i) Preventing, minimising, and remedying, as appropriate, negative impacts on air, land, soil, water, forests, and biodiversity; ii) Supporting and conserving biodiversity and genetic resources, including local genetic resources, and contributing to the restoration of ecosystem functions and services, and in this regard, recognizing the role played by indigenous peoples and local communities; iii) Reducing waste and losses in [...]

Responsible investment in agriculture and food systems respects cultural heritage and traditional knowledge, and supports diversity, including genetic diversity, and innovation by: i) Respecting cultural heritage sites and systems, including traditional knowledge, skills, and practices; and recognizing the role of indigenous peoples and local communities in agriculture and food systems; ii) Recognizing the contributions of farmers, especially smallholders in all regions of the world, articularly those in centres of origin and diversity, in conserving, improving, and making available [...]

Responsible investment in agriculture and food systems promotes safety and health through: i) Promoting the safety, quality, and nutritional value of food and agricultural products; ii) Supporting animal health and welfare, and plant health, to sustainably increase productivity, product quality, and safety; iii) Improving the management of agricultural inputs and outputs, to enhance the efficiency of production and minimize potential threats to the environment and to plant, animal, and human health, including occupational hazards; iv) Managing and reducing risks to public health across [...]

All financing institutions and other funding entities are encouraged to apply the Principles when formulating their policies for loans and grants, in the articulation of country investment portfolios and in co-financing with other partners. They should take appropriate measures so that their support to investors does not lead to violations of human and legitimate tenure rights, and is in line with the Principles. The provision of finance allows these institutions a unique leveraging position where they can communicate with a broad range of stakeholders about their roles, [...]

Inter-governmental and regional organizations have a key role to play in promoting responsible investment in agriculture and food systems. In doing so, they are encouraged to integrate the Principles into their own policies, frameworks with member States, programmes, research, outreach activities, technical assistance, and capacity building. They should take appropriate measures so that their support to investors does not lead to violations of human and legitimate tenure rights. Intergovernmental and regional organizations are encouraged to support the CFS to serve as a platform for [...]

Responsible investment in agriculture and food systems includes mechanisms to assess and address economic, social, environmental, and cultural impacts, considering smallholders, gender, and age, among other factors, and respects human rights and promotes accountability of each actor to all relevant stakeholders, especially the most vulnerable, by: i) Applying mechanisms that provide for independent and transparent assessments of potential impacts involving all relevant stakeholder groups, in particular the most vulnerable; ii) Defining baseline data and indicators for monitoring and to [...]

Responsible investment in agriculture and food systems respects legitimate tenure rights to land, fisheries, and forests, as well as existing and potential water uses, in line with: i) The Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries, and Forests in the Context of National Food Security, in particular, but not limited to, Chapter 12. ii) The Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication.

States and other parties should regularly review and monitor policy, legal and organizational frameworks to maintain their effectiveness. Implementing agencies and judicial authorities should engage with civil society, user representatives and the broader public to improve services and endeavour to prevent corruption through transparent processes and decision-making. Information about changes and their anticipated impacts should be clearly stated and widely publicized in applicable languages.

States should recognize that policies and laws on tenure rights operate in the broader political, legal, social, cultural, religious, economic and environmental contexts. Where the broader contexts change, and where reforms to tenure are therefore required, States should seek to develop national consensus on proposed reforms.

States should ensure that implementing agencies and judicial authorities serve the entire population, delivering services to all, including those in remote locations. Services should be provided promptly and efficiently using locally suitable technology to increase efficiency and accessibility. Internal guidelines should be established so that staff can implement policies and laws in a reliable and consistent manner. Procedures should be simplified without threatening tenure security or quality of justice. Explanatory materials should be widely publicized in applicable languages and [...]

States should define and publicize opportunities for civil society, private sector and academia to contribute to developing and implementing policy, legal and organizational frameworks as appropriate.

States should establish policies and laws to promote the sharing, as appropriate, of spatial and other information on tenure rights for the effective use by the State and implementing agencies, indigenous peoples and other communities, civil society, the private sector, academia and the general public. National standards should be developed for the shared use of information, taking into account regional and international standards.

To the extent that resources permit, States should ensure that implementing agencies and judicial authorities have the human, physical, financial and other forms of capacity to implement policies and laws in a timely, effective and gender-sensitive manner. Staff at all organizational levels should receive continuous training, and be recruited with due regard to ensuring gender and social equality.

States should provide prompt, accessible and non-discriminatory services to protect tenure rights, to promote and facilitate the enjoyment of those rights, and to resolve disputes. States should eliminate unnecessary legal and procedural requirements and strive to overcome barriers related to tenure rights. States should review services of implementing agencies and judicial authorities, and introduce improvements where required.

States and other parties should consider additional measures to support vulnerable or marginalized groups who could not otherwise access administrative and judicial services. These measures should include legal support, such as affordable legal aid, and may also include the provision of services of paralegals or parasurveyors, and mobile services for remote communities and mobile indigenous peoples.