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Paper short abstract:

The presentation will map out the main issues of concern related to large-scale land acquisition in Africa. Using a few case studies accompanied by analytical maps and illustrative graphics, it will examine the cause and consequence of conflicts related to land investments.

Paper long abstract:

Large-scale land investments is not a new phenomenon in Africa, but the speed and scale to which it is occurring today makes it one of the most pressing issues on the continent. These land investments are promoted by its advocates as "win-win" solutions - benefiting national economies, rural development and ensuring food security at the same time. Critics on the other hand view large-scale land acquisitions as "land grabbing", a process that undermines local land rights and that disproportionately affects the socially and economically vulnerable who bear the bulk of the costs while reaping few of the benefits of the transactions.

This presentation will give an overview of some of the main issues of concern related to large-scale land acquisition and will in particular highlight examples of conflicts between local groups and land investors. The analysis will be based on ongoing work on large-scale land investment currently undertaken by the Norwegian institution GRID-Arendal, and will include a handful of case studies focusing in particular, although not exclusively, on biofuel production in Africa. The presentation aims to shed light to the particular kind of conflict that arise in these land transactions and how they are dealt with, and will be accompanied by unique maps and graphics that visualize the topic in a clear and comprehensive way.

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