IDLO and CIFOR assessed the legal frameworks that govern land-use activities and investments in Zambia. Its economy relies significantly on land and natural resource capital. The Government has identified land-use investments as essential to the development of key economic sectors – energy, forestry, mining and agriculture. Land-use investments are increasing, led by foreign and domestic private investors. The Constitution recognizes the importance of balancing the need to attract investments to develop the country with the environmental and social sustainability.

This report examines policy, institutional and legal frameworks and identifies four key challenges to the attainment of sustainable land-use investments : (i)  few incentives that support sustainable land-use investments ; (ii) customary land tenure remains insecure, with limited processes enshrined in the legal framework to uphold social safeguards (iii) low institutional capacity to enforce the social and environmental safeguards that are established in law ; (iv) access to information on investments is limited, which reduces the potential for public scrutiny and participation

Read the publication here.