From Promises to Parcels: Financing Land Governance for Development Goals

Sevilla, Spain — As delegates prepare to gather in Spain for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD), one question lingers beneath the headline commitments: Who’s financing the future of land governance?

The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD) will take place from June 30 to 3 July 2025 in Sevilla, Spain, and will draw participation from Heads of State and Government, relevant ministers – ministers for finance, foreign affairs, and development cooperation – and other special representatives.

While land is central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals — from food security to gender equality and climate resilience — it remains dramatically underfunded. Less than 1% of official development assistance goes to land governance, despite its foundational role in everything from property markets to peace-building.

The Financing Gap

According to the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN), over 70% of the world’s population lacks access to formal land administration systems. In sub-Saharan Africa, only 10% of rural land is formally documented, despite decades of reform rhetoric.

The reason? A chronic lack of investment. National governments often under-prioritize land administration in public budgets, while donors shy away from its complex, politically sensitive terrain.

Why Land Governance Matters

Secure land tenure underpins everything from smallholder investment to urban housing, yet it is rarely featured in high-level financing dialogues. Development experts argue that this oversight is costing countries billions in lost tax revenue, stalled infrastructure, and unresolved conflicts.

“We can’t build climate resilience or digital property markets without a solid land foundation,” says Fatima Mahamat, a policy adviser at the African Land Policy Centre. “And foundations need financing.”

From Pilot Projects to Scalable Systems

Several FfD participants are calling for a shift from fragmented pilot projects to scalable, integrated land systems. In Rwanda, digital land registries have increased tax collection, reduced disputes, and improved access to credit. But such models remain rare.New financing models — including land value capture, results-based aid, and climate-linked funding — are gaining traction but need international coordination.

Connecting Land with Other Agendas

This year’s FfD agenda includes sessions on climate finance, women’s economic empowerment, and sustainable infrastructure — all areas where land rights play a hidden but critical role. Yet land rarely appears in the budgets attached to these programs.

“We need to stop treating land as a background issue,” says Maria Lopez, Director of Sustainable Cities at UN-Habitat. “It should be embedded into every financial commitment we make.”

What to Watch at FfD

Key proposals for this year’s conference include:

• A dedicated global fund for land governance

• Blended finance approaches linking land tenure to climate adaptation

• Stronger reporting metrics for land in SDG-aligned investmentsIf adopted, these could turn land into a mainstream development priority — not just a technical concern or rural formality.

The Bottom Line

Without financing, promises of equitable land reform and sustainable land systems will remain just that — promises. The FfD Forum offers a rare opportunity to move from words to deeds, and from political pledges to parcel-level progress.