Netherlands Launches Expanded Phase II of Land-at-Scale Programme, Inviting New Partnerships and Project Proposals

The Hague, Netherlands – The Netherlands has officially launched Phase Two of its Land-at-Scale programme, signalling a renewed commitment to advancing just, inclusive, and sustainable land governance in low- and middle-income countries.

Land-at-Scale in Mozambique supports inclusive land governance by working with government agencies, local communities, and civil society to strengthen land tenure security, improve land administration, and promote sustainable land use planning. (Photo: Mozambique Terra Firma)

Financed by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and managed by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), the programme builds on achievements under Phase One (2019–2026) and seeks broader impact through an expanded list of partner countries and a structured process for generating project ideas and partnerships.

Phase One laid a solid foundation for integrated land governance reform. Over seven years, Land-at-Scale operated in 12 countries with a total budget of €37.5 million, engaging governments, civil society, and local stakeholders to strengthen land tenure security, support inclusive land administration, and promote effective land dispute resolution.

Projects addressed social and economic development priorities – from improving access to land for vulnerable groups to enabling sustainable land use planning and reducing competing claims over natural resources. These efforts highlighted that secure land rights can support food security, foster economic opportunity, reduce conflict, and contribute to climate resilience and gender equity.

As Phase One concludes, participating governments and partners report advances in land governance capacity and practical interventions that demonstrate the value of adaptive, context-specific support.

The programme’s knowledge management component, implemented with organisations such as LANDac and the International Land Coalition, facilitated cross-country learning and informed policy decisions.

Phase Two - Expanded Scope and Inclusive Process

Phase Two (2026–2033) comes with an increased budget of €47.5 million, a broader geographic footprint, and a structured process for generating project proposals that emphasizes local relevance, strategic alignment, and inclusive stakeholder participation.

Dutch embassies in eligible countries are invited to submit initial project ideas in the first quarter of 2026. RVO will assess proposals, select high-potential concepts, and engage stakeholders in consultations during April, May, and June.

These discussions will bring together international and in-country organisations with expertise in land governance to refine ideas and strengthen collaboration. Selected concept notes will lead to a formal call for proposals later in the year, followed by requests for full project submissions.

The Phase Two country list reflects both continuity and expansion. Eligible countries include Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Côte d’Ivoire, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, the Palestinian Territories, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Uganda, Vietnam, and Yemen.

The selection prioritises contexts with persistent land governance challenges and opportunities for scaling effective interventions.

Programme officials emphasised that early embassy engagement is designed to ensure projects reflect national development strategies, incorporate local priorities, and build on existing relationships with civil society, government agencies, and other development actors.

Early ideas focus on initiatives such as strengthening land registration and customary tenure systems, supporting conflict prevention mechanisms, and building capacity for participatory land use planning – with an emphasis on scalable, long-term impact.

Prospective partners – including NGOs, research institutions, community-based organisations, and private sector actors – are encouraged to signal interest ahead of formal calls for proposals via the programme email: landatscale@rvo.nl. Updates will also be shared through RVO’s communication channels.

Expert and Stakeholder Perspectives

Land governance experts have welcomed Phase Two as an opportunity to deepen impact where secure land rights are critical for socio-economic progress.

Phase Two of Land-at-Scale strengthens land governance by prioritising local participation, inclusive processes, and collaboration with governments, civil society, and partners. (Photo: KIT Institute)

“Effective land governance is at the heart of inclusive development and conflict prevention,” said Dr. Jamal Browne, Founder of LPN Global. “The expanded scope of Phase Two recognises the interconnected nature of land issues and the importance of engaging a wide range of partners from inception through implementation.”

Dr. Browne highlighted the importance of local ownership. “When project ideas are rooted in local priorities and developed with broad stakeholder engagement, they have a much greater chance of being meaningful and lasting,” he said.

Civil society actors and land governance specialists have welcomed Phase Two’s emphasis on inclusive processes that amplify local voices, particularly in countries facing acute land governance challenges and citing that too often, land governance initiatives have overlooked the perspectives and priorities of the communities most affected.

According to Dr. Browne – whose work covers both government and civil society programming – “By centering local participation from the earliest stages of project design, Phase Two has the potential to ensure that interventions are not only contextually relevant but also sustainable, empowering communities to shape the policies and practices that directly impact their land and livelihoods.”

Development practitioners also emphasised the strategic role of Dutch embassies in shaping initiatives. Embassies’ understanding of local political economies, development priorities, and stakeholder landscapes enables them to identify project concepts that are both feasible and responsive to national needs.

A Strategic Enabler for Global Development

The launch of Phase Two underscores the continued relevance of land governance within global development agendas. Secure land rights are widely recognised as a cross-cutting enabler for multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including targets on poverty reduction, food security, gender equality, and climate resilience.

By supporting national and sub-national efforts to strengthen land governance systems, the Netherlands aims to contribute to more equitable and sustainable development outcomes.

RVO has provided embassies with guidance on the submission process and technical templates, requiring project ideas to demonstrate alignment with responsible business conduct principles and international standards for inclusive development.

As Phase One closes with a legacy of practical interventions and learning across diverse contexts, Phase Two of the Land-at-Scale programme represents a renewed opportunity for collaboration, innovation, and sustained impact. By combining strategic embassy engagement, expanded geographical reach, and inclusive partner mobilisation, the programme seeks to harness the collective expertise of governments, civil society, and international partners to address land governance challenges at scale.