NPA has decided to work towards basic economic and social rights for the rural poor and oppressed, with a thematic focus on ”land and resource rights”.

2/3 of the worlds poorest people, approximately 900 million living for under 1 USD a day, live in rural areas. The majority of these are women. The fulfilment of economic rights of the poor is directly and indirectly linked to the development of the agricultural sector.

The last decade of UN conferences have repeatedly emphasised the need to reduce rural poverty and have stated that formalised ownership or use rights, to land and productive resources, is a central to the fulfilment of the millennium goals and economic development in poor countries.

For NPA a rights based approach to land and resources means that we shall focus on peoples capacity to fight for their rights to natural resources on which they depend. Once these rights are secured, peoples livelihood security must be protected and enhanced though sustainable use of these resources. Thus land policy and reforms thereof is seen in the wider context of men and womens right to productive resources, such as water, technology and agricultural inputs, securing the long-term ecological sustainable use thereof.  

  NPA will, where possible and relevant, integrate the fight for resource rights with the de-mining efforts in countries   where we are engaged in de-mining. Mines pose a threat to poor peoples lives and health and effectively blocks their access to and control over land and other resources. The question of who will get access to land cleared of mines is pressing and politically challenging in many post-war countries and will be addressed through a combined thematic focus both on de-mining and land and resource rights.

Thematic objective

The long-term objective for the programme area:
The rural poor have enhanced their   secure and equitable access to land and other productive resources and are practicing economically and ecologically sound resource management.

The immediate development objective for first phase is:
Organisations working within the thematic area have strengthened their capacity to mobilise for enhanced land and resource rights and sustainable agriculture practices for rural oppressed people.