Pro-Poor Policy Reforms and Governance in State/Public Lands:

June 2009

This paper attempts to specify the key criteria of a ‘pro-poor land policy’ and ‘truly democratic land governance’ concerning state/public lands, using the lessons from activist databases, including that of the international human rights organization Foodfirst Information and Action Network (FIAN).

Co-coordinator of the CREPE-TNI agrofuels project.

Jennifer Franco, PhD., is an independent researcher. She also serves on the Asia Committee for International Development Programs at the development NGO Development and Peace (Developpement et Paix). Her previous work has focused mainly on rural social movements and democratisation in the Philippines. Her book publications include Elections and Democratisation in the Philippines (Routledge, 2001), with a new book on law and the rural poor in the Philippines forthcoming (Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2010). She has published in important academic journals including the World Development, Journal of Agrarian Change, Journal of Peasant Studies, Journal of Development Studies and Critical Asian Studies.