A review of the Enabling Environment for Transformative Land Investment in Ethiopia, Ghana and Mozambique

Context and background: Sub-Saharan African development strategies emphasize optimizing agricultural and forestry resources through foreign and domestic investments in large-scale farms and plantations. While these land-based initiatives are believed to enhance economic development, concerns arise regarding their impact on marginalized groups and the environment. Goal and Objectives: This study reviews the legal and policy frameworks to analyze the enabling environment for sustainable and inclusive land-based investment in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Mozambique. Methodology: We reviewed legal frameworks and incentives for inclusive and green investment. Then, we analyzed peer-reviewed studies on land-based agricultural investments and impacts. Our findings were presented at national Multi-Stakeholders Platform workshops for validation Results: Legal and policy frameworks concerning land, resources, and property rights, alongside incentive mechanisms to attract investors, reveal contradictions between investment promotion and Constitutional recognition of land as communal property. Customary laws positively influence land and resource management but may restrict women's land rights with varying regional applications. Inconsistent implementation of investment incentives, particularly in the inefficient and non-transparent land acquisition process, was noted. Transformative land investment requires legitimate tenure systems, robust land use plans, inclusivity promotion, improved government coordination, environmental awareness, and fiscal incentives for green and inclusive investment.