Fair and Equitable Land Access (FELA) by Development Projects: Enhancing Governance for Sustainable Development Outcomes When Projects Displace People

Abstract

Displacing people to make way for development projects is contentious. Empirical research demonstrates that neither human rights guidelines nor multilateral lenders' standards guarantee positive, sustainable outcomes for displaced people. With multiple new displacing projects proposed globally, including for renewable energy, we propose a new approach designed to strengthen governance: fair and equitable land access (FELA), launched as the Dublin Declaration. We explain the rationale and purpose of the FELA Approach, which comprises 6 principles and 26 recommendations. We show how these principles strengthen governance. Recognising the rights, knowledge and agency of affected peoples and their right to enhanced wellbeing is essential for inclusive decision-making and fair and transparent procedures. The fair distribution of project benefits aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals. High standards of professionalism, sufficient resources, addressing power differences, and ensuring remedy and accountability are also essential principles to guarantee sustainable outcomes for development-displaced people.