Advocating for Transparency

In addition to conducting research and facilitating dialogue on transparency in land-based investment, CCSI is working to advocate for transparency in a number of fora. Given the important role played by home states in encouraging greater disclosure of information regarding land-based investment, CCSI has made a number of submissions to home state entities advocating for the introduction or expansion of disclosure requirements for companies.

  • In November 2016, CCSI sent a submission to the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) regarding its draft revised Environmental and Social Policy Statement (ESPS), which urged OPIC to add into the ESPS a requirement that Applicants involved in natural resource or infrastructure projects commit to publicly disclosing any investor-state contracts related to the underlying Project.
  • In July 2016, CCSI sent a submission to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), providing a suggestion on how land tenure risks could be addressed through disclosure requirements for public companies.
  • In July 2015, CCSI sent a submission to UK Prime Minister Cameron on the UK National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, urging the government to include land rights issues, and suggesting that the NAP could be used to consider monitoring, reporting, and transparency measures that would cover outward investments that may encounter land rights risks.
  • In January 2015, CCSI sent a memo to US President Obama to provide input on the U.S. National Action Plan on responsible business conduct, noting that the NAP process should consider actions the government could take to encourage responsible agricultural investments, including through the implementation of monitoring, reporting, or transparency measures.