Innovate Approach to Land Conflict Transformation: Lessons learned from the HAGL/ indigenous communities’ mediation process in Ratanakiri, Cambodia

WEBSITE INTRODUCTION: In the Mekong region, conflicts between local communities and large scale land concessions are widespread. They are often difficult to solve. In Cambodia, an innovative approach to conflict resolution was tested in a case involving a private company, Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL), and several indigenous communities who lost some of their customary lands and forests when the company obtained a concession to grow rubber in the Province of Ratanakiri. The approach was developed by CSOs Equitable Cambodia (EC) and Inclusive Development International (IDI) with the support of QDF funding from MRLG. It involved a combination of international pressure on the companies focussing on their financial support and shareholding structure, to request that they respect international standards in terms of land acquisition and support affected communities so that they can substantiate their claims and negotiate properly with the company. This process has led to significant results and the company has committed to return a substantial part of its ELC to communities (13,720 ha). The publication presented here describes the process that led to these results and analyses the lessons learned, including the conditions under which such approach could be replicated elsewhere. This Capitalization Note was produced jointly by MRLG, EC and IDI with the support of Dr. Courtney Work, an independent expert who was contracted to write the study based on available documentation and interviews.

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