17 February 2023 — The Land Portal Foundation has been selected by the European Union (EU) for a €1.6 million grant, a decision that underscores the organization’s vital role in the land governance sector. The funds will accelerate the Land Portal’s work to bring the land governance and open data communities together, fueled by its foundational belief that access to information is crucial for achieving good land governance.
Specifically, the Land Portal will use this core funding to: Enhance its unique repository of open-access land data; increase investment in research and knowledge creation; expand its global open data advocacy; and encourage cross-sector collaborations between the land governance and other communities through its popular and innovative forums.
“The Land Portal has become one of the main online sources of information on land governance, from the global to the country level,” said Etienne Coyette, Policy Officer at the Directorate General of International Partnerships (INTPA) at the European Commission. He lauded the group for offering well-organized, easily accessible, and regularly updated land information that he and his team regularly share with EU colleagues and partners around the world.
“In addition, the Land Portal is an open and transparent space for exchanging and disseminating knowledge and brings an essential contribution to an open and transparent debate on global land governance,” Coyette said.
The new funding from the EU represents a major milestone for the Land Portal’s growth. Starting as a simple information gateway, the Land Portal has evolved to become not only an open data resource base, but a vibrant community of users and a trusted voice within global land governance.
“This is a significant investment in the Land Portal, and we are grateful that the EU recognizes the work we have achieved and understands where we want to go. This funding will help us become the top data and information provider on land governance issues,” said Laura Meggiolaro, Team Leader of the Land Portal.
The Land Portal looks forward to implementing this grant alongside partner organizations in the EU’s new support program for global land governance: Land Matrix, Prindex, and the International Land Coalition.
ABOUT
The Land Portal Foundation creates, curates, and disseminates open-access land governance information by fostering an inclusive and accessible data landscape. All of our efforts are in support of our mission to INFORM people, OPEN critical data and information, and DEBATE perspectives on land. We believe that access to information is crucial for achieving good land governance and securing land rights for landless and vulnerable people. Contact: Lilian Lee, lilian.lee@landportal.info