The Land Matrix is a global and independent land monitoring initiative. Our goal is to facilitate an open development community of citizens, researchers, policy-makers and technology specialists to promote transparency and accountability in decisions over land and investment. Since 2009, the Land Matrix (a joint independent land-monitoring initiative of civil society, intergovernmental organisations and research institutes) has collected key information regarding land grabbing. For example, it shows that at least five per cent of Africa’s total area of arable land has changed owners in the past years.
The largest land acquisitions are concentrated in countries with weak governance structures. In these countries, the proportion of hunger and malnutrition in the population is also very high (Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone).