Our Story

The prevailing economic system drives unsustainable food production and consumption, while contributing to the alarming loss of natural and cultural diversity as well as climate change. Land governance is frequently marked by high levels of corruption and unchecked land grabbing, which keeps land ownership in the hands of a powerful few. Small-scale farmers, pastoralists, wome and youth are seldom involved in shaping policies, and even when laws and policies promote people-centred land governance, their implementation is often weak or entirely absent.

The climate crisis exacerbates these challenges by triggering extreme weather events and displacement, particularly in vulnerable territories such as those that sustain pastoral systems. Rural areas are experiencing an exodus of young people, leading to the loss of agricultural land and the decline of rural communities. In Europe, this phenomenon is further intensified by the ageing rural population, making it appear irreversible. Instead of addressing the root causes of migration, war, and inequality, states are increasingly focused on building barriers and deploying border-policing forces to restrict the free movement of people.

Women are disproportionately affected by dispossession and marginalisation. They are frequently excluded from public discourse and are particularly vulnerable to the fragmentation of their communities. Certain populations in the region face even greater risks due to their unique identities. For instance, the Amazigh—indigenous peoples of North Africa with collective land traditions that pre-date modern states—are marginalised and face ongoing threats to their land and cultural heritage. Similarly, Palestinians, endure occupation by the Israeli state, threatening them to leave their ancestral lands.

The challenges faced by ILC EMENA members—as well as rural communities across the region—are deeply interconnected. These issues demand urgent attention and coordinated action to address systemic inequalities, protect vulnerable populations, and promote sustainable development rooted in equity and justice.

The ILC Europe Middle East and North Africa region (EMENA) was first established in 2015-2016 by organisations previously part of a wider Global Civil Society Organisation group. While the members covered three continents and spanned diverse geographic, climatic, social, and political regions, the group of seven member-organisations mutually agreed to unite under one ILC regional umbrella with a shared hope to work together and benefit from each other’s experience and expertise.

Following the 2017 membership call, an additional 10 organisations working in the region applied and were successful in joining the ILC EMENA regional platform, bringing the number of member organisations to 17.