Overview

Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) is a global coalition of more than 200+ rightsholder organizations and their allies dedicated to advancing the land and resource rights of local peoples—informed and driven by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and local communities themselves. Established in 2005, the coalition works to address the historic injustice of government’s failure to recognize and respect the land rights of these groups, who directly manage over 50 percent of the world’s land but only have legal recognition for 11 percent.

Mission and focus areas

RRI’s mission is to support Indigenous Peoples’, Afro-descendant Peoples’, and local communities’ struggles against marginalization and for sustainable, self-determined development. It does so by promoting greater global commitment and action towards policy, market, and legal reforms that secure their rights to own, control, and benefit from natural resources, especially land and forests. The coalition works in four thematic areas: Gender Justice, Rights and Livelihoods, Private Sector Engagement, and Climate and Conservation.

Structure and governance

The RRI Coalition is formed by a group of core Partners who work in areas of their regional and thematic expertise, engaging with over 200+ collaborators, 19 Fellows, and a Board of Directors. The initiative is coordinated by the staff at Rights and Resources Group, a non-profit 501c(3) organization based in Washington, D. C. , United States.

RRI’s Mission

RRI’s mission is to support Indigenous Peoples’, Afro-descendant Peoples’, and local communities’ struggles against marginalization and for sustainable, self-determined development. It does so by promoting greater global commitment and action towards policy, market, and legal reforms that secure their rights to own, control, and benefit from natural resources, especially land and forests.