About the research group
This project explores the various roles civil society organizations (CSOs) undertake when advocating for fair and inclusive land deals in Kenya. Advocacy activities by CSOs may take place on the local, national or transnational level, and may be directed towards government agencies, donors, investment banks, or private actors. CSOs might navigate differently between confrontational and cooperative strategies vis-a-vis government and private actors. While some CSOs prefer to specialize in one role, perhaps within a broader CSO coalition, others may choose to combine roles. The aim of this study is to explore how Kenyan CSOs working on land rights balance such activities, and how the decisions they make play out in terms of their local embeddedness, autonomy, and legitimacy, as perceived by various stakeholders.