Examining Community Participation and Free, Prior and Informed Consent Norms in Large-Scale Agricultural Land Acquisition: Evidence from Gambella, Benishangul-Gumuz and Amhara Regions, Ethiopia

Over recent decades, large-scale agricultural land acquisitions have increased across sub-Saharan African, including Ethiopia. Given its significant implication on local land rights and livelihoods, it is essential to engage local communities and secure their free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC). Using FPIC norms as the benchmark, the study assesses community participation in the process of land identification, public display of available land and environmental impact assessment. This study examines whether the legal and policy grounds intended to enable community participation, including the FDRE Constitution, expropriation and environmental impact assessment (EIA) proclamations, and responsible agricultural investment guidelines, are applied in practice. It draws on 60 questionnaires, three focus group discussions (FGDs), and twelve key informant interviews (KIIs) in Gambella, Benishangul-Gumuz, and Amhara. Only 5 of 60 respondents (8.3 per cent) reported consultation on land identification, and none reported participation in public display or participation in EIA activities This study reveals that limited attention has been paid to securing the free, prior, and informed consent of local communities in Ethiopia’s agricultural land acquisition process. Although national and international frameworks exist and demand for community participation,, they have not been effectively integrated into practice. The study concludes that aligning land acquisition processes with responsible land governance and meaningful community engagement is essential for inclusive decision-making in large-scale agricultural investments. It recommends establishing a binding national FPIC and consultation framework, mandatory public display of land availability maps and public EIA hearings before land transfer, and grievance and monitoring mechanisms linked to investors’ contractual obligations.