Tools and Mission Resources

Participatory mapping workshop in Jalalabad, Afghanistan

These tools and Mission resources are intended to help USAID staff as well as other U.S. Government personnel and development practitioners to 1) identify USAID funding mechanisms, services, and tools, and 2) provide information that will help development practitioners, policy makers, and programs to assess, implement, and evaluate efforts to strengthen land and resource rights for all members of society.

Photo Credit: Gary Hunter and Anna Soave / Tetra Tech

Funding/Contract Mechanisms

The Strengthening Tenure and Resource Rights (STARR) IDIQ is a broad support mechanism designed to provide short- and long-term technical assistance available for field Missions and other Offices and Bureaus through August 1, 2020. Learn about STARR, STARR II and other mechanisms »

Technical Assistance

The E3/Land team at USAID provides technical support and thought leadership to USAID Missions and other U.S. Government departments and agencies. Learn more about the services provided »

Geospatial Analytics

E3/Land works with USAID Missions and offices, host country governments, communities and other partners to use geospatial analytics and data throughout the life cycle of land and resource governance projects and evaluations to improve decision making. Learn how »

Land Advisors Program

The USAID Land Advisors Program expands USAID’s cadre of land and resource governance ambassadors from Missions and across sectors by building the capacity of selected USAID staff in land and resource governance (LRG) programming. Learn more here.

Tools and Guides

A suite of tools and guides provides background, guidance, and constraints to consider on a variety of land tenure and property rights related issues. Learn more »

Effective Engagement with Indigenous Peoples: USAID Sustainable Landscapes Sector Guidance Document

This sector guidance document is based on desktop research about SL related issues among Indigenous Peoples, international standards, and USAID program experiences. It is also based on interviews with USAID development professionals. This guidance complements and is informed by the programming guidance within the USAID Policy on Promoting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (PRO-IP) and is one part of USAID’s collection of sector-specific guidance documents on engagement with Indigenous Peoples.

Climate Risk Management Toolkit

Climate risk management (CRM) improves the effectiveness and sustainability of USAID’s agriculture efforts. USAID implements CRM by systematically assessing, addressing, and adaptively managing climate risk in new strategies, projects, and activities. Climate risk management is required for nearly all USAID strategies, projects, and activities. USAID's CRM toolkit provides links to USAID's CRM tool and supporting...Read More

MAST in the Field

MAST has been used with great success in a number of countries, including Burkina Faso, Zambia and Tanzania. Host country governments and communities can utilize MAST to strengthen land tenure and address persistent development issues.

MAST Technology

MAST is a suite of tools and approaches that supports the collection and management of land rights and resource information. It integrates mobile applications and a web-based data management platform with participatory on-the-ground approaches.

MAST Implementation

Engaging with the community is essential for increasing the implementer’s knowledge of local land uses, tenure arrangements, and avenues for participatory processes; for increasing the community’s awareness of land laws, processes, and rights; for forging partnerships for implementation; and for ensuring community buy-in for the MAST project and its proposed processes.

What is MAST?

MAST is a suite of innovative technology tools and inclusive methods that uses mobile devices and a participatory approach to efficiently, transparently, and affordably map and document land and resource rights.

Leveraging Spatial Data and Analysis for Integrated Environment Programming

Geospatial analysis of landscapes can reveal important patterns and relationships between natural systems and human socio-economic systems, providing insight and evidence for more effective program design. Critical steps in environmental program design include analyzing the interlinked characteristics that comprise and shape landscapes, developing a theory of change, and clarifying intended outcomes. As the availability of…Read More

Operational Guidelines for Responsible Land-Based Investment

Download the guide (PDF). The Operational Guidelines for Responsible Land-Based Investment are now available as an e-book for tablets and e-readers. USAID is increasingly partnering with the private sector through efforts such as the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (New Alliance). Some of these initiatives, particularly in the agriculture sector, involve land-based investments…Read More