Territorial Approaches for Sustainable Development: White Paper for Policy Formulation and Project Implementation

Overview

In response to the 2018 conference on “Living Territories” convened by CIRAD, a collaborative effort produced the initial White Paper titled “Fostering Territorial Perspective for Development, TP4D.” This seminal document delineated shared principles underpinning territorial approaches, elucidating their role in shaping policy action, fostering people-centric development, and facilitating cohesive governance structures.

Between 2018 and 2022, significant strides were made in advancing territorial governance, marked by many initiatives aimed at evaluating, refining, and expanding the application of territorial approaches. These efforts targeted rectifying power imbalances, bridging disparities between urban and rural regions, fostering sustainable food systems, safeguarding ecosystems and biodiversity, adapting to climate change, and promoting sustainable management of natural resources and livelihoods, with a particular focus on marginalized groups such as women, youth, indigenous communities, and small to medium-sized enterprises.

This revised iteration, tailored for policymakers, donors, and practitioners, provides invaluable insights and recommendations for shaping policy frameworks, designing projects, and enhancing governance mechanisms in pursuit of sustainable territorial development. The White Paper is also supported by BMZ, one of the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development’s Board members.