Smallholder engagement
In November 2015, the Sabah state in Malaysia
announced its intention to achieve 100 percent RSPO
certification across the entire state by 2025. AAK
financially supports Forever Sabah which works with the
smallholders to realize the government’s ambitions.
In 2018, the baseline study of 20 villages in four pilot
districts has been conducted. Land tenure has been
identified as one of the key gaps in achieving RSPO
certification. Without land tenure smallholders have no
access to running water because they need to prove
legal ownership. Land tenure smallholders is also
needed to get a loan from the bank in order to invest in
the smallholdings.
To drive progress and on-the-ground transformation
land tenure is an essential need. Together with Forever
Sabah, AAK is supporting these smallholders to achieve
legal ownership; one of the key focus areas for 2019.
In 2018, AAK has initiated another
smallholder project, in collaboration
with the NGO Solidaridad, in Mexico.
33