# Data editor guidelines -specific- **Specific part: Guidelines for Data Entry** # Data sources **Introduction - adding and citing data sources:** When adding or editing deals, it is essential to indicate the corresponding data sources. This ensures that all information can be traced, verified, and updated when necessary. Most importantly, the Land Matrix data can only be legitimately substantiated through proper and reliable data sources. Once a data source has been added to a deal, it can — and, since 1 May 2025, must — be linked to specific pieces of information (variables/attributes) using the new Data Source Citation System. Using this tool, a single data source can be linked to multiple attributes, and conversely, each attribute can be linked to multiple data sources. The linking between attributes and data sources can either be done individually or collectively when saving the deal. Ideally, the data of a deal should be supported by multiple data sources of different types. However, if numerous similar sources report the same information (e.g., media articles), it is not necessary to include all of them. In cases where contradictory information is provided by sources of comparable credibility, these discrepancies must be transparently documented in the comment fields of the respective attributes, and all conflicting sources must be appropriately cited by using the Data Source Citation System. **Important notes and instructions:** 1. Data sources are central to the legitimacy and credibility of Land Matrix data. Please treat them with the highest priority and care. 2. The upload of data source files is mandatory for all data source types. 3. Since 1 May 2025, the citation of data sources via the citation system has been mandatory for all newly added information. 4. A deal cannot be activated (i.e. made publicly accessible) unless at least one data source has been entered. Ideally, the data of a deal should be supported by multiple data sources of different types. 5. Certain aspects of the data sources are monitored through data quality indicators (see data statistics section). 6. If a contract document originating from [OpenLandContracts.org](https://www.openlandcontracts.org) is uploaded as a data source file, it must not be made publicly accessible (i.e. “keep the PDF not public” has to be checked). Instead, the corresponding Open Contracting ID (OCID) must be entered in the designated field of the data editor. **Type** The data source type is a categorical classification of the recorded data source based on publication type and origin. **Selectable data source types:** - **Media Report:** Articles and contributions published on websites, blogs, newspapers, magazines etc., that do not meet scientific standards. - **Research Paper / Policy Report: **Contributions from researchers, as well as detailed reports by NGOs, agricultural associations, international organizations, etc. - **Government sources: **Any information originating from governments, government agencies or government representatives. - **Company sources: **Any information from companies or corporate representatives. - **Contract: **Legal documents such as licensing agreements, concessions, leaseholds, purchase agreements, or related official documents (e.g., social or environmental assessments). - **Contract (contract farming agreement): **Legal documents that specify contract farming arrangements, including any official accompanying documentation. - **Personal information: **Information obtained directly from an individual informant. Name, organisation, email and phone should be entered in the respective fields, if available. - **Crowdsourcing: **Information submitted by the general public or users of the platform. - **Other:** Information from any other source not listed above. If you select this option, please specify the data source type in the comment field. **URL** URL of an online available data source. If the data source is a downloadable file, this URL links to the download page of the file, not directly to the file itself. Since URLs can expire, change, or become unavailable over time, the content of online sources is preserved by saving a copy of the URL’s webpage or of the donwloadable file (see <File>). **File ** A copy of the data source stored as a file within the database. Please always upload a copy of your data source as a file. Carefully check the file quality and ensure that the upload completed successfully. The Land Matrix ensures long-term accessibility and verification by saving a copy of the data sources in its database. Either a copy of the original data source document/file is stored, or a screenshot of the referenced web page is saved as an image or a PDF. Supported file types are: .pdf, .xls, .xlsx, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .mp4, .mkv. Spatial data source files are stored as GeoJSON under ‘Locations‘, but a map screenshot is saved here for reference. If a data source file exceeds the maximum file size of 20 MB, it can be compressed. For PDF files, a free compression tool is available from Adobe: [Adobe PDF Compressor](https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/online/compress-pdf.html). If you do not want the PDF to be publicly visible, you can check the “keep the PDF not public” box. Please note: As per the Land Matrix agreement with Open Land Contracts ([https://openlandcontracts.org/](https://openlandcontracts.org/)), you may add the PDF of a contract from this source as a data source file, however, “Keep PDF not public” must then be selected. By entering the Open Contracting ID (OCID) into the respective field, a link to the contract on OpenLandContracts.org is automatically generated, directing users to the corresponding webpage. **Publication title** Title of the data source: The official or descriptive title of the source, such as the title of a research paper, policy report, annual report, media article, contract, webpage, or map. **Date** Publication date, month or year of the data source. If not available, date, month or year the data source was accessed. Please add details to the comment field. (To prepare for the redesign of the ‘Data source’ section, please always enter the access date in the comment field (access date: YYYY-MM-DD). **Name** Informant name (Only applicable for data sources of type ‘personal information’). **Organisation** Informant organisation: The name of the institution, company, or group with which the informant is affiliated. (Only applicable for data sources of type ‘personal information’). **Email** Informant email address (Only applicable for data sources of type ‘personal information’). **Phone** Informant phone number (Only applicable for data sources of type ‘personal information’). **Includes in-country-verified information** Please check this box if the data source is directly based on on-the-ground verification through fieldwork or similar efforts. **Open Contracting ID **(for data source type Contract)** **An Open Contracting ID (ocid) is a globally unique identifier for a contracting process that facilitates the integration and traceability of contracts across systems. Here it is used to link the data source in the Land Matrix database to the corresponding contract document on OpenLandContracts.org. Once the OCID has been entered, a link to the corresponding contract documents on OpenLandContracts.org will be generated automatically. **Comment on data source **Any additional information on the data source. In particular details regarding the publication date. ** ** # Locations When adding a new deal to the database, the **target country** must be selected first. This step is a mandatory prerequisite — no other deal-related data can be entered until the target country, i.e. the country where the land targeted by the deal is located, has been specified. Selecting the target country activates the remaining input tabs and fields required to proceed with the data entry for the newly added deal. The first data entry tab from the top is the **Locations tab** — it contains all the fields required for entering data on the spatial location of the deal. **Important notes** 1. A deal may have multiple locations, either because the land area of the deal consists of unconnected sub-areas (and a multi-polygon is not available or cannot be created) or because the deal is entered as a ‘subsumed deal‘ (see “Subsumed deals”). 2. The spatial accuracy level indicates the precision of the provided latitude and longitude coordinates. For correct interpretation, this variable and its values must be considered together with the coordinates. Only at the ‘spatial accuracy levels’ ‘exact location’ and ‘coordinates’ it can be assumed that the coordinates precisely refer to the actual location(s) of the deal. For the other three ‘spatial accuracy levels’, the coordinates generally only point to the centre of the area of the administrative unit named as the location (if selected in the Location search field). 3. Geodetic reference system: WGS84 (EPSG:4326), decimal degrees. 4. The GeoJSON geometry type must be ‘MultiPolygon‘ regardless of whether it represents a single polygon or multiple polygons, that may or may not be connected, such as separate land parcels / fragmented areas. **Spatial accuracy level** A classification of the accuracy of the available spatial location information for each deal location, ranging from broad to highly precise. - **Country**: Country level information (typical spatial accuracy upwards of 100 km) - **Administrative region:** Sub-national regional level i.e. regions, provinces, districts, and big cities (typical spatial accuracy of 10 km - 100 km) - **Approximate location: **Sub-regional/sub-city level i.e. villages, quarters (typical spatial accuracy of 1 km - 10 km) - **Exact location:** Exact addresses, farm names, etc. (typical spatial accuracy of < 1 km) - **Coordinates**: Exact coordinates of the location (typical spatial accuracy of less than 100 m). **Location** Name of the deal location. Use this search field to select the correct location name from the auto-suggest list in the dropdown menu. The location pointer and corresponding coordinates will then be set automatically. If the automatic suggestion list does not contain a suitable match, a location name of your choice can be entered manually. In this case, the location pointer and corresponding coordinates will not be set automatically, and you need to conduct an online search for its coordinates or an alternative location name. The following online tools may be useful: [https://www.geonames.org/](https://www.geonames.org/) [https://gadm.org/](https://gadm.org/) [https://data.apps.fao.org/?lang=en](https://data.apps.fao.org/?lang=en) [https://chatgpt.com](https://chatgpt.com) If you are still unable to provide the coordinates, enter the name of the next broader spatial accuracy level for that location and adapt the accuracy level itself. However, be sure to include more specific details in the description or comment field. **Point** **(longitude, latitude)** Coordinates of the deal location in simple decimal standard format. **Important:** The spatial accuracy level indicates the precision of the coordinates. For correct interpretation, both variables and their values must be considered jointly. The coordinates can be entered manually in two ways: either by typing them in or by using the map pointer. **Description** A description of the location and the facilities, e.g. nearby landmarks, landscape features, physical boundaries, building types, or any other remarks that help with localisation. F**acility name**** **The name of the facility (e.g., farm name, project name, mine name, dam name). **Comment** Any further comment on the deal location. **Production area / Contract area / Intended area:** Date (YYYY-MM-DD) Current (tick-option, mandatory for one box) Type (Production area, Contract area, Intended area) Source (free text) If you have georeferenced polygons for the **“Contract area”**, the **“Intended area”**, and/or the **“Production area”**, you can upload them as **GeoJSON files**. Please provide, for **each geometry**, the **data source** as well as the **date of the underlying satellite image**. You can also upload **multiple GeoJSON files** per area type to represent **different points in time in the past.** # General info ### Land area This section records the **area size of the deal/project**. Please enter all area figures in **hectares (ha)** and, where possible, link values to a **year or exact date** and provide the **data source**. Land Matrix distinguishes three area variables: #### 1) Intended size (ha) **Definition:** Total area the investor **intends** to acquire, lease, or otherwise obtain land-use, control, or ownership rights for **under this specific deal**. **How to record** - Enter the **overall intended size** for this deal (in ha). - If the investor already controls part of the area and plans to expand, include the **already acquired** area in the total. *Example:* 1,000 ha already held + plan to acquire another 1,000 ha → **Intended size = 2,000 ha**. **Scope rule (avoid overcounting)** - Record only intentions clearly linked to **this specific deal and location**. - Do **not** enter general expansion plans referring to the investor’s **total land portfolio** in a country without deal-specific geographic information. *Example:* “The company plans to expand to 10,000 ha in the country” (no location, not deal-specific) → **do not record** as intended size for this deal. - Do **not** include intended expansions that likely refer to **other projects** not listed in Land Matrix. **Notes** - Use the comment field to explain uncertainty, assumptions, or conflicting figures. #### 2) Size under contract (leased or purchased area) (ha) **Definition:** Area that is **contractually secured** under this deal (i.e., land for which the investor has formally acquired land-use, control, or ownership rights through a contract such as a lease or purchase agreement). **Year-/date-based entries** This variable can contain **multiple entries** to track changes over time (increases or decreases). Each entry includes: - **Date (year or exact date):** when the specified area size was valid / under contract - **Area (ha):** contracted area size at that time - **Current (checkbox):** **mandatory** (single choice) to mark the **most recent** value **Data entry rules** - Add entries in **chronological order** (top to bottom). The row order corresponds to the export order. - Use the **“+ / –”** controls to add/remove rows. **Notes** - Record each distinct contracted area size as a separate entry. - If sizes differ across sources or over time, explain the reasons in **Comment on land area** (e.g., phased contracting, partial cancellations, boundary revisions). #### 3) Size in operation (production) (ha) **Definition:** Area **actually in use** for operations/production (e.g., planted, cultivated, harvested, mined), i.e., the portion of land under the deal that is actively used. **Year-/date-based entries** As with size under contract, you can record **multiple entries** over time. Each entry includes: - **Date (year or exact date):** when the operational use occurred / was observed - **Area (ha):** area in operation at that time - **Current (checkbox):** **mandatory** (single choice) to mark the **most recent** value *Example:* If 2,500 ha were planted in 2016 → enter **Area (ha) = 2,500** with **Date = 2016**. **Data entry rules** - Add entries in **chronological order** (top to bottom). - Use the **“+ / –”** controls to add/remove rows. **Notes** - Record increases/decreases as separate entries. - Clarify fluctuations and differing figures in **Comment on land area** if needed (e.g., partial cultivation, fallow periods, shifts between crops). --- ### Intention of investment **(Year-/date-based variable)** Use this variable to record the investor’s **business intention** associated with the land acquisition (i.e., the **intended land use / intended product categories** of the deal). Changes over time can be documented by adding multiple entries. #### How to enter data Each entry consists of: - **Choices (multi-select):** select one or more intentions that apply for the given point in time - **Area (ha) (optional):** decimal number in hectares linked to the selected intention(s) - **Date (optional):** ISO 8601 format (**YYYY-MM-DD**, **YYYY-MM**, or **YYYY**) - **Current (mandatory):** tick **one** entry as the most recent (latest) entry - Use **“+ / –”** to add or remove complete entries #### Guidance - **Multiple intentions may apply** at the same time. Select **all relevant** categories. *Example:* Sugar cane can be used for **food crops**, **biofuels**, and **energy generation** → select all applicable categories. - If you enter an **Area (ha)**, use it to assign the area corresponding to the selected intention(s) for that date/year. If unclear, leave Area blank and explain in the comment field (if available). - For detailed lists of crops, livestock, and resources, refer to **Annexes 2, 3, and 4**. #### Value range (Choices) **Agriculture (incl. tree crops)** - Biomass for biofuels - Biomass for energy generation (agriculture) - Fodder - Food crops - Livestock - Non-food agricultural commodities - Agriculture unspecified *Notes:* Use **Agriculture unspecified** if the specific agricultural purpose is unclear. - **Food crops:** edible produce for human consumption - **Non-food agricultural commodities:** non-edible products (e.g., rubber, cosmetics, fertilisers, tobacco) **Forestry** - Biomass for energy generation (forestry) - For carbon sequestration / REDD - Forest logging / management for wood and fibre - Timber plantation for wood and fibre - Forestry unspecified *Notes:* **Timber plantation** refers to long-term forestry concessions with forest management and typically reforestation obligations; it does not refer to one-time ad hoc logging concessions. Timber plantations may involve establishing new plantations or taking over existing forests. Use **Forestry unspecified** if the specific forestry intention is unclear. **Renewable energy power plants** - Solar park - Wind farm - Renewable energy unspecified **Other** - Conservation - Industry - Land speculation - Mining - Oil / Gas extraction - Tourism - Other *Notes:* Select **Other** only if none of the listed categories fit and provide details in the comment field (if available). Use **Renewable energy power plants** (not “Other”) when energy is produced via wind/solar facilities. #### Format - **Area:** decimal, ha (optional per entry) - **Date:** ISO 8601 (YYYY-MM-DD / YYYY-MM / YYYY) (optional per entry) - **Current:** checkbox (mandatory; mark the most recent entry) --- ### Nature of the deal This variable captures the **type of transaction / land-rights arrangement** under which the land is/was acquired for the deal (i.e., how land rights are transferred or granted). #### How to select values Select the option(s) that best describe the agreement(s) governing the deal: - **Outright purchase** (full transfer of ownership) - **Lease** (land-use rights granted for a defined period) - **Concession** (time-bound right to use/operate land or resources; scope and legal meaning may vary by country) - **Exploitation permit / licence / concession (mineral resources)** (right to exploit a specific mineral resource in a defined location; use only for mining deals) - **Pure contract farming** (no land rights transferred; production organised via contracts with farmers) #### Guidance and typical cases - **Mining deals:** select **Exploitation permit/licence/concession (mineral resources)**. - **Forest logging/management:** select **Concession**. - **Most agricultural deals:** typically **Outright purchase** or **Lease**. **Note:** The scope of rights differs between transaction types, and the legal interpretation of **lease** and **concession** may vary by country/region. #### Multiple selections and documentation - If a deal includes **multiple agreements** (e.g., several licences, combined lease + permit, subsumed/merged deals), you may select **more than one** option. - If none of the categories fit, select the closest option (if any) and describe the arrangement in the **comment field**. - Where information is ambiguous (e.g., conflicting sources, overlapping contracts), add a short explanation in the comment field. --- ### Negotiation status **(Year-/date-based variable)** This variable records the **contractual trajectory** of the land acquisition over time—from initial interest through negotiations and agreements to possible cancellation, expiry, or changes in ownership. **Failed deals are not removed** from Land Matrix. #### How to enter data For each change in status, create a separate entry using **“Add more”**: - **Status** (select from the list below) - **Year/Date:** when the status was reached **for the first time** - **Current:** tick **one** entry as the most recent/current status - **Comments:** explain context, uncertainty, or complex sequences Add entries in **chronological order**. **Important:** Do **not** infer negotiation status from implementation status. Record negotiation status based on **evidence about agreements/contracts**, not on operational activity. #### Status categories (definitions) **Intended (Expression of interest)** Investor expresses an intention to invest (sometimes with an indicated location), but no formal negotiation is confirmed. **Intended (Under negotiation)** Investor and government/national company are discussing a possible land transfer; **no agreement** and **no contract** yet. **Intended (Memorandum of Understanding)** Preliminary agreement (MoU) signed. Land use may begin before a formal contract; explain details in comments. **Concluded (Oral agreement)** Agreement reached but no written contract signed yet (or unclear whether a contract was signed). **Concluded (Contract signed)** Written contract signed. **Failed (Negotiations failed)** Negotiations terminated before agreement/contract. **Failed (Contract cancelled)** Existing contract cancelled/terminated/broken. **Contract expired** Contract ended. If a new contract is signed later, record the new concluded status as a subsequent entry. **Change of ownership** Deal taken over by another investor. - **i) New contract signed with new investor:** record *change of ownership* (takeover date), then record *concluded* for the new contract (contract year/date). - **ii) Existing contract transferred (unchanged):** record *change of ownership* (takeover date) and keep the relevant *concluded* status with the original contract year/date; the deal remains concluded. #### Practical notes - Always add entries **chronologically**. - Use comments to document uncertainty, conflicting sources, or complex sequences. - One entry must be selected as **Current**. --- ### Implementation status **(Year-/date-based variable)** This variable captures the **stage of implementation** reached at a given time (i.e., what is happening on the ground and when). It can change over the lifecycle of a project. #### How to enter data Create a separate entry for each change using **“Add more”**: - **Status** (select from the list below) - **Year/Date:** when the project first reached this stage - **Current:** tick **one** entry as the most recent status - **Comment:** explain evidence, uncertainty, or transitions If a deal is subsumed and sources imply different implementation stages, document the differences in comments. #### Status categories (definitions) **Project not started** No implementation activities have taken place. **Start-up phase** Preparatory activities are underway, but **production has not started** (e.g., land clearing, roads, facilities, irrigation). **In operation** Production is underway (including seeding/planting). Also applies to active extraction/operations in non-agricultural projects where relevant. **Project abandoned** Project temporarily or permanently halted. Clarify (temporary/permanent) in comments if possible. #### Practical guidance - Record changes **chronologically** and note key transitions in comments. - Always select one entry as **Current**. # Contracts Please enter any specific details about the contracts of the land deal (e.g., licence, concession, lease, purchase agreement, or contract farming agreement), especially the contract number and contract date, in this section. **Most importantly**: Please add the contract itself as a **data source** in the **Data source** section. **Contract number **Official reference number, title, or identifier of the land rights transfer contract. Free text. **Date **Signature date of the land rights transfer contract. Date (ISO 8601): YYYY-MM-DD; YYYY-MM; or YYYY. **Expiration date **Expiration date of the land rights transfer contract. Date (ISO 8601): YYYY-MM-DD; YYYY-MM; or YYYY. **Duration of the agreement **Duration of the land rights transfer contract in \[years\]. **Comment on contract **Additional context, clarifications, and/or discussion of conflicting information regarding contracts. Free text. # Employment Please record in this section any information on the employment effects of the land deal. Note: The current total number of jobs / employees / daily/seasonal workers is calculated as the sum of the current domestic and current foreign figures: Current total = Current domestic + Current foreign #### Jobs created fields (conditional) If the **“Jobs created”** box "yes" is checked for any of the Employment fields, additional variables will appear for capturing job creation figures. These are grouped into **Total**, **Foreign**, and **Domestic a**nd further disaggregated into ****Planned**** and ****Current** values.** ##### A) Jobs created (total) - **Jobs created (total)?** (tick box) - **Planned number of jobs (total)** - **Planned employees (total)** - **Planned daily/seasonal workers (total)** - **Current total number of jobs / employees / daily/seasonal workers** - **Comment on jobs created (total)** ##### B) Jobs created (foreign) - **Jobs created (foreign)?** (tick box) - **Planned number of jobs (foreign)** - **Planned employees (foreign)** - **Planned daily/seasonal workers (foreign)** - **Current foreign number of jobs / employees / daily/seasonal workers** ##### C) Jobs created (domestic) - **Jobs created (domestic)?** (tick box) - **Planned number of jobs (domestic)** - **Planned employees (domestic)** - **Planned daily/seasonal workers (domestic)** - **Current domestic number of jobs / employees / daily/seasonal workers** #### Calculation rules - **Planned number of jobs (total)** = **Planned employees (total)** + **Planned daily/seasonal workers (total)** - **Current total number of jobs (total)** = **Current employees (total)** + **Current daily/seasonal workers (total)** #### Year-/date-based entries For the following year-/date-based variables, **multiple entries** can be recorded for different years/dates: - Current total number of jobs / employees / daily/seasonal workers - Current foreign number of jobs / employees / daily/seasonal workers - Current domestic number of jobs / employees / daily/seasonal workers For **each** of these variables, **one entry must be selected as the “current” one** (by ticking the corresponding box). # Investor info Please capture in this section information on all investors involved in a land deal and, where possible, document the complete investor network / investment chain of the deal. **Note:** Investor-related ID numbers are shown in blue. --- ##### Investor levels Each investor can be on each of the following levels: ##### 1) Operating company (mandatory; one per deal) The **operating company** is directly involved in acquiring and operating the land (i.e., it is the on-the-ground entity responsible for implementation). Operating companies are often domestic companies and may be owned or financed by domestic or foreign parent companies. - The operating company is always the **lowest level** in the investor hierarchy for a deal. - **Only one operating company** can be recorded per deal. ##### 2) Parent companies (none or multiple; multi-level possible) A **parent company** is an entity (or an individual entrepreneur) that partly or wholly owns the operating company and can therefore influence its operations. Several parent companies can collectively hold shares in the operating company. Parent companies can themselves be owned by other parent companies. This can create **multiple parent-company levels** within one deal. - Enter the **lowest-level parent company first** (closest to the operating company). - If multiple parent levels exist, the **highest parent company** must be entered as the **last parent-company level**. - The “highest” parent company is the topmost entity that still influences the operation or is directly engaged in the business activities. - A single parent company can be linked to **multiple operating companies** across different deals. ##### 3) Tertiary investors / lenders (optional) A **tertiary investor/lender** (e.g., a bank or investment fund) provides financing for the land acquisition but is **not involved in decision-making** regarding the acquisition or operation of the land. A tertiary investor/lender can be linked to the operating company **or** to any parent company level. --- ##### Example (fictional) **Alpha Rubber Co Liberia** owns 300 ha of land in Monrovia. - 80% of its shares are held by **Alpha Rubber Co Africa** (which is 100% owned by **Alpha Rubber Co Global**) - The remaining 20% is held by the **Liberian government** (10%) and **Mr BC Delta** (10%) In 2016, Alpha Rubber Co Liberia received a loan of **USD 2 million** from the **Echo Monetary Fund**. Investor levels in this example: - **Operating company:** Alpha Rubber Co Liberia - **Parent company level 1:** Alpha Rubber Co Africa (80%); Liberian government (10%); Mr BC Delta (10%) - **Parent company level 2:** Alpha Rubber Co Global (highest parent company) - **Tertiary investor:** Echo Monetary Fund --- ##### Adding an investor When adding an investor to a deal, the operating company, parent company, or tertiary investor/lender may already exist in the database (e.g., due to involvement in another deal). To avoid duplicates, first determine whether you should: 1. **Select an existing investor**, 2. **Edit an existing investor**, or 3. **Create a new investor**. --- ##### Adding an existing operating company 1. In **“Search investor”**, click the dropdown arrow. 2. Enter **at least three characters**. 3. Select the correct investor from the auto-suggest list. **Tip:** Spelling may vary across sources. Try alternative spellings before concluding that the investor does not exist. **Important check:** Although the operating company is often already linked to the correct parent company, you should verify this by clicking the green **pencil (edit)** icon. This opens a window with the investor details, where you can confirm correctness or update information (see section **2.5.2.4** before editing, as changes may affect other deals). You can then: - Record **actors involved in the negotiation/admission process** (people or institutions) and describe roles in the comment field. - If the **investment project name** differs from the operating company name, record it under **“Name of investment project”** (useful when an operating company has multiple deals in the target country). - Add notes under **“Comment on investment chain”**. --- ##### Adding a new operating company If the operating company cannot be found, create a new investor: **A) General info** - Name (operating company) - Country of registration - Classification - Investor homepage - OpenCorporates link **B) Parent companies** **C) Tertiary investors/lenders** **Country of registration:** usually the target country, but in some cases the operating company is registered elsewhere. #### Classification (choose the best primary fit) Select the classification that best reflects the investor’s **primary function** (and add secondary aspects in the comment field if needed). Common options include: - Private company - Stock exchange-listed company - Individual entrepreneur - Investment fund - Semi state-owned company - State/government(-owned) - Government / Government institution - Multilateral development bank - Bilateral development bank / development finance institution - Commercial bank - Investment bank - Insurance firm - Private equity firm - Asset management firm - Non-profit organisation (e.g., church, university) If none apply, select **“Other”** and specify in the comment field. **Caution:** Do not infer classification too quickly; some entities that appear private may be listed or partially state-owned. --- ##### Adding parent companies As with operating companies, first check whether the parent company already exists: - Use **“Search investor”** next to **“Existing parent company”** and select from auto-suggest; if not found, click **“+”** to add a new parent company. **Country of registration:** if unclear, select the country where headquarters are listed. **Classification:** record a classification for each parent company. **Order rule:** Enter the **lowest-level parent company first** (closest to the operating company). Use **“Add another parent company”** to create additional levels (Parent Company #2, #3, etc.). After completing entries: - Add an action comment if needed - Check **“I have read and agree to the data policy”** - Click **“Submit”** (reporter/editor) or **“Approve”** (administrator) Back on the operating company page, you can also record: - Investment type (**Shares/Equity** or **Debt financing**) - Ownership share (%) - Loan amount - Loan date - Comments (e.g., doubts, conflicting information, notes about tertiary investors) **Parent relation (to operating company):** - **Subsidiary of parent company** (parent holds controlling interest; separate legal entity) - **Local branch of parent company** (not a separate legal entity; office operating on behalf of parent) - **Joint venture of parent companies** (two or more parent companies hold shares in the same operating company) --- ##### Adding a tertiary investor/lender The process is the same as for other investor levels (search existing first, otherwise add new). In addition to name, country of registration, and classification, you can record: - Investment type (shares/equity or debt financing) - Ownership share (%) - Loan amount - Loan date If you want, I can also convert this into a shorter “in-app help text” version (more concise, fewer examples) and a separate “full guidance” version for documentation. # Local communities / indigenous peoples Please record in this section all information on the affected local communities and/or Indigenous Peoples, the interactions between the investor and the government with these groups, and the resulting impacts of the land deal on local communities and/or Indigenous Peoples. ##### Names of communities / indigenous peoples affected - Name of community The names of the communities affected by the land deal. Multiple names can be recorded. ##### Name of indigenous people The names of the indigenious peoples affected by the land deal. Multiple names can be recorded. ##### Comment on communities / indigenous peoples affected Additional context or clarifications regarding the local communities and/or indigenious people affected by the land deal (e.g., a source may state that 10 villages are affected without listing their names; in this case, you can enter “10 villages affected” in the comment field). ##### Recognition status of community land tenure Indicates whether the traditional or customary land tenure rights of affected communities and/or Indigenous Peoples are recognised by the national government of the deal´s target country. **Selectable values from the drop-down menu (multi-select).** - **Indigenous Peoples traditional or customary rights recognized by government** - **ndigenous Peoples traditional or customary rights not recog-nized by government** - **Community traditional or customary rights recognized by government** - **Community traditional or customary rights not recognized by government** ##### Comment on recognition status of community land tenure Additional context, clarifications, and/or discussion of conflicting information regarding the recognition status of community land tenure. ##### Consultation of local community - Community consultation Extent and quality of the consultation process with local communities and/or Indigenous Peoples prior to the land acquisition. **Selectable values from the drop-down menu (single-select):** **Not consulted** = No community consultation at all reported; **Limited consultation** = One part of the community was consulted, while another part was not and/or the community was consulted, but not adequately (the standard of free prior and informed consent was not met) **Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)** = FPIC process reported - consent was reached complying with the standard of free prior and informed consent **Other** = Any other community consultation. Please specify in the comment field. ##### Comment on consultation of local community Additional context, clarifications, and/or discussion of conflicting information regarding the community consultation process. ##### How did the community react? - ##### Community reaction Indicates how local communities reacted to the land deal. **Selectable values from the drop-down menu (single-select):** **Consent** = the affected community expressed consent/approval **Mixed reaction** = both supportive and opposing reactions are reported **Rejection** = opposition or rejection by the affected community is reported. ##### Comment on community reaction Additional context, clarifications, and/or discussion of conflicting information regarding the community reaction. ##### Presence of land conflicts Indicates whether land conflicts are associated with the land acquisition. Tick-options (single-select): Yes; No; Unknown. ##### Comment on presence of land conflicts Additional context, clarifications, and/or discussion of conflicting information regarding the presence of land conflicts. ##### Displacement of people Indicates whether people have been displaced or are expected to be displaced as a result of the land acquisition. Tick-options (single-select): Yes; No; Unknown. ##### Number of people actually displaced Number of people displaced due to the land acquisition. ##### Number of households actually displaced Number of households displaced due to the land acquisition. ##### Number of people displaced out of their community land Number of people displaced out of their community land due to the land acquisition. ##### Number of people displaced staying on community land Number of people displaced due to the land acquisition who continue to live on their community’s land. ##### Number of households displaced "only" from their agricultural fields Number of households displaced from their agricultural fields due to the land acquisition, but not from their homes. ##### Number of people facing displacement once project is fully implemented Number of people expected to be displaced once the deal project is fully implemented. ##### Comment on displacement of people Additional context, clarifications, and/or discussion of conflicting information regarding the displacement of people. ##### Negative impacts for local communities Negative impacts of the land deal on local communities. **Selectable values from the drop-down menu (multi-select):** **Environmental degradation** — Environmental degradation (e.g. soil degradation, contamination, pollution etc.). **Socio-economic** — Negative socio-economic impacts on local people and communities (e.g. loss of employment/livelihood). **Cultural loss** — Cultural loss (e.g. loss of traditional cultivation methods and knowledge of local vegetation patterns). **Eviction** — Forced eviction of people/communities from their land. **Displacement** — Displacement of local people/communities from their land as a result of the land deal. **Violence** — Local people/communities experience violence as a result of the deal. **Other** — All other negative impacts on local people/communieties as a result of the land deal. Please specify in the comment field. ##### Comment on negative impacts for local communities Additional context, clarifications, and/or discussion of conflicting information regarding negative impacts for local communities. Free text. ##### Promised compensation (e.g. for damages or resettlements) Description of the compensation or indemnification promised to local people and communities for the land acquisition and its consequences. Free text. ##### Received compensation (e.g. for damages or resettlements) Description of the compensation or indemnification already received by local people and communities for the land acquisition and its consequences. Free text. ##### Promised benefits for local communities Indicates types of benefits for local people and communities promised by the investor and/or the government. **Selectable values from the drop-down menu (multi-select):** **Health --** Improvement of health care services (e.g. building of hospitals, health insurance for employees, medical attendance of employees) **Education --** Improvement of educational facilities and opportunities (e.g. building of schools, scholarships for children of employees) **Productive infrastructure (e.g. irrigation, tractors, machinery…)** -- Improvement of productive infrastructure (e.g. irrigation, tractors, machinery) **Roads** — Improvement or expansion of the public road system **Capacity Building** — Capacity building opportunities and offers **Financial Support** — Financial support (e.g. loans) **Community shares in the investment project** — Local communities are promised an ownership stake or profit-sharing arrangement in the investment project. **Other** — All other types of benefits for local people/communities as a result of the land deal. Please specify in comment field. ##### Comment on promised benefits for local communities Additional context, clarifications, and/or discussion of conflicting information regarding the promised benefits for local communities. Free text. ##### Materialized benefits for local communities Indicates types of benefits for local people and communities already materialized as a result of the land deal. **Selectable values from the drop-down menu (multi-select):** **Health --** Improvement of health care services (e.g. building of hospitals, health insurance for employees, medical attendance of employees) **Education --** Improvement of educational facilities and opportunities (e.g. building of schools, scholarships for children of employees) **Productive infrastructure (e.g. irrigation, tractors, machinery…)** -- Improvement of productive infrastructure (e.g. irrigation, tractors, machinery) **Roads** — Improvement or expansion of the public road system **Capacity Building** — Capacity building opportunities and offers **Financial Support** — Financial support (e.g. loans) **Community shares in the investment project** — Local communities are promised an ownership stake or profit-sharing arrangement in the investment project. **Other** — All other types of benefits for local people/communities as a result of the land deal. Please specify in comment field. ##### Comment on materialized benefits for local communities Additional context, clarifications, and/or discussion of conflicting information regarding the materialized benefits for local communities. Free text. ##### Presence of organizations and actions taken (e.g. farmer organizations, NGOs, etc.) Names of organisations present locally and descriptions of actions taken in connection with the land acquisition (e.g., farmer organisations, NGOs). Free text. # Former use Please add any information about the former land owner, former land use, and former land cover in this section. ##### **Former land owner** Classification of the former land owner(s), i.e., the actor(s) holding ownership rights to the land prior to the land acquisition. **Selectable values from the drop-down list (multi-select)::** **State** — State-owned. **Private (smallholders)** — Privately owned by smallholders. **Private (large-scale) **— Privately owned by medium- or large-scale commercial operations. **Community** — Owned collectively by a community. **Indigenous people** — Owned collectively or individually by Indigenous Peoples under customary or traditional tenure arrangements regardless of their recognition. **Other** — Any other type of former owner (specified in the comment). ##### **Comment on former land owner** Additional context, clarifications, and/or discussion of conflicting information regarding the former land owner. Free text. ##### **Former land use** Classification of the former land use(s) prior to the land acquisition. **Selectable values (self-explanatory) from the drop-down list (multi-select):** **Commercial (large-scale) agriculture** Medium- to large-scale commercial farming operations. **Smallholder agriculture** Subsistence or small-scale farming by smallholders. **Shifting cultivation** Cultivation of land for a limited period, followed by abandonment and fallow/regeneration before reuse. **Pastoralism** Livestock grazing and rangeland use. **Hunting/Gathering** Use based on hunting, fishing, and/or gathering of natural resources like fire wood. **Forestry** Forest use (e.g. community use of the forest: collecting woods, fruits, hunting etc.), timber extraction, or managed forest production. **Conservation** Land primarily used for conservation or designated protection. **Other** Any other type of former land use (secified in the comment). ##### **Comment on former land use ** Additional context, clarifications, and/or discussion of conflicting information regarding the former land use. Free text. ##### **Former land cover** Classification of the former land cover prior to the land acquisition. **Selectable values from the drop-down list (multi-select):** **Cropland** **Forest land** **Pasture** **Shrub land/Grassland (Rangeland)** **Marginal land** **Wetland** **Other land** (e.g. developed land) – Any other land cover type (specified in comment) ##### **Comment on former land cover** Additional context, clarifications, and/or discussion of conflicting information regarding the former land cover. Free text. # Produce info Please use this section to record any available detailed information on the produce associated with the land deal and how it is used (e.g., domestic use, exports, and processing). ##### 1) Investor-operated production (crops, livestock, minerals) Record detailed information on crops, livestock, and minerals produced **on investor-operated plantations/operations**. You can capture the following variables: - **Area** (hectares) - **Yield** (tons) - **Export share** (% exported) Multiple entries can be added per **year/season**. Please indicate which entry is the most recent by selecting the **“Current”** box. Use the corresponding **comment fields** to add clarifications or additional details. **Note:** This subsection should only include **investor-operated production**. Do **not** include contract farming here. ##### 2) Contract farming production (crops, livestock) Record crops and livestock produced under **contract farming arrangements**. As above, you can add multiple entries per **year/season** and use the comment fields for additional context. ##### 3) Use of produce (domestic vs. export) Indicate how the produce is used by entering: - **Domestic use** (%), and - **Export use** (%) If produce is both used domestically and exported, enter **both percentages**. You can further disaggregate exports by destination country for up to **three countries**. ##### 4) In-country processing of produce Record any information on **in-country processing**, including: - Processing facilities (if any), and - Products processed or produced domestically. # Water Please record in this section any available information on water use, including whether water extraction is planned, the source of the extracted water, any fees paid by investors for water use and water infrastructure, and the amount of water extracted. ##### Water extraction envisaged Indicates whether the investor extracts or intends to extract water from the acquired land. Selectable values from the drop-down list (single-select): **Yes; No; Unknown.** ##### Comment on water extraction envisaged Additional context, clarifications, and/or discussion of conflicting information regarding the water extraction envisaged. Free text. ##### Source of water extraction Indicates the types of sources from which water is extracted or is planned to be extracted. Selectable values from the drop-down list (multi-select): **Groundwater** **Surface water** **River** **Lake** ##### Comment on source of water extraction Additional context, clarifications, and/or discussion of conflicting information regarding the source of water extraction. Free text. ##### How much do investors pay for water and the use of water infrastructure? - Comment on how much do investors pay for water Information on how much the investor pays for water and for the use of water infrastructure. Free text. ##### How much water is extracted? - Water extraction amount Annual water extraction from the acquired land in \[m³/year\] (Integer). ##### Comment on how much water is extracted Additional context, clarifications, and/or discussion of conflicting information regarding the amount of water extracted. Free text. ##### Use of irrigation infrastructure Indicates whether irrigation infrastructure is used or is intended to be used on the acquired land. Selectable values from the drop-down list (single-select): **Yes; No; Unknown.** ##### Comment on use of irrigation infrastructure Additional context, clarifications, and/or discussion of conflicting information regarding the use of irrigation infrastructure. Free text. ##### Water footprint of the investment project Details on the water footprint associated with operations on the acquired land. Free text. # Gender-related info Please record in this section any gender-specific information related to the land deal, the business operation, the investment, and their impacts (e.g., employment effects, changes in livelihoods, access to resources, or other differentiated impacts on women, men, and gender-diverse groups). # Overall comment Please use this section to record any relevant information about the deal that is not covered elsewhere in the data editor, including cross-cutting aspects such as environmental or social impacts. It can also be used to document general doubts, uncertainties, ambiguities, and conflicting information related to the overall deal.