Rachael Knight, JD

I. Professional Experience

International Institute for the Environment and Development (IIED), London, UK (2019 - present)

Senior Associate; Law, Economies and Justice Programme

• Co-wrote a toolkit succinctly describing a range of tested, proven strategies that strengthen women’s presence, voice and power in community-investor interactions, entitled Enhancing women’s meaningful participation in community engagements: Insights from Experience Related to Land-Based Investments. (2025-2026)

• Co-conceptualized and co-led a project, in partnership with Ugandan and Cameroonian NGOs, piloting a range of proactive strategies designed to identify and resolve community-investor conflicts before they result in irreparable harm. Wrote and produced a low-literacy how-to guide on a strategy innovated through the project, “Rapid Response Mechanisms: Supporting resolution of community-investor conflicts related to Land-Based Investments” and a final research report entitled  “Are community–investor conflicts inevitable? Community legal empowerment and conflict prevention experiences from Cameroon and Uganda. (2023-2025)

• Supported the Reversing Environmental Degradation in Africa and Asia (REDAA) project by authoring a  working paper to advise grantees on how to best integrate improved land tenure security and governance into their ecosystem regeneration projects. (2025)

• Authored “Reclaiming Power in Value Chains,” to support smallholder farmers to exercise more agency in relation to farm production, markets and trade. (2022)

• Providing expertise on Indigenous and customary land rights for the ALIGN project, including supporting Oxfam’s policy work in Chad, Ditshwanelo’s work protecting Indigenous Peoples’ land rights in Botswana, and community land rights work in Indonesia. (2020-2026)

• Directed the Community Land Protection Co-Learning Initiative, a joint project of Namati, IIED, and the International Land Coalition. (2017 through 2021).

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome, Italy (2006 - present)

Legal Consultant; Development Law Service and Land Tenure Division

• Co-authoring a “Technical Guide” to the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGT), on emerging challenges for securing Indigenous Peoples’ tenure rights in the context of climate pledges, land degradation, the just energy transition, and carbon markets. (2026)

• Lead presenter for a four-part training series for FAO’s Development Law Division staff, entitled: “Legislative approaches to the recognition of the customary rights of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, peasants, Afro-descendants and other groups holding customary or community tenure rights for inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems.” Provided global overview, recruited other trainers, and wrote associated policy brief, Legal recognition and protection of customary tenure rights. (2023-2025)

• Authored paper on land corruption, “Tackling Political Land Corruption: The Need for a Multi-Disciplinary, Participatory Approach.” (2022)

• Authored papers on protecting legitimate tenure rights; participatory lawmaking; and legal empowerment for community land protection. (2022)

• Worked with national consultants to draft Sierra Leone’s “Land Commission” and “Customary Land Rights” bills. Reported to the government of Sierra Leone. (2019-2020)

• Co-authored “Responsible Governance of Tenure and the Law: A Guide for Lawyers and Other Legal Service Providers.” (2016)

• Authored legislative study entitled “Statutory Recognition of Customary Land Rights in Africa: An Investigation into Best Practices for Lawmaking and Implementation.”  (2010)

• Co-authored Land Tenure Studies guidebook, “Compulsory Acquisition of Land and Compensation.” (2008)

Earthrise Collective, South Africa (2020- present)

Co-founder, working group member

• Along with 10-15 other advocates and activists, co-visioned and co-created a global collective whose mission is to creatively imagine new ways of being, doing and living by braiding together activism, ancient wisdom, and alternatives.

• Designed logo, created first website, planned and facilitated global online meetings, currently co-drafting organizational strategic plan and supporting internal governance process.

• Co-taught a course on Sacred Sites for the Advaya Network. (2024-2025)

Cultural Survival, Boston, USA (2023-2024)

Legal Consultant

• Lead author and coordinator for the publication “Securing Indigenous Peoples' Right to Self-Determination: A Guide on Free, Prior and Informed Consent.”

• Supported Cultural Survival staff to develop a survey on lands and livelihoods, sent to all of its members and grantees, then analyzed the resulting data and wrote a 60+ page summary of the responses, including recommendations for the creation of a new cross-programmatic focus on Indigenous Peoples’ lands and livelihoods.

The Government of Belize, Belmopan, Belize (2021)

International Consultant working for the Commissioner for Indigenous Affairs; Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples' Affairs.

• Wrote first draft of a Maya Land Policy and crafted an inclusive, participatory process for formalization and protection of all Mayan Villages’ land rights (both were later rewritten by conservative government lawyers).

• Supported the drafting of Belize’s Free, Prior, Informed Consent Protocol.

Namati: Innovations in Legal Empowerment, Washington D.C. (2012 –2018)

Founder and Director; Community Land Protection Program

• Created Namati’s Community Land Protection Program, and, in this role, expanded the land protection model I co-innovated while at IDLO, scaling up the model globally, which resulting in more than 150 communities strengthening their tenure rights.

• Forged and supervised partnerships in Uganda, Liberia, Mozambique, Nepal and Kenya; co-designed and supervised fieldwork, undertook high-level policy advocacy, oversaw rigorous monitoring and evaluation.

• Managed staff and consultants; oversaw program administration, budget and financing.

• Raised ~$500,000 in grants annually.

• Supported land law- and policy-drafting in Liberia, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Nepal and Myanmar.

• Provided technical support to Namati’s land work globally.

• Designed, supervised, wrote and published guidebooks and impact assessments of community land protection efforts.

• Conceptualized and founded the Community Land Protection Co-Learning Initiative, a joint project with IIED and the International Land Coalition (2017 through 2021).

International Development Law Association (IDLO) Maputo, Mozambique (2009 – 2011)

Director; Community Land Titling Initiative

• Secured $1.5 million in project funding and directly facilitated tenure security for 60 rural communities across Uganda, Liberia and Mozambique.

• Secured Ministry approval for fieldwork, secured and managed partnerships with national NGOs, forged relationships with national and regional stakeholders.

• In partnership with NGO staff, supervised more 15+ field staff across three countries.

• Designed and supervised a randomized controlled trial impact evaluation, analyzed data, published findings.

• Presented findings at global conferences, at UN agencies and to NGOs across the world.

II. Education

• Kent University, Masters Degree in Ethnobotany, 2020

• University of California, Berkeley School of Law, Juris Doctor Degree, 2005

  • Admitted to the State Bar of California, November 2005

• Brown University, Bachelors Degree with Honors in Development Studies, 1999

III. Fellowships

• Bertha Foundation Fellowship, 2021-2024.

• Equal Justice Works Fellowship, 2005 – 2007.

• Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship, University of California at Berkeley, 2004-2005

• Fulbright Fellowship in Mozambique, 2001 – 2002

IV. Languages     

• Portuguese (proficient); Spanish (proficient); French (basic written and oral comprehension).

V. Publications

1. FAO. 2026.  Legal recognition and protection of customary tenure rights. Legal Brief No 12. FAO, Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd6742en

2. Bulman, A., Berger, T. and Knight, R. (2026) Enhancing Women’s Meaningful Participation in Community Engagements: Insights from Experience Related to Land-Based Investments Toolkit. New York: Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) and London: International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). https://ccsi.columbia.edu/women_participation_toolkit/

3.  Knight, R., Nguiffo, S., Auma Eilu, T., Cotula, L. and Kobusingye, D. (2025). Are community–investor conflicts inevitable? Community legal empowerment and conflict prevention experiences from Cameroon and Uganda. IIED, London. https://www.iied.org/22640iied

4. Ruth Meinzen-Dick, et. al. (2025). Women's tenure security on collective lands: A conceptual framework. Journal of Rural Studies, Volume 118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2025.103694

5. Knight, Rachael, et. al (2024). Rapid Response Mechanisms: Supporting resolution of community-investor conflicts related to Land-Based Investments, IIED, London. https://www.iied.org/22306iied.

6. Knight, Rachael et. al. (2023) Securing Indigenous Peoples' Right to Self-Determination: A Guide on Free, Prior and Informed Consent, Cultural Survival. https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/new-guide-supports-indigenous-leaders-develop-fpic-protocols-and-secure-self-determined.

7. Knight, Rachael (2022). Tackling Political Land Corruption: The Need for a Multi-Disciplinary, Participatory Approach, FAO. https://www.fao.org/3/cc0079en/cc0079en.pdf

8. Cotula, Lorenzo and Knight, Rachael (2021). Protecting Legitimate Tenure Rights: From Concepts to Practice, FAO Legal Brief 2. http://www.fao.org/publications/card/en/c/CB4489EN/.

9. Knight, Rachael and Berger, Thierry (2021)  Promoting Participatory Law -Making for Recognition of Legitimate Tenure Rights, FAO Legal Brief 3. http://www.fao.org/publications/card/en/c/CB4490EN.

10. Knight, Rachael (2021). Legal Empowerment to Promote Legitimate Tenure Rights, FAO Legal Brief 4. http://www.fao.org/publications/card/en/c/CB5953EN

11. Knight, Rachael (2019). The Challenge of Protecting Community Land Rights: An Investigation into Community Responses to Requests for Land and Resources, Namati. https://namati.org/resources/challenge-protecting-community-land-rights-responses-to-requests-for-land-resources/

12. Knight, Rachael, Szoke-Burke, S., Mebrate-Tsegaye, T., Cordes, J. (2018) Community-Investor Negotiations Guide #1: Preparing in Advance for Potential Investors, Namati and CCSI, https://namati.org/resources/community-investor-negotiation-guide-1-preparing-in-advance-for-potential-investors/

13. Szoke-Burke, Sam, Knight, R., Mebrate-Tsegaye, T., Cordes, K. (2018) Community-Investor Negotiations Guide #2: Negotiating Contracts with Investors Namati and CCSI. https://namati.org/resources/community-investor-negotiation-guide-2-negotiating-contracts-with-investors/

14. Knight, Rachael, (2018). Power to the People: A Case Study on Participatory Local Land and Natural Governance in Nepal, Namati and CSRC. https://namati.org/resources/power-to-the-people-a-case-study-on-participatory-local-land-and-natural-governance-in-nepal/

15. Knight, Rachael,  Brinkhurst, M. and Vogelsang, J. (2016). Community Land Protection Facilitators Guide, Namati. https://namati.org/resources/community-land-protection-facilitators-guide/

16. Cotula, Lorenzo, Berger, T., Knight, R. , McInerney, T., Vidar, M. and Deupmann, P. (2016). “Responsible governance of tenure and the law: A guide for lawyers and other legal service providers.” http://www.fao.org/3/a-i5449e.pdf

17. Knight, Rachael (2016). “Balancing the Numbers: Using Grassroots Land Valuation To Empower Communities In Land Investment Negotiations.” https://landportal.org/library/resources/balancing-numbers-using-grassroots-land-valuation-empower-communities-land

18. Adoko, Judy, Eilu, T., Akin, J., Knight, R. (2016). Uganda Community Guide: How to Protect Your Community’s Lands and Resources, Land and Equity Movement in Uganda and Namati. https://namati.org/resources/uganda-community-guide-how-to-protect-your-communitys-lands-resources/

19.  Booker, Stephanie, Knight, R., and Brinkhurst, M, eds. (2015). Protecting Community Lands & Resources in Africa: Grassroots Advocates’ Strategies & Lessons, Namati and Natural Justice. https://namati.org/resources/protecting-community-lands-resources-in-africa-grassroots-advocates-strategies-lessons/

20. Knight, Rachael, Kaba, A., and Siakor, S. (2013) Liberia Community Guide: Protecting Community Lands, Sustainable Development Institute and Namati.  https://namati.org/resources/liberia-community-guide-to-protecting-community-lands-and-resources/

21. Knight, Rachael, Kaba, A. and Siakor, S (2013)  Liberia Community Guide: Getting a Fair Deal with Investors, Sustainable Development Institute and Namati. https://namati.org/resources/community-guide-to-getting-a-fair-deal-from-companies-and-investors-2/

22. Knight, Rachael, Adoko, J. and Eilu,T. (2013) Protecting Community Lands and Resources: Evidence from Uganda, Namati and International Development Law Organization. https://namati.org/resources/protecting-community-lands-and-resources-evidence-from-uganda/

23. Knight, Rachael, Siakor, S. and Kaba, A. (2013) Protecting Community Lands and Resources: Evidence from Liberia, Namati and International Development Law Organization. https://namati.org/resources/protecting-community-lands-and-resources-evidence-from-liberia/

24. Knight, Rachael et. al, (2012). Protecting Community Lands and Resources: Evidence from Liberia, Mozambique and Uganda, Namati and International Development Law Organization.  https://namati.org/resources/protecting-community-lands-and-resources-evidence-from-liberia-mozambique-and-uganda/

25. Adams, Martin and Knight, R. (2012) Land Policy Developments and Setbacks in Southern Africa, in: Southern African Development Community Land Issues: Towards a New Sustainable Land Relations Policy, Ben Chigara, ed., Routledge.

26. Adoko, Judy, Akin, J. and Knight, R. (2011). Understanding and Strengthening Women’s Land Rights Under Customary Tenure in Uganda. https://mokoro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/strengthening_womenslandrights_under_customary_tenure_in_uganda.pdf

27. Knight, Rachael (2010). Statutory Recognition of Customary Land Rights in Africa: An Investigation into Best Practices for Lawmaking and Implementation, Legislative Study #105, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. https://www.fao.org/4/i1945e/i1945e00.htm

28. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (2008). Compulsory Land Acquisition and Compensation, Land Tenure Studies Series, . http://www.fao.org/docrep/011/i0506e/i0506e00.htm

29. Knight, Rachael (2002). Camponeses’ Realities: Their Experiences and Perceptions of the 1997 Land Law." https://mokoro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/camponeses_realities_mozambique.pdf

VI. Editorials and Blogs

1.  Reviving Culture and Ritual for Conservation of Land, Local Ecosystems, and Sacred Natural Sites. Global; Diversity Foundation (2021)

2. “The Land Rights Act victory in Liberia means the work has just begun.”  This is Place (2018)

3. “Community Land Protection and the SDGs,” Land Portal (2017).

4. “Protecting land and community resources in Africa,” Devex (2016).

5. “‘We are looking at gold and calling it rock’: Supporting communities to calculate the replacement costs of their communal lands and natural resources,” World Bank (2015).

6. “For Responsible Mapping of Community Land, Create Accountable Land Governance,” Focus on Land in Africa (2014).

7. “A Nobel Laureate’s Problem at Home,” The New York Times (2012), with Silas Kpanan’young Siakor.