RURAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

RDI is an international nonprofit organization working to secure land rights for the world’s poorest people, those 3.4 billion chiefly rural people who live on less than $2 a day.

Land rights represent the single greatest asset for the world’s

rural poor. For decades, RDI has used the law to bring land rights to the poor in a peaceful, fair and democratic manner.

For 40 years, RDI professionals have worked with the governments of 40 developing countries, foreign aid agencies, and other partners to design and implement laws, policies, and programs that provide opportunity, further economic growth, and promote social justice. To date, RDI has helped provide land rights to more than 400,000,000 people.

Our Work | Our Mission | Our Results

What's New

With secure property rights, Rwandan women lead the way forward
Last month marked the 15-year anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, but Rwanda today is filled with hope, not despair—and women are leading the way forward. More…

Legal Literacy: A look at RDI’s legal aid in villages around the world
Helping governments create laws that will help their poorest citizens get secure access and rights to land is only part of solution. People in the rural villages have to understand the laws and know what their rights are. More...

Roy Prosterman speaks at the International Land Coalition Conference in Nepal
On April 21, RDI founder Roy Prosterman spoke about the potential for well-designed and implemented land laws to improve the lives of the rural poor at the International Land Coalition Conference in Nepal.. More…

Documentary about RDI to air on PBS this summer!
Last year, independent documentary filmmaker Bob Gliner traveled to Rwanda, China and India to make a film about RDI’s work to help alleviate poverty through secure rights to land. Join his journey: The film will air on KCTS 9 this July, and on other PBS stations around the country. More…

Watch the video

Land ownership
changes lives,
and that can change
our world.
Read stories of
lives changed.

If you think that
micro-lending is a
good idea, consider
micro-owning.

Learn about how
homestead plots as
small as 3000 sq. feet
(only 1/15th of an acre)
can provide substantial
nutrition and income to
the poorest families
on the earth.

Learn why land rights
are the best source of economic opportunity
for the world’s rural poor and
an essential part of the fight
to eliminate global poverty.