Agriculture and Natural Resource Stewardship

Stewardship emphasizes responsible management of resources, which aligns with principles that call for accountability in the care for the environment and community. It integrates ecological sustainability with ethical responsibility, reflecting a commitment to both spiritual and environmental stewardship.

Purpose and Scope

Grace Initiative Global seeks to advance agricultural development and natural resource stewardship in areas facing fragility, humanitarian crises, violence, or challenges to territorial integrity.

Approach and Goals

Through local participation, international cooperation, and responsible governance, the Initiative aims to:

  • Safeguard natural heritage.

  • Advance sustainable development.

  • Promote affected populations’ long-term well-being and self-reliance

Initial Focus: Western Sahara

The Initiative’s initial focus is Western Sahara. It seeks to promote the sustainable, transparent, and equitable management of agricultural potential and natural resources for the benefit of the Sahrawi people and future generations.

Stewardship for Natural Resources Initiative for Western Sahara

The Natural Resource Stewardship Initiative for Western Sahara seeks to manage and conserve the territory’s resources as well as apply funds through a program trust derived from the resource extraction to support humanitarian needs, education and infrastructure the territory. This initiative proposes international oversight of extraction and a funding mechanism for humanitarian assistance and UN peacekeeping. Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, it could also strengthen governance and peacebuilding.

Strategies

Western Sahara has significant phosphates, fisheries, sand, and potential oil and gas resources. The Initiative is grounded in UN General Assembly Resolution, the Pact for the Future, 79/95 (2024), which reaffirmed the rights and interests of peoples in non-self-governing territories over their natural resources.

According to the UN human rights office, the Sahrawi refugees, live in dire humanitarian situations, have no means to benefit from extraction, contributing to their marginalization and high rates of malnutrition.

Resource exploitation also threatens the environment and long-term sustainability. Fisheries and wildlife lack adequate safeguards. The UN Secretary-General has called for stronger accountability to advance governance, sustainable development, and peace.

The Initiative would promote responsible stewardship through an expert steering committee that assesses an independently governed mechanism or trust.

Agricultural Stewardship

Agricultural Stewardship addresses both immediate livelihoods and long-term economic governance.

Agriculture is about the cultivation of land, production of crops, management of agricultural resources to provide sustenance, livelihoods and economic opportunity. It is integral for sustainability and community resilience.

Stewardship is the responsible care, management, and sustainable use of resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

Agricultural Stewardship is an integrated approach to sustainable agricultural development, responsible management and protection of natural resources, and equitable governance of the economic benefits derived from those resources, ensuring meaningful participation and benefits for affected communities and future generations. Climate and natural resource disasters can destroy these goals.

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