Cadasta’s model is as innovative as it is human-centered. Through an Esri-powered digital platform, the organization enables communities, local NGOs, and governments to effectively map and document land and resource rights affordably and at scale. These digital records, often the first of their kind, give visibility and voice to people whose land rights have long gone unrecognized.

In Rwanda, for example, Cadasta is partnering with the National Land Authority (NLA) and Landesa to strengthen women’s access to land rights in rural districts. By training local government officials and community members to use digital tools for land data collection and management, the project is helping families — especially women-headed households — to document and safeguard their property rights. This data-driven collaboration not only promotes gender equity but also supports Rwanda’s efforts to build a more transparent and resilient land governance system.

Across the globe  in India, Colombia, and Ghana, Cadasta’s Strengthening Land and Forest Rights program partnered with 13 grassroots organizations across Asia, Africa, and Latin America to protect land, forests, and Indigenous rights with tools, data, and training. This program equipped Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and local partners with the tools, training, and pathways they needed to secure tenure, defend territories, and protect globally significant ecosystems.