Darryl Vhugen is a senior attorney and land tenure expert helping governments, business, investors, and communities achieve responsible and sustainable investments in land and natural resources. He also provides advice on land laws in a variety of countries. He works with the FAO, World Bank and other institutions to design and conduct training and develop resource materials for government officials and others on the VGGT and RAI Principles.

Previously, Darryl spent six years at Landesa working with governments, the private sector, and civil society on issues related to land law, land governance, and land tenure. Before joining Landesa, Darryl spent 25 years in private law practice in the U.S. as a business lawyer and litigator. He has broad field experience in Asia and Africa.

Darryl is based in the US.

Select experience

• Advising governments, civil society, and lawyers on development and implementation of land laws and other laws concerning responsible investment in Cambodia, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, and Sierra Leone

• Developing and leading train-the-trainer programs on responsible investment in sub-Saharan African and Southeast Asian countries as part of broader responsible land-based investment programs

• Providing responsible technical support to government agencies and civil society partners on land governance and customary land rights laws in sub-Saharan African countries, including on developing gender-sensitive laws and processes

Select publications

• Guides on Promoting Responsible Governance of Investments in Land (commissioned by BMZ and implemented by GIZ) – four guides tailored for specific audiences, including governments, communities, and investors (2023)

• Responsible Governance of Tenure: A Technical Guide for Investors (prepared for FAO, 2016)

• With S. Lowery, Land Tenure and Energy Infrastructure: Strengthening and Clarifying Land Rights in Energy Infrastructure Projects and Programming (USAID, 2016)

Education

• J.D. – University of Washington School of Law