Learn how inclusive business approaches in land investments deliver environmental, economic and social benefits to local communities.

Inclusive business is reshaping land investments by making sure smallholder farmers, local communities and marginalized groups are meaningfully involved in every stage, from decision-making to active participation in agricultural and forestry value chains. This e-course focuses on building effective, equitable partnerships and presents practical strategies for just inclusion within sustainable land investments.

Key features

• Learn for free through experiential and reflective activities based on real-life examples.
• Study at your own pace and complete the course in approximately 8 hours, including dedicated time for the workbook, whenever it suits your schedule.
• Join a community of learners with opportunities to share ideas and collaborate with agroforestry professionals and enthusiasts.
• Receive a certificate upon successfully passing the assessments.

Course schedule

Duration: 8 hours

Type: Online and offline, self-paced

Link: Enrol here

Course starts: 22 September 2025

Enrolment closes: 24 October 2025

Course ends: 21 November 2025

Who is this course for

This course is designed for practitioners and leaders in forestry and agriculture. It is especially suitable for:

• Private sector investors who work with community enterprises, cooperatives or smallholder farmers
• Government officials responsible for trade and investment regulations in forestry and agriculture
• Civil society organizations that support collaboration between communities and the private sector
• Community leaders whose areas are currently affected by, or may be affected by, external land investments and trade
• Academics and students interested in responsible and inclusive land investment and trade

Topics the course covers

• Session 1 introduces key concepts of inclusive business and examines their relevance to land investments and explores how inclusive business approaches can generate social, economic and environmental benefits.
• Session 2 highlights different inclusive business models and the roles of key stakeholders in promoting shared responsibility, sustainability, responsible practices and equitable benefits.
• Session 3 focuses on the importance of legal and ethical standards in land investments. It covers essential frameworks, safeguards and tools to protect human rights, promote gender equality and ensure social inclusion.
• Session 4 provides practical guidance on establishing and maintaining partnerships among stakeholders to support successful and inclusive land investment projects.
• Session 5 examines practical steps and best practices to ensure land investment projects are inclusive and sustainable.

Upon completing the course, you will be able to:

• Identify the characteristics of inclusive business based on various definitions and understand the benefits of inclusive business practices in land investments.
• Describe the legal and ethical frameworks that guide sustainable land investments.
• Apply fundamental skills to establish and maintain equitable partnerships for sustainable land investment.
• Develop inclusive business model approaches that support effective stakeholder engagement in specific land investment contexts.

Certificate of completion

A certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the course and passing the assessments. There are three types of assessment:

• Auto-graded assessments provide immediate feedback on each question. The point value for each question is clearly indicated, and learners have two attempts to pass. A score of 75 percent or higher on these assessments is required to pass the auto-graded portion.
• The Workbook is an offline assignment that you will complete independently. After submission, the Training and Learning Team will review your work and provide a grade based on the standard rubric.
• Discussion forum participation requires you to actively join every discussion forum and comment on at least two posts made by fellow learners. Your engagement and contributions in these forums are assessed as part of your course requirements.

Supported devices

For the best learning experience, RECOFTC recommends using a laptop or desktop computer. While the e-course can be accessed on smartphones and tablets, many activities include special interactive features that do not work on these devices. To fully participate in these activities, please use a laptop or desktop computer. Activities that require a computer are marked throughout the course.

You can download RECOFTC’s free e-learning app for your smartphone or tablet from Google Play or the App Store.