AAK sustainability report 2018

In 2018, AAK has initiated another smallholder project, in collaboration with the NGO Solidaridad, in Mexico. Smallholder engagement In November 2015, the Sabah state in Malaysia announced its intention to achieve 100 percent RSPO certification across the entire state by 2025. AAK financially supports Forever Sabah which works with the smallholders to realize the government’s ambitions. In 2018, the baseline study of 20 villages in four pilot districts has been conducted. Land tenure has been identified as one of the key gaps in achieving RSPO certification. Without land tenure smallholders have no access to running water because they need to prove legal ownership. Land tenure smallholders is also needed to get a loan from the bank in order to invest in the smallholdings. To drive progress and on-the-ground transformation land tenure is an essential need. Together with Forever Sabah, AAK is supporting these smallholders to achieve legal ownership; one of the key focus areas for 2019. 33