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About Us
We envision a world in which land governance systems, both formal and informal, are effective, accessible, and responsive for all. This is possible when land tenure and property rights are recognized as critical development issues and when the United States Government and its development partners demonstrate consistent attention and a firm commitment to supporting coordinated policies and programs that clarify and strengthen the land tenure and property rights of all members of society, enabling broad-based economic growth, gender equality, reduced incidence of conflicts, enhanced food security, improved resilience to climate change, and effective natural resource management.
Mission Statement
The USAID Land Tenure and Resource Management (LTRM) Office will lead the United States Government to realize international efforts—in accordance with the U.S. Government’s Land Governance Policy—to clarify and strengthen the land tenure and property rights of all members of society—individuals, groups and legal entities, including those individuals and groups that are often marginalized, and the LTRM Office will help ensure that land governance systems are effective, accessible, and responsive. We will achieve this by testing innovative models for securing land tenure and property rights and disseminating best practice as it relates to securing land rights and improving resource governance within the USG and our development partners.
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Displaying 416 - 420 of 440Economic Growth Hubs, Infrastructure and Competitiveness: Philippines
General
The Economic Growth Hubs Project is a Cooperative Agreement with the Asia Foundation. The project has three objectives: Better Provision of Infrastructure, Better Performing Economic Growth Hubs, and Promoting a political economy approach to economic policy reform process. One of the activities under Better Performing Economic Growth Hubs was the provision of technical support for the passage and effective implementation of the Residential Free Patent law in the Philippines. The Residential Free Patent Act (RA 10023), passed in March 2010, creates a low-cost, administrative procedure to more efficiently title the estimated 8,000,000 untitled residential parcels in the country and unlock “dead capital” to drive economic development. Objectives Better Provision of Infrastructure: a) Through improved public-private partnerships (PPP) – This activity will seek to establish an enduring policy and institutional environment that promotes competitively bid and properly implemented PPP infrastructure projects; b) Through increasing transparency and accountability in budget and spending – The goal is to broaden participation in the allocation and implementation of infrastructure investments. The project will provide technical assistance to civil society, business associations and/or government institutions to increase understanding and participation in the decision-making and implementation processes of infrastructure projects in the Philippines; c) To expand Philippine Roll On, Roll Off (RoRo) network both domestically and regionally Better improving growth hubs: a) Improve the institutional capacity of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA); b) Develop the Subic-Clark as a major tourism and logistics hub; c) Assist in the effective implementation of the Residential Free Patent law Promoting a political economy approach to economic policy reform process – to develop material to increase understanding of the political economy of reform, to develop policy entrepreneurs, inform the design of donor project activities, and support new reform initiatives (with AusAID and World Bank) Outcomes To improve the security of property rights in the Philippines, USAID supported the implementation of the Residential Free Patent Act (RA 10023), passed in March 2010, that creates a low-cost, administrative procedure to more efficiently title the estimated eight million untitled residential parcels in the country and unlock “dead capital” to drive economic development. To further institutionalize reform, the project help established robust partnerships between national Department of Environment and Resources (DENR) and local governments. These partnerships leverage the authority of DENR to issue titles and the resources and interests of LGUs in land titling. Since the pilot was launched in Cebu in January 2011, over 100 local governments have established “land offices”. Based on lessons from the field and working with the DENR’s Land Management Bureau, the project also developed a manual to guide DENR and LGU personnel on establishing and operating land offices.
Land Administration to Nurture Development: Ethiopia
General
The Ethiopia Land Administration to Nurture Development (LAND) project works at the national and regional levels of government to further improve the legal and regulatory framework related to land tenure and property rights and thereby support the Government of Ethiopia’s and USAID’s goal of increasing economic growth, particularly agricultural sector growth, improving rural resiliency, and improving governance. LAND uses a variety of activities to strengthen capacity of land administration and land use institutions. In addition, LAND supports activities focusing on securing rights to community lands, strengthening capacity of community members to manage their natural resource assets. The LAND project builds on two previous USAID/Ethiopia projects – Ethiopia Strengthening Land Tenure and Administration Program (ELTAP) (2005-2008) and the Ethiopia Land Administration Program (ELAP) (2008-2012) – to improve land governance and land administration and strengthen land tenure rights in Ethiopia and thereby promote economic growth, increase agricultural productivity, reduce conflict and resource degradation and improve women’s rights to control and manage assets. Objectives Support national and regional governments to improve land administration and land use laws based on research findings and public needs Improve Government of Ethiopia’s land administration institutions efficiency in land use rights certification and transactions through trainings provided by higher educational institutions Encourage pastoral regions to introduce certification of communal land use rights and management of natural resources Expected Outcomes Appropriate land laws are prepared and enforced Regions are able to survey, map, register and certify rural parcels Linkages are created between higher education and land administration institutions Communal land use certifications are practiced in pastoral areas
Evaluation Research and Communication: Global
General
The purpose of the Evaluation, Research and Communication (ERC) project is to create, expand, and communicate the results of evidence-based knowledge around best land tenure and property rights practices in order to enhance internal USAID and external USG learning, guide program design and implementation, and make the most effective use of limited development resources to accomplish key USG development objectives. Activities will support achievement of intermediate result 1.2 under Strategic Objective 1 of the Climate Change and Development Strategy, which notes USAID support for “ensuring the rights and engagement of local and indigenous communities” in conjunction with a focus on improving tools and capacity for land-use planning to reduce deforestation. ERC will also support biodiversity conservation through collection and dissemination of evidence-based knowledge on how secure land tenure and property rights can incentivize sustainable land use and protection of valuable ecosystems including the forest, water and wildlife within them. Work conducted under ERC should adopt a multidisciplinary approach to learning that aligns with USAID’s Evaluation and Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policies and that communicates results of evaluation and research using innovative, creative methods that target key audiences. This work will also contribute to USAID Forward. Objectives Impact Evaluations: evaluate different modalities for land certification applied across Ethiopia Research: build on the existing body of USAID land tenure and property rights work and extend this base of knowledge; encourage debate around innovative models and competing hypotheses related to land tenure and property rights interventions and expected outcomes – challenge existing assumptions Communications: implement strategies to ensure that new knowledge and learning is incorporated into communications efforts, that new knowledge and learning feeds effectively into Land Tenure Division program design efforts, that this knowledge and learning is accessible to users of the Land Tenure Division’s communication products, and that communication efforts and knowledge management take advantage of creative and innovative approaches to conveying information to key target audiences including policy makers, development experts, Mission staff, civil society organizations, women and other vulnerable groups.
Land Reform Project in Tajikistan
General
The Land Reform Project in Tajikistan (LRPT) works with government stakeholders to reform policy and land legislation, provides legal assistance to farmers to improve legal aid, and builds capacity through training and outreach for lawyers, judges, and local government officials on land issues. The project aims to improve long-term land use rights and develop an effective land use market as well as to draft amendments either repealing or harmonizing land related policies. It also supports public-private dialogue and partnerships related to useful legislation and strengthening the technical capacity of governmental agencies to address land-related issues. The project has strengthened and protected land rights by (1) assisting the Government of Tajikistan in developing land-related policy and legislation, (2) empowering farmers with information to assert their rights over land, and (3) supporting regional legal aid centers and tashabbuskors (rural land activists) in educating farmers on their rights, providing mediation, and advocating on behalf of farmers’ interests in court; and supporting public-private dialogue and partnerships related to useful legislation and strengthening the technical capacity of governmental agencies to address land-related issues. Objectives Improve land policy and legislation Increase farmers’ access to land and justice Outcomes The Project supported the Government of Tajikistan in drafting amendments to Land Code and Mortgage law, drafting new Law on Commercial Farms, drafting Land Policy paper and developing regulations to the land code. Land Code amendments allowing the purchase, sale, and mortgage of land use rights, strengthening tenure rights, reforming aspects of public withdrawal provisions were passed in August 2012. The Commercial Farm Law, that is strengthening farmers’ land use and farming rights, was drafted and is being reviewed by the government. Amendments to the Mortgage Law are passed in 2013, allowing pledge of land use rights and further protecting Mortgagee rights. 23,500 dehkan farmers were trained on land tenure issues. 17000 farmers participated in 1363 focus groups; 30,000 farmers participated in 2,000 roundtables. 10,712 field and 15920 field consultations provided through legal aid offices. 5,847 farmers benefited from 49 court cases. 92 disputes mediated.
Indonesia Marine and Climate Support
General
The Indonesia Marine and Climate Support (IMACS) is a four-year project that is aimed to improve marine resources management in Indonesia. IMACS is working to strengthen the management capacity of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) and local government, enhance local communities and the private sector engagement through open and transparent governance, and provide technical support for key activities that support marine resources management and communities’ empowerment. The project aims to improve coastal communities’ responses to near-term disasters and long-term impact created by climate change. Partnering with the government of Indonesia, the project addresses risks affecting its coastal inhabitants by building the capacity of the MMAF. The project is improving biodiversity resilience for food and economic security and increasing the resilience of natural ecosystems and coastal communities to adapt to climate change and reduce risks from disasters. The program is being implemented through a partnership with the Government of Indonesia (GOI) through MMAF, coordination with other USAID marine implementing partners, and other relevant stakeholders in Indonesia both at national and local levels. Objectives Enhance Institutional Development of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Improve Sustainable Fisheries Management Strengthen Coastal Community Resilience and Climate Change Adaptation