General

Land tensions and conflicts have always existed in Mali. Formal and customary law co-exist, causing a legal duality and ambiguity. Competition over land and natural resources is growing, and so are land-related disputes. Over 90% of smallholder farmers and pastoralists access land through customary tenure systems. Considering the large role customs play in rural areas, formal legal recognition of these customary rights is important. At the same time, the patrilineal customary systems undermine the position of women and youth. Land Commissions form a key structure in Mali and play a key role when it comes to customary land tenure management as well as land conflict resolution. However, only 30% of the communes have established a Land Commission, and their functioning is not monitored on a systematic basis. Project objective The goal of the intervention is to promote stability, food security, climate resilient agricultural development and natural resources management by strengthening security of access to and rights over land and natural resources, with special attention for inclusivity (especially women and pastoralists), through establishing and capacitating Land Commissions. Project strategies - Formalizing a coordination mechanism for building capacity towards sustainable, inclusive and transparent Land Commissions. - Providing a systematic approach for validating and sharing capacity building for Land Commissions, with a focus on mediation and inclusivity. - Setting up an independent monitoring and evaluation system of Land Commissions. - Establishing a network and exchange organization for Land Commissions.   

General

The Rwanda Land Tenure Reform Program, launched in 2009, gained international attention by regularizing land tenure at an unparalleled scale. Over eleven million land parcels were demarcated, and eight million land titles were issued to their rightful owners. Despite this, the land tenure system still faces challenges. The land administration and information system (LAIS) does not yet sufficiently address social aspects, such as incorporating informal transactions and safeguards for women, or reducing high costs of participating. Land disputes remain common, and pressure on the courts to resolve these conflicts need to be decreased. These challenges undermine the legitimacy and proper functioning of land governance. This situation is further hampered by the effects of climate change on the country Project objective To improve and ensure sustainability of land registration and management systems and their implementing institutions for enhanced perceived and actual tenure security for the people of Rwanda. Project strategies - Institutionalize a (financially) sustainable land administration information and management system. - Implement sustainable, climate-resilient land use planning at national level. Implement a more just decision-making process by local mediators. - Strengthen academic capacity to assist in the further development of a fair and just land governance system.

General

Chad is at the verge of an emerging land tenure crisis. As observed in many countries in Africa, formal and customary tenure systems overlap. Customary tenure systems, that generally prevail in rural areas, differ from region to region, with each its own needs and practices. Land conflicts are abundant, caused by degradation and transformation of land surfaces caused by climate change, as well as land investments by domestic investors with disputed legitimacy. Women, particularly, struggle in practice to obtain the same rights to land as men, even though country’s constitution enshrines gender equality. These land challenges play against a backdrop of a country in conflict. A land tenure crisis could lead to more disputes over land, weakened land productivity, uncontrolled urban development, and result in further social unrest of the country if not adequately addressed. Project objective The project aims to contribute to a more transparent and inclusive land administration system in Chad, especially for tenure insecure groups (women and youth), which creates security for communities to invest in sustainable income generating activities. Project strategies - Finalization of the Land Code: a review and rewrite of the content, combined with a multi-stakeholder validation workshop - Support to socio-economic land reform, with special attention for inclusion of women and youth, strengthening civil society organizations, capacity building on agricultural practices and dispute resolution mechanisms.   - Improving the land registration system in N’Djamena by developing a blueprint of the current situation and roadmap towards the preferred future situation, together with the relevant government authorities in Chad.