On Tuesday November 24th, the contract for the first LAND-at-scale project in Zimbabwe was signed. The contract is between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency. The project contributes to the commitment of the Government of Zimbabwe to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Land policy and land reforms are key to achieve those goals.
LAND-at-scale is a government programme that contributes to improving land governance. The programme supports better food and nutrition security, economic development and peace and stability in developing countries. It also contributes to sustainable incomes and social justice.
In Zimbabwe, LAND-at-scale will improve the institutional and policy environment. This helps with the functioning of a fit-for-purpose, modern land administration system. Such a system will help align customary and formal systems of land governance in old resettlement areas. This benefits the population in those areas, particularly women and youth.
“The embassy warmly supports this project, as we believe that land policy and land reforms are key for the social and economic transformation of Zimbabwe into an upper middle-income status by 2030. The development of this LAND-at-Scale project fits perfectly in supporting the sustainable improvement of the land tenure situation in Zimbabwe,” says Barbara van Helemond, the Dutch Ambassador in Harare.
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs funds LAND-at-scale. This project in Zimbabwe is funded for 1,8 million Euros. It will be implemented by FAO and the Barefoot Education for Africa Trust (BEAT).
The Netherlands Enterprise Agency is excited the first LAND-at-scale project will start. “We are proud that the first LAND-at-scale project is starting. The programme helps local communities and the government to improve land governance, not only in Zimbabwe but also in many other countries. Moreover, the collaboration in Zimbabwe with FAO is of great importance to RVO as it gives leverage to the LAND-at-scale programme,” says Tjerk Opmeer, director of International Programmes at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.
The recording from the signing ceremony is available here.