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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 411 - 415 of 440Evaluation 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.
Governance in Environment Frontiers: Brazil
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The Governance in Environment Frontiers project seeks to improve sustainable environmental resource management of farm producers under the responsible sourcing chain of soy and beef production, in private properties on the Amazon fringe and in the Xingu region in the state of Mato Grosso. The project will also build capacity of local indigenous populations in forest fire management in order to help conserve local biodiversity. Objectives Follow up and compliance verification of “Social-Environmental Compliance Plan –SCP” in selected farms working in the soy and cattle ranching business, Build capacity to agricultural producers on social-environmental best practices; and Train and implement Fire Brigades with indigenous people in the Xingu Indigenous Reserve region. Outcomes Improved natural resource management on 128,000 hectares. 250 people (small and large producers, governmental officers and technicians) trained on good practices and sustainable management in the farming sector. 150 indigenous people fire fighters trained and equipped in fire management techniques.
Kosovo Property Rights Program
General
The rule of law in Kosovo is constrained by poorly defined and enforced property rights, especially the property rights of women and members of minority communities. The absence of an effective property rights regime weakens democratic governance, impacts human rights, disempowers women and impedes sustainable economic growth. Working closely with the EU, the Kosovo Property Rights Program (PRP) will assist the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to develop a property reform strategy and new property law. PRP is the only donor-funded project in Kosovo working to improve court procedures related to property claims, with an emphasis on improving court practices that prevent women from inheriting property in practice. The project supports implementation of USAID Forward and Local Solutions by building the capacity of Kosovo Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and municipal governments to manage and administer USAID direct awards through grants and Government to Government (G2G) agreements. PRP supports local CSOs to develop and implement public information, awareness, and advocacy campaigns to inform women and men about women’s rights to property and change attitudes and behaviors that prevent women from inheriting property. The project also builds municipal capacity to improve delivery of property related services, enabling citizens to more efficiently engage in property related transactions. The overall goal of the Property Rights Program (PRP) is to improve the property rights regime in Kosovo, strengthen the rule of law, and increase economic growth and investment. The Property Rights Program is implemented under four objectives: Objectives Objective 1: Better Coordination and Policy Priorities Objective 2: Improved Court Procedures Related to Property Claims Objective 3: Enhance Women’s Rights to Use Property in Practice Objective 4: Improved Communication, Access to Information, and Understanding of Property Rights Expected Outcomes Development of implementation-oriented legislation to clearly define property rights and improve tenure security for women and members of minority communities Development of improved court procedures to more efficiently resolve property claims and disputes Increased capacity of courts to decide and enforce property rights Increased capacity of Civil Society Organizations to raise public awareness, change societal attitudes and behaviors, and advocate for women’s rights to property Increased number of women inheriting property and securing access to credit Municipalities improve delivery of services to enable citizens to more easily transact their property rights
Land Governance Support Activity
General
The Land Governance Support Activity (LGSA) supports the establishment of more effective land governance systems, ready to implement comprehensive reforms to improve equitable access to land and security of tenure, so as to facilitate inclusive sustained growth and development, ensure peace and security, and provide sustainable management of the environment. LGSA is applying USAID’s collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) principles through the demand-driven support to the land reform agenda led by the GOL; strengthening of land governance human and institutional capacity; development of a customary land rights recognition model based on the Land Rights Policy that can be scaled up; and support of stakeholder engagement in land governance through communications and outreach and strengthening of local capacity through the provision of land sector services. In all project activities, LGSA, through partnership with government and civil society, is developing a focused and results-oriented approach through innovative yet cost-effective tools and best practices. Activities are implemented through consultative processes with USAID; the Project Advisory Committee (PAC); and government, civil society, and donor counterparts. The use of a gender-sensitive approach ensures buy-in from all stakeholders, leading to a stronger sustainability model. Objectives Strengthen policy, legal and regulatory framework for land governance Improve functionality of GOL land governance institutions Strengthen protection of customary land rights Strengthen stakeholder engagement in land governance
Capacity Building for Responsible Minerals Trade: Democratic Republic of Congo
General
The Great Lakes Region (GLR) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are characterized by an abundance of natural resources, including significant deposits of gold, cobalt, copper, diamonds, tantalum, and tin. However, the potential of these resources to contribute to economic growth and sustainable development has remained untapped. The goal of the Capacity Building for Responsible Minerals Trade (CBRMT) project is to strengthen the capacity of the Democratic Republic of Congo and regional institutions to transparently regulate a critical mass of the trade in strategic minerals in eastern DRC in order to transform the region’s mineral wealth into economic growth and development. The project supports programming in responsible mineral access, trade, and chain of custody related tin, tantalum, tungsten, (3Ts) and gold. The project is implemented in three locations with a headquarters in Kinshasa, an Eastern Congo field office in Goma supervising the conflict free minerals trade, and an office in Bujumbura, Burundi, the headquarters of the International Council on the Great Lakes (ICGLR). Partners include Pact and RESOLVE, as well as a number of Congolese organizations dedicated to the responsible minerals trade. Objectives Improve the Legal and policy framework for mining sector in the GDRC Strengthen the capacity of key actors in conflict-free minerals supply chain in the GDRC at national, regional and private sector levels Assess the efficacy of conflict-free mineral certification and traceability systems, and scale up systems for the 3Ts and Gold Improve credibility and capacity of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and in particular it independent mineral chain auditing capabilities Expected Outcomes Improved legal and policy framework for the GDRC mining sector with respect to artisanal and small-scale mining an public private partnerships that can support it Capacity of key actors in conflict free minerals supply chain developed to enable transparent monitoring of operations, increased incomes for artisanal miners and exporters, and increased revenue for GDRC Conflict free mineral certification and traceability systems scaled up to mitigate the impact of smuggling and insecurity in at least 250-400 more mine sites International Conference on the Great Lakes Region credibility and capacity improved to participate and audit membership compliance with conflict free mineral certification and traceability systems