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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 421 - 425 of 440Capacity 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
Kyrgyzstan Land Policy Reform Project
General
The Kyrgyzstan Land Policy Reform Project (KLPRP) was developed primarily to address problems related to realization of land rights, weakly functioning land markets, and unstable land use management. This project works at the national and local levels to inform local people about their land rights.
Enhancing Customary Justice Systems in the Mau Forest: Kenya
General
The Enhancing Customary Justice Systems in the Mau Forest (Justice) Project piloted an approach for improving women’s access to customary justice, particularly related to women’s land rights, by enhancing the customary justice system in one target area. The work also resulted in a clearer understanding of the relationships between customary and statutory institutions and laws, and the development of a model to promote the integration of informal and formal justice systems. The pilot activity complemented other USAID programs in Kenya focused on addressing land/resource tenure, access to justice, and governance challenges, in the upper Mara River catchment area within the Mau Forest Complex, Kenya (“Mau”). By design, this project has relied extensively on assessments and other information, for and under the ProMara project, gathered since February 2010. The pilot project lasted from 2010 – 2012 and a follow-on project began in 2013. The follow-on project seeks to share the Kenya Justice Project approach as well as results and lessons learned from the Project evaluation to explore opportunities and support for broader sustainable application throughout Kenya, particularly focused on formalizing and institutionalizing linkages and processes between the formal and informal justice sectors, consistent with Article 159 of Kenya’s Constitution. Objectives Develop basic justice modules to train traditional leaders on provisions of the Kenyan Constitution and National Land Policy. Build capacity within the customary justice system to more effectively perform duties. Build women’s capacity to govern and to know, understand, and exercise their rights. Support justice learning related to the Kenyan Constitution and the National Land Policy within schools and families. Raise community’s legal awareness. Outcomes Chiefs publicly issued a new Katiba (local constitution) to guide their decision making and legal responsibilities to the community. Significant increases in women’s access to land and control over household level decision-making around land and other family assets. In addition, several women in the community now have their names on land titles, including widows. Two of the Ol Pusimoru sub-locations elected 14 women elders out of 50 total in 2012. This election of women as elders is the first within the Maasai and Kalenjin communities. The number of women elders grew to 22 in 2013 and 33 out of 50 elders total in 2014. Chiefs and elders now require spousal consent (with witnesses) for all land transactions, including leases. In the Ol Mariko sub-location, women who received training made the request that elders no longer hear rape cases. The elder council agreed with the request and is now referring all such cases to formal legal systems. Trained 34 women in environmental and forest management and alternative dispute resolution. These women then conducted over 20 peer sessions, reaching more than 268 women.
Land Policy and Institutional Support: Liberia
General
Land Policy and Institutional Support in Liberia The Land Policy and Institutional Support (LPIS) Project, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), is collaborating with the Liberian Land Commission, the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy (MLME) and the Center for National Document and Records Agency (CNDRA) to improve the policy and legal frameworks for land management and thereby increase security of tenure, investment in land, and land market activity. LPIS provided recommendations for addressing sources of tenure insecurity faced by rural communities in Liberia based on land and natural resource tenure field research. The Land Commission has already incorporated these recommendations in drafting a land rights policy that recognizes customary tenure and stipulates that the tenure category has the same rights as private tenure and should be protected accordingly. The draft policy paper is a result of lengthy deliberations of a Real Property Task Force, one of many task forces within the Land Commission. USAID and MCC are supporting other task forces, land conflict resolution, land use and management, and land administration, through technical assistance. LPIS collaborated with the Department of Lands, Surveys and Cartography within MLME, as well as the Survey Licensing and Registration Board and the Cartographic and Surveyors Association of Liberia, to improve the survey infrastructure through the acquisition and subsequent training in the use of modern survey equipment, as well as reviews of existing spatial data, and development of geodetic control standards. LPIS conducted a thorough baseline study of existing processes within CNDRA, followed by developing numerous recommendations for modernizing the institution. CNDRA has undergone ambitious reform over the last year, highlighted by the opening of the Customer Service Center. LPIS supported the physical reconstruction of the center as well as the provision of hardware and software to digitize and register land deeds. The center allows CNDRA staff to quickly scan land deeds and accompanying maps and return the original documents to the landowners. In the two months following the opening of the Customer Service Center, over 400 transactions took place, of which 76 were deeds, and 10 enquiries. The Land Policy and Institutional Support (LPIS) project seeks to 1) increase clarity and public understanding of property rights issues in order to inform reforms of land policies and laws; 2) rebuild management and public and private surveying capacity to improve future land administration, and 3) increase efficiency in deed registration, restore and improve deed records and procedures. Objectives Provide information needed for reforms in land policy and law to promote equitable access to land and increased land tenure security. Rebuild technical capacity in land administration and surveying in the Department of Land, Surveys and Cartography (DLSC) of the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy (MLME), and the private sector. Rehabilitate the Deed Registry system within the Center for National Documents and Records/Archives (CNDA), including minor physical repairs, provision of office equipment, and funding for the preservation and digitization of records of land rights. Outcomes Enrolled six Liberian youth in a scholarship program to obtain a Master’s degree in Land Administration/Surveying. After completing their degree in 2013, the students will develop a university curriculum and work for the government to rebuild services and capacity. Completed a pilot project in Lofa County’s Zorzor District and Maryland County’s Pleebo District to inventory tribal certificates. Rehabilitated the CNDA customer service center, with the facility scheduled to open in August 2012.
Sudan Rural Land and Governance Project
General
The Sudan Rural Land and Governance (SRLG) project is a follow-on project to the Sudan Property Rights Program (SPRP), which assisted the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) to develop a draft land policy based on extensive public consultation and research, as well as provided support to build the capacity of the South Sudan Land Commission (SSLC). The Sudan Rural Land and Governance project helps to harmonize the land policy with the 2009 Land Act, supports two selected States and two Counties governments for more effective land administration and planning. The goal of this project is to define and establish rural land governance institutions and processes so as to promote property rights, encourage sound land use management, mitigate conflict, reduce the potential for rural landowners to be divested of their land, and to encourage broad based participation in future land allocation, management, and investment decisions.