harnessing a multi-stakeholder platform for improved land governance in malawi ivy luhanga –...

Harnessing a multi-stakeholder platform for improved land

governance in Malawi Ivy Luhanga – Principal Secretary,

Paul Jere – Land Governance Consultant, Kwame Ngwira – Controller of Lands &

Davie Chunga - Chief Economist

March 2014Slide 1

Malawi Government Ministry of Lands and Housing

Land Policy and Legal Framework in Malawi

land sector guided by National Land Policy of 2002 – key objective to ensure tenure security and equitable access to land

But using old legal instruments (60s) –now reviewed and awaiting enactment by Parliament – to address national land policy objectives

Slide 2


land reforms initiatives implemented facilitation of acquisition of land by land-less

and land-poor households; Capacity strengthening through introduction of

land administration and management courses at tertiary level;

Modernization & computerizing land registration system

Slide 3


Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS II)MGDS Theme 1 on Sustainable Economic

Development – contains specific subtheme on land: To ensure equitable access to land & tenure security; Promote efficient management and decentralized

administration system of land; and Promote ecologically balanced use of land and land-

based resources. Slide 4


The LGAF Process and outcomesLGAF study completed in July 2012 unique platform for diverse stakeholders -

government, civil society, universities, and private sector to discuss status of land governance and identify needed reforms

LGAF helped put in place structures and processes to systematically track progress in land governance

Slide 5


The LGAF Process and outcomesLGAF helped to establish consensus on priority

actions on land policy reform issuesLGAF outcomes stimulating development partners

support to land sector to improve land governanceLGAF tool for monitoring national land policy and

MGDS II implementation and outcomes on land issues

Slide 6


The land governance task force in Malawi established as a multi-stakeholder platform for sustained

follow-up and collective action on land governance to enhance synergies and collaboration among

stakeholders on agreed policy and actions Membership voluntary – interested organizations on land

issues – started with 15 now over 20 possibility of transforming into a formal Sector Working

Group for land sector within MGDS structuresSlide 7


Roles of the National Task Force (1)Provide technical guidance to government on land

policy and governance priority issues;Prepare discussion papers and policy briefs for

sharing with government and development partners, parliament and general public;

Provide a forum for information sharing and networking on land issues;

Slide 8


Roles of the National Task Force (2)Organize and facilitate regular policy dialogue &

public awareness sessions on land policy and governance issues;

planning and implementation of land governance assessment studies on a regular basis

Support government in advocacy & resource mobilization for implementation of priority land policy reforms; towards a sector wide programme

Slide 9


Activities Planned by the task force 2012/13Conduct Gender Analysis of Land related Bills;Develop Technical Messages and

Communication Materials on new land laws Translate land related laws into different

languages – for wider dissemination;Facilitate development of guidelines for

participatory land use planning Slide 10


Achievements of the task force in 2012/13 Task Force established and fully functional with

agreed terms of reference and action plan; more than six meetings and new members joining Conducted sensitization meetings on new land

Bills to key Parliamentary Committees - on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Legal Affairs, and Women Caucus;

Slide 11


Achievements of the task force in 2012/13 (1) Conducted gender analysis on new Land Bills to

provide information to members of parliament;Principal Land Bill passed by parliament and

awaits assent by Head of State;Continuing to lobby for passing of other land

related bills by parliament – to support needed land reforms according to National Land Policy

Slide 12


Achievements of the task force in 2012/13 (2) Identified key indicators for monitoring land

governance and engaged Ministry of Economic Planning and Development for integrating in national statistical surveys - Integrated Household Surveys (IHS) or Welfare Monitoring Surveys (WMS)

Slide 13


Major challenges faced by the task force Building consensus among members on key issues

takes timeVested interests in membership groups – leading to

uncoordinated responseLack of Funding for task force activities – relying

on member contributionsPolitical challenges and sensitivities on land

Slide 14


Future prospects and required support (1)

Options for national recognition and growthTask Force to become a formal Sector Working

Group (SWG) with technical working groups (TWGs) under MGDS framework - to facilitate implementation of land policy priorities

establishment of district level task forces in line with the decentralization framework

Slide 15


Future prospects and required support (2)

Funding options and sustainabilitySustainability rooted in broad stakeholder

participation & legal establishment as SWGdevelopment partners to provide technical and

financial support as directed by priority issues Civil society groups (e.g. Landnet) to coordinate

civil society participation and raise funding Slide 16


Future prospects and required support (30

Monitoring land governance and update of LGAF initially to focus monitoring process on selected

indicators to demonstrate outcomes of land reforms Comprehensive land governance assessment after 5

years -full picture of changes in land governance. some land indicators to be built in periodic national

surveys to ensure data and information on landSlide 17


Conclusion Together we can improve land governance and

steer needed land reforms in MalawiSupport (technical and financial) is needed if we

are to improve land governance and sustain multi-stakeholder platforms

Thank you!!!!!!

Slide 18


harnessing a multi-stakeholder platform for improved land governance in malawi ivy luhanga –...

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