Measuring the Land Tenure Security of Sub Saharan Africa's Rural Poor
Marie-Christine D. Simbizi, Jaap Zevenbergen & Rohan Bennett
The search for land tenure security for all in developing countries has opened a new land administration paradigm based on pro-poor approaches. However, little is being done to provide governments with context-specific indicators to measure tenure security in a pro-poor manner. Subsequently many Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries lack baseline data on the holistic state of tenure security within their jurisdiction. Until recently, it was argued that the overall challenge is the absence of a holistic conceptual understanding of land tenure security for the rural poor. Whilst this conceptual gap is now filled, the model requires operationalization. This paper uses design methodology combined with the systems approach for indicators selection and development to establish a multi-aspects assessment framework containing six baskets of indicators. Each basket reflects a key interaction that defines land tenure security. The value of the framework is demonstrated by comparing the proposed indicators to those used for the evaluation of land related interventions in Ghana, Ethiopia and Rwanda: deficiencies in the existing assessment approaches are exposed. The framework comprises indicators on institution harmony, legitimacy and trustworthiness, balance of land restrictions and land rights, update and maintenance of land registry and associated spatial information, which are practically missing for the three case studies. Three main applications of the proposed multi-aspects framework are anticipated: (1) evaluating the state of tenure security (baseline and longitudinal data), (2) evaluation of progress towards the achievement of national land policies, and (3) assessment of the contribution of land tenure reform interventions vis-?-vis national land policy objectives.
Event: XXV FIG International Congress : Engaging the Challenges, Enhancing the Relevance
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