Tanzania Demand for Documentation Study: Who Pays for Land Documents, and Why?
Lauren Persha, Yuliya Panfil, Sallie Sherman, Mustapha Issa Mpelembe, Mtalemwa Rutizibwa
United States Agency for International Development
Despite strong evidence on the importance of land documentation for landholders’ tenure and economic security, among other benefits, national governments are often constrained in their ability to map and title property at scale. First-time land registration is often provided at no cost to the landholder but may be unsustainable for country governments and service providers. In the context of customary land systems, the beneficiary contribution models ask landholders to contribute some portion of the registration costs to obtain official documentation of land rights, but the approach could have implications for documentation access and equity. This study utilizes a mixed methods approach that draws on analysis of land registration data from a USAID-supported customary land formalization program in Tanzania, coupled with a follow-up household survey and qualitative data collection, to better understand rural Tanzanians’ willingness and ability to pay for government-issued and legally recognized customary land documents. The program operated in two phases, initially providing Certificates of Customary Right of Occupancy (CCROs) to landholders for free, and then requiring landholders to pay a nominal fee to obtain the document. In the context of this shift to a beneficiary contribution model, the study aims to provide insights into who is willing and able to pay for land documents and why, focusing particularly on issues related to targeting, barrier removal, and equity. The results may help to inform strategies for land registration programming that aim for widespread uptake under a similar cost recovery model.
Event: World Bank Land Conference 2024 - Washington
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