Resource information
Land Tenure Working Paper 14: Growing land scarcity and concern about land-related conflicts and rising levels of rural impoverishment have brought land to the fore once more. The main difference with the recent past is the wide spectrum of actors who want to take part in the elaboration of the land policies, as well as the more and more recognized need to root the proposals in the particular context of each specific country.
The paper, focused on African experiences, starts by discussing the importance of Land Policy Issues at Regional Level. It reviews the evolution in thinking regarding land policy ending up with the identification of the critical issues being faced by Africa today whilst remembering the role that FAO can play in promoting a sound partnership between governments and their citizens in the twenty-first century.
The core of the document is represented by three different case studies (Sudan, Burkina-Faso and Mozambique) which serve to draw some lessons which can be applied for future interventions in similar contexts. In particular the diversity of policy objectives and the need to embed policy development in other processes are analyzed. The land question in post-conflict situations is also treated in detail as well as how to secure land rights in both customary and statutory regimes. Specific attention is given to the rights of women, which is becoming anincreasingly important issue in Africa and not only there, and specific lessons in land conflict management.
