COTE D'IVOIRE– PROPERTY RIGHTS AND RESOURCE GOVERNANCE PROFILE

The majority of land is held and transferred according to customary law, with a lineage-based system where land is considered to belong to the original inhabitants of an area. However, this system has led to conflict, particularly in the south, where commercial agriculture has increased and land is increasingly being transferred to outsiders. The Rural Land Law, adopted in 1998, aims to transform customary land rights to private property regulated by the state. However, the law has not been effectively implemented due to armed conflict and the government's lack of capacity. The law creates rural land-management committees at the village level to educate local farmers on environmental issues and promote sustainable farming practices. Côte d'Ivoire has relatively abundant water resources, but water scarcity is more pronounced in the north. The government has moved towards integrated water management, simplifying the institutional framework and approving a National Action Plan for Integrated Management of Water Resources. However, the proportion of Ivoirians with access to safe drinking water has decreased due to urbanization and damage to water and sanitation infrastructure during the civil conflict. The country's population is projected to continue growing, with a growth rate of 2.08% in 2011. The rural population accounts for 48.7% of the total population, with a literacy rate of 55% among adults. The arable land area is approximately 8.8% of the total land area, with agricultural land accounting for 63.8% of the land area. The government has recognized the need to address land tenure insecurity, which has led to social conflict and environmental degradation. The government has set out to implement the Rural Land Law, which aims to transform customary land rights to private property regulated by the state. However, the lack of capacity and armed conflict have hindered the effective implementation of the law. The government has also recognized the need to promote women's land rights, which are essential for addressing land tenure insecurity. Women's access to land is based on their status within the family, and they have the right to remain on the land they farmed while their husband was alive. However, the government has not effectively implemented the Rural Land Law, which has led to a lack of clarity on land rights. The government has also recognized the need to address environmental degradation, which is a major consequence of land tenure insecurity. The Rural Land Law creates rural land-management committees at the village level to educate local farmers on environmental issues and promote sustainable farming practices. However, the lack of capacity and armed conflict have hindered the effective implementation of the law. The government has also recognized the need to address water scarcity, which is a major challenge in the north. The government has moved towards integrated water management, simplifying the institutional framework and approving a National Action Plan for Integrated Management of Water Resources. However, the proportion of Ivoirians with access to safe drinking water has decreased due to urbanization and damage to water and sanitation infrastructure during the civil conflict. In conclusion, Côte d'Ivoire faces significant challenges in addressing land tenure insecurity, environmental degradation, and water scarcity. The government has recognized the need to implement the Rural Land Law, promote women's land rights, and address environmental degradation. However, the lack of capacity and armed conflict have hindered the effective implementation of the law.