Feed the Future Tanzania Land Tenure Assistance (LTA) Monthly Report No. 68

In the reporting month, LTA completed the process of developing village land use plans (VLUPs) for Ukwama village in Mbarali and Winome village in Kilolo. The proposed VLUPs for both villages were approved by the village residents in Village Assembly meetings. LTA also completed adjudication and demarcation activities in Itamba village, Mbarali District. In collaboration with the District Land Office (DLO), LTA completed the demarcation and adjudication process in Itamba village, marking a crucial first milestone toward completing the process of systematic village land registration in the village and the Mbarali district as a whole. Additionally, LTA completed public display of the results of demarcation and adjudication for Msuluti and Ibumila Villages, Iringa District. The lists of claims for Nyabula and Isupilo villages were approved for printing and registration of Certificates of Customary Rights of Occupancy (CCROs), and LTA assisted in printing and registering a total of 1,021 and 1,126 CCROs for Nyabula and Isupilo villages, respectively. However, LTA was compelled to indefinitely postpone CCRO issuance ceremonies in these villages due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in Iringa. LTA continued assisting the DLO for Mbarali District in resolving the boundary dispute that has been ongoing between Mtamba and Uturo Village Councils. Although LTA has been striving to resolve this dispute through the facilitation of the DLO and the Assistant Regional Land Commissioner for the Mbeya Region, the deep-seated political nature of the underlying cause of the dispute has made it difficult to amicably settle it in a timely manner. LTA continued strengthening the capacity of village land governance institutions with respect to land administration and village land use plan enforcement. In collaboration with Mbarali and Kilolo District authorities, LTA provided trainings to the Village Councils of Ukwama and Winome. The trainings covered various topics including basic principles of land laws, introduction to the village land registration process using the Mobile Application to Secure Tenure (MAST), village land use planning, and enforcement of VLUP bylaws. LTA also continued to raise awareness of village residents in relation to land rights. In collaboration with the DLO of the Mbarali and Kilolo District Councils, LTA conducted village assembly trainings in Ukwama and Winome villages. The trainings focused on village land use plan, land rights of vulnerable groups including women and youth, introduction to the village land registration process, the beneficiary contribution model, and dispute resolution. During the reporting period, LTA continued to encourage beneficiaries in Mbeya, Mbarali, Kilolo, and Iringa districts to contribute for their land registration. LTA held follow-up meetings with community leaders and beneficiaries in nine villages in Mbarali District, as well as meetings in Kilolo district with village leaders and residents in five villages. LTA also conducted similar efforts in 18 villages in Iringa District. In Haporoto and Isangala villages in Mbeya District, LTA worked with the Mbeya District DLO and conducted a CCRO issuance campaign with the objective of boosting its collection of beneficiary contributions in accordance with the prevailing agreement between LTA, the District Council, and the beneficiary villages. LTA continued laying the groundwork for ensuring the sustainability of its activity through an organizationally and financially viable successor NGO. In the reporting month, LTA continued engaging the Iringa District Council on forging a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two parties. The signing of the draft MOU that was prepared by LTA was delayed due to lingering discussions on a clause that was counter-proposed by the Head of the Department of Lands and Natural Resources of the Iringa DC to incorporate in the MOU. LTA also continued making efforts aimed at ensuring the financial viability of the LTA-NGO. In the reporting month, LTA assisted the LTA-NGO in preparing and submitting a tender proposal to provide technical assistance to the Participatory Private Forestry Program (PFP2) who is seeking to pilot the introduction of the MAST technology to issue CCROs for more than 1,500 woodlots in one village in Makete District, Njombe Region.