Feed the Future Tanzania Land Tenure Assistance (LTA) Monthly Report No. 69

The program is implemented by DAI Global, LLC, under Contract No. IQC: AID-OAA-I-12-00031/AID-621-T0-16-00005. The program's main objective is to support the Government of Tanzania in strengthening its land administration systems and promoting secure land tenure for smallholder farmers. In August 2021, LTA made significant progress in developing land use plans and implementing the Certificates of Customary Right of Occupancy (CCRO) delivery process in Iringa, Mbarali, and Kilolo Districts. The program assisted in completing the preparation of Village Land Use Planning (VLUP) reports for Ukwama and Winome villages, and printed VLUP reports for 11 villages in the Iringa District. LTA also completed the demarcation and adjudication process in Ukwama village in Mbarali District and Mawambala village of Kilolo District. The program started the process of adjudication and demarcation in Winome village by providing training to parasurveyors. Additionally, LTA successfully completed the conduct of public display of the results of demarcation and adjudication for Itamba village of Mbarali District. The program continued to strengthen the capacity of village land governance institutions with respect to land administration and village land use planning. In collaboration with Mbarali and Kilolo District authorities, LTA provided trainings to the Village Adjudication Committees, Village Land Councils, Hamlet leaders, and parasurveyors of Ukwama, Mawambala, and Winome villages. The trainings covered various topics, including basic principles of land laws, introduction to the village land registration process using MAST, village land adjudication and demarcation principles, land use planning, and enforcement of VLUP bylaws. During the CCRO issuance ceremonies held in Mibikimitali, Nyabula, Isupilo, and Wangama villages in Iringa District, a modest amount of beneficiary contributions was collected and deposited in the Village Land Registration accounts. LTA also made follow-up communications with Village Executive Officers (VEOs), village leaders, Village Land Registration Councils (VLRC), and beneficiaries from 18 villages in Iringa, 11 villages in Mbarali, and 5 villages in Kilolo to remind them to contribute for their land registration. The program continued laying the groundwork for ensuring the sustainability of its activity through an organizationally and financially viable successor Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). In the reporting month, LTA assisted the LTA-NGO to continue engaging the Iringa District Council to resolve an outstanding issue related to concluding a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Iringa District Council and the LTA-NGO. The issue was resolved, and the LTA-NGO and the Iringa DC signed a MOU to collaboratively ensure the continuity and sustainability of the LTA activity in the Iringa district. In the reporting month, the LTA-NGO won a tender to provide technical assistance to the Participatory Private Forestry Program (PFP2) to pilot village land registration (delivery of CCROs) in the Ibaga village of Makete District in Njombe region. LTA assisted the LTA-NGO in preparing its tender proposal and clarifying issues that arose after the submission of the tender proposal. The revenue generated from this contract is expected to enable the NGO to cover a portion of its running costs for the initial year of its operation as an independent entity. The program's activities are focused on improving land tenure security for rural communities in Tanzania, promoting secure land tenure for smallholder farmers, and strengthening the capacity of village land governance institutions. The program's progress in August 2021 demonstrates its commitment to achieving its objectives and contributing to the development of Tanzania's land administration systems.