Land Administration to Nurture Development (LAND) Quarterly Report No. 7, October 01–December 31, 2014

More than three-quarters of the population derive their income from agriculture; social and cultural norms in rural areas are largely shaped by land use practices. Maintaining agriculture as a major source of economic growth is a pillar in Ethiopia's Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP). The Government of Ethiopia (GOE) accords high priority to the sustainable use and management of land and its proper governance in the nation's agenda for food security, poverty reduction, and accelerated economic growth to achieve the status of a middle-income country. The purpose of the Land Administration to Nurture Development (LAND) project is to expand and extend two previously successful projects—Ethiopia Strengthening Land Tenure and Land Administration Program (ELTAP) implemented in 2005-2008 and Ethiopia Strengthening Land Administration Program (ELAP) implemented in 2008-2013—financed by The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Ethiopia Mission and implemented by the federal Ministry of Agriculture and six regional states with technical assistance provided by Tetra Tech. These projects helped strengthen rural land tenure security and women's land use rights, encourage efficient land transactions, build capacity of federal and regional land administration agencies to improve service delivery, and pilot cadastral surveying and certification methodologies to recognize and document rural land use rights. LAND's activities will be implemented to achieve four objectives: Improved legal and policy frameworks at national and local levels; strengthened capacity in national, regional, and local land administration and use planning; strengthened capacity of Ethiopian universities to engage in policy analysis and research related to land tenure and train land administration and land use professionals; and strengthened community land rights in pastoral and agro-pastoral areas to facilitate market linkages and economic growth. The LAND project will be implemented with and through the Ministry of Agriculture's Land Administration and Use Directorate (MOA/LAUD) at the national level and the regional land administration bureaus of Afar, Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, Somali, and Tigray. During the quarter October 1 to December 31, 2014, LAND made significant progress in implementing its activities. The project continued to strengthen the capacity of national, regional, and local land administration agencies to improve service delivery. LAND also assisted Ethiopian universities to strengthen their capacity to train land administration officials and professionals in survey and certification procedures and property rights, including women's land use rights, conflict mitigation, and land use planning. In pastoral areas, LAND piloted activities to demarcate and certify community boundaries and strengthened community land holding governance entities in which community title to land will vest and that will represent the community before government and in dealings with investors. LAND worked closely with the Pastoralists Resiliency Improvement and Market Expansion (PRIME) project, which is also supported by USAID, and regional governments to develop participatory land use plans. LAND also supported the creation of an enabling environment in which PRIME will develop opportunities for linking communities to markets. LAND activities in pastoral areas helped improve governance at the local level by assisting communities with decision-making rights over their natural assets: land, water, and other natural resources. The project's progress was monitored and evaluated through regular meetings with stakeholders, including the Ministry of Agriculture, regional governments, and community leaders. The project also conducted training and capacity-building activities for land administration officials and professionals. LAND's activities were implemented in accordance with the project's work plan and budget, and the project's financial management and reporting systems were in place. The project's achievements during the quarter included the completion of a training program for land administration officials and professionals, the development of participatory land use plans in pastoral areas, and the demarcation and certification of community boundaries. The project also made progress in strengthening the capacity of Ethiopian universities to engage in policy analysis and research related to land tenure and train land administration and land use professionals. Overall, LAND made significant progress in implementing its activities during the quarter October 1 to December 31, 2014. The project continued to strengthen the capacity of national, regional, and local land administration agencies to improve service delivery, assisted Ethiopian universities to strengthen their capacity to train land administration officials and professionals, and piloted activities to demarcate and certify community boundaries in pastoral areas.