Land Governance Support Activity FY19 Quarter 1 Report (Oct-Dec 2018)

The project supports the establishment of the Liberia Land Authority (LLA) and provides technical and organizational assistance to the Government of Liberia, civil society, and communities in their land rights reform process. LGSA activities during the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2019 focused on supporting the LLA in land governance areas where concrete results can be achieved. This included operationalizing the LLA, implementing community-based processes to strengthen community land governance structures, improving the legislative and regulatory framework for land, and developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for land registration and mortgage registration. The LGSA team, led by the Chief of Party, provided advisory and technical support to the LLA, including day-to-day advice and technical discussions. The team also worked with senior staff of the Deeds Registry to develop SOPs for registering deeds, conducting searches of the registry, and registering mortgages. These SOPs are designed to be used under the current paper-based system and in the future when technology is applied to automate registration processes. In addition, LGSA supported the LLA in developing a draft implementation plan for the Land Rights Act (LRA), identifying priority actions that can be supported by USAID and other donors. The LLA has made significant progress in implementing the LRA, including the establishment of a gender unit and the development of a methodology for the formalization of community land rights. LGSA also continued to support the LLA in strengthening the legal and regulatory framework for the land sector. This included providing technical assistance to the LLA to develop a draft implementation plan for the LRA, which identified priority actions that can be supported by USAID and other donors. The LGSA team worked closely with the LLA and other stakeholders to achieve these objectives. The team included a Land Governance Advisor, a Land Administration Specialist, a Communication and Outreach Specialist, and a Gender and Land Specialist. These specialists provided technical and advisory support to the LLA, including capacity building of communities, local institutions, and testing of a methodology for the formalization of community land rights. Overall, the LGSA project has made significant progress in supporting the establishment of more effective land governance systems in Liberia. The project's focus on operationalizing the LLA, implementing community-based processes, and developing SOPs for land registration and mortgage registration has helped to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of land administration in Liberia. The LGSA project has also contributed to the development of a more inclusive and equitable land governance system in Liberia. The project's focus on gender and land rights has helped to promote the rights of women and other marginalized groups in Liberia. The project's support for the LLA's gender unit has also helped to promote the participation of women in land governance decision-making processes. In conclusion, the LGSA project has made significant progress in supporting the establishment of more effective land governance systems in Liberia. The project's focus on operationalizing the LLA, implementing community-based processes, and developing SOPs for land registration and mortgage registration has helped to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of land administration in Liberia. The project's contribution to the development of a more inclusive and equitable land governance system in Liberia is also noteworthy.