Guiding Principles for Country Implementation

The Global Land Tool Network (GLTN), as facilitated by UN-Habitat and in cooperation with the Netherlands’ Cadastre, Land Registry and Mapping Agency (Kadaster), has launched a new publication addressing the challenge of building land administration systems in developing countries. The publication introduces a fit-for-purpose approach that allows for the systems to be built within a relatively short time frame and at affordable costs. The approach is flexible, participatory and allows for incremental improvement over time.

By Oumar Sylla, Leader, UN-Habitat’s Land and Global Land Tool Network Unit

The publication is primarily designed to allow a range of stakeholders in developing countries to understand the overall fit-for-purpose approach and to recognise the benefits of adopting this approach.

The publication also provides structured guidance on designing the spatial, legal and institutional frameworks as the core components for country-specific implementation.  

Facing the 2030 Global Agenda

The publication is a response to the challenges set by the overall global sustainable development agenda. This agenda cannot be achieved without having good land governance in place, including the operational component of land administration systems. The fit-for-purpose approach as presented in this publication should be seen as an enabler for implementing these global objectives in developing countries.

Why do we need to change current approaches?

Most developing countries are struggling to find solutions for land issues that lead to poverty, land conflicts, natural disasters, environmental degradation, reduced investment and economic development, thus preventing the developing countries from reaching their true potential. Existing investments in land administration have been built on legacy approaches, have been fragmented and have not delivered the required pervasive changes and improvements at scale. New solutions are required that can deliver security of tenure for all, are affordable and can be quickly developed and incrementally improved over time. The fit-for-purpose approach to land administration has emerged to meet these challenging requirements.

Providing security of tenure for all

The publication provides guidance for closing the security-of-tenure gap that exists in most developing countries – where often up to 90 percent of the land and the population are outside the formal land administration systems – and for building a sustainable land administration system which contributes to revenue generation and to reducing land-related conflicts.

Fit-for-purpose

The fit-for-purpose concept is not just a technical fix. It is about applying the spatial, legal and institutional methodologies that are most suitable for the purpose of providing secure tenure for all by addressing the current constraints and allowing for incremental improvement over time.   

Towards a sustainable future

It is hoped that this publication will be instrumental in paving the way towards implementing sustainable and affordable land administration systems in developing countries, enabling security of tenure for all and effectively managing land use and natural resources. This, in turn, will facilitate economic growth, social equity and environmental sustainability in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Sustainable Development Indicators (SDIs). 

The publication is co-authored by Stig Enemark (Denmark), Robin McLaren (United Kingdom) and Christiaan Lemmen (The Netherlands), with support from a worldwide reference group and GLTN partners. The 120-page publication is available online from the GLTN website. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all GLTN partners who are contributing to this innovative tool.