The international geo-community should define its role in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), work closely with UN agencies to reach them, and spell out areas where significant contributions might be made. Key issues include tenure security, pro-poor land management, and good governance in land administration. Key tools include capacity assessment, institutional development and human-resource development, north-south co-operation, and partnerships. The need for land administration, cadastral systems and good governance already resulted many years ago in formation of the land-administration arm of FIG Commission 7, its objective being topromote access to land and registration of rights to contribute to poverty reduction and economic development.

The Quebec Workshop on Land Administration, organised by FIG Commission 7 (cadastre and land administration) in collaboration with the Fédération des géomètres francophones (FGF), aimed to formulate proposals for contributing to the establishment of a global partnership for development, MDG number eight. Speakers from international organisations, Remy Sietchiping of UN Habitat, Keith Bell of the World Bank and FIG’s Stig Enemark, kicked off the meeting by presenting aspects of land administration and sustainable development. Representatives from Asia, Africa and South America then outlined projects, issues and action in the land-administration arena.

Global Partnership
How can the international geo-community help to develop a Global Partnership for Development to improve secure land tenure? A series of (combined) approaches was discussed and it was agreed that political will was prerequisite, requiring the geo-community (land surveyors) to learn the language of politicians and demonstrate the social and economic benefits of land infrastructure. North-south and south-south co-operation should be encouraged in order to develop win-win exchanges at human level. Public/private partnerships should be further developed, and the population informed about the importance of land-rights infrastructure. Systems and laws capable of managing customary and informal rights were needed; land rights had to be public and systems transparent. The geo-community needed to find a way of improving and transforming existing systems (land registry and cadastre) rather than discarding these. Security of land rights was essential in conflict situations. African courts were inundated with land problems caused by the weakness of geodetic infrastructure.

Natural Disasters
How can the geo-community help to better respond to the need for reconstruction and resettlement after natural disasters? This question too resulted in a broad range of suggested issues and approaches: we should encourage authorities to implement and secure a cadastral system and land registry in any area presenting a risk of natural disaster. Such land infrastructure was of huge importance in facilitating post-disaster reconstruction and resettlement. There was a need to develop emergency plans using the power of geomatics and the expertise of land surveyors. We had to develop better knowledge of risks at global level. The geo-community might also help establish refugee camps and must have access to legal and spatial data in case of natural disaster.

Capacity Building
How can the geo-community help develop capacity building? This question resulted in discussions turning on a series of key issues, the main concerns being technical and professional training. An African educational facility was lacking. Many countries, especially in Africa, needed help in creating organised professional structures to ensure professional ethics, and local communities should be involved in decision-making processes. We had to find ways of promoting and facilitating the involvement of voluntary land surveyors and co-operation of students in capacity building.

Summary
The workshop attracted fifty participants from 22 countries, half from developing or emerging countries; mainly officials responsible for land administration and cadastre, land surveyors, geomaticians, legal experts, academics and students involved in co-operation projects. The workshop was a pre-conference event for GeoConference Québec 2007. The outcome will be very useful for both the FGF and FIG, and will influence their work plans over coming years. It will also contribute to developing interrelationships between FIG and UN organisations, and between surveyors and the broader international geo-community.