The Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) as facilitated by UN-Habitat, is a partner-driven Network whose aim is to improve access to land and tenure security for all, with particular focus on the most vulnerable and women.
To achieve this objective, the GLTN Secretariat:
- Works with UN Habitat Branches, Regional and Country Offices to strengthen their land and tenure-security interventions;
- Serves a growing multi-disciplinary Network of 77 partners working together to contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable development through promoting secure land and property rights for all; and
- Implements a number of land and tenure security programmes at the global, regional and country level, in collaboration with other UN-Habitat offices and Partners.
In recent years, and in coordination with UN Habitat’s Regional Office of Arab States, GLTN has been expanding its work in the Arab States, with particular focus on land governance, capacity development, knowledge management, promoting regional cooperation among organisations and sectors with a stake in land governance and land management, gender, land and conflict, and support to land projects implementation at country level.
Technical assistance on land and tenure security programmes and processes – GLTN and UN-Habitat’s Regional Office of Arab States have extensive knowledge on land-issues relevant to the region. The network is working on availing such knowledge at the disposal of the Regional and Country land actors on areas of priority, including supporting project development, provide strategic advice in processes that have land dimension, etc.
Capacity development – The GLTN can organise regional learning event on land and tenure security issues for personnel and partners (including government officials, UN, NGOs, academia, civil society, etc.). Topics may vary as required, from GLTN tools and approaches to context specific needs.
Research – The GLTN has the capacity to conduct action-oriented research on thematic issues of interest. Some of the topics previously identified as areas of knowledge development are: land fragmentation and consolidation; options to address migration and displacement, such as rental options or temporary tenure arrangements with host communities; and land governance and management in support to spatial planning in fluid contexts; analysis of land-related policies, laws and institutional frameworks, etc.
Contribute to the implementation of the New Urban Agenda in the region – The implementation of the SDGs and of the New Urban Agenda are key areas where UN-Habitat is called to support Arab governments. The GLTN has a set of tested tools and approaches that can be used to help countries implementing and monitoring progress against these frameworks.
Support the implementation of the Arab Strategy for Housing and Sustainable Urban Development – Land is mentioned as one of the issues to be tackled by the Strategy. The GLTN, in coordination with UN-Habitat’s Regional Office of Arab States can support its implementation through a set of interventions and working Partners.
Contribute to the development and implementation of programmes for the settlement/ housing or resettlement of displaced populations through a range of activities, including baseline studies, preparation of intervention strategies, strengthening ongoing interventions, etc.
Capacity development/ strengthening land component – Capacity development is seen as one of the most important entry points for land in the region. Capacity to address land issues is needed at many levels, such as individual and institutional levels. ‘Hard skills’ (technical skills, specific knowledge) and ‘soft skills’ (culture, values, leadership, experience, negotiation, teamwork, conflict resolution, facilitation, communication, ability to change, etc.) are equally needed. The capacity of Arab Land Actors to tackle land issues adequately in project development and implementation could equally be strengthened (e.g. through training, increased sharing of lessons and information across offices, dissemination of knowledge management materials and publications).
Tool development and adaptation – The documentation and adaptation of existing GLTN tools can strengthen the contribution from the Arab region towards the global discussion on land rights and land conflict prevention and will provide solutions to also be considered for other regions and countries with similar challenges.
Joint project development and implementation – GLTN supported a number of UN-Habitat country offices and other INGOs in developing project proposals with land and tenure security (e.g. Lebanon, Sudan, Palestine, Syria, etc.). Joint project development is a key step in the establishment of future collaborations and in ensuring that GLTN Land partner’s normative work and country level interventions are aligned.
Review of strategies, documents, position papers, etc. – GLTN has been carrying out technical reviews and providing inputs and of strategies, position papers and other documents produced by regional and country offices. Such type of collaboration ensures that global normative thinking and good practices are adequately incorporated into the work done by the Agency at the regional and technical level.
