Overview of the areas of collaboration between GLTN and APN
APN and UN-Habitat / GLTN will collaborate in the following areas of work:
- Conducting a study on land and conflict in the Arab region;
- Organise and carry out an Expert Group Meeting on Land and Conflict in the Arab Region;
- Expanding the network of experts and institutions part of the Arab Land Initiative. Throughout the conduct of the different activities, APN will link up with new partners and develop new relationships with organisations and institutions – including the partners carrying out the other Agreements of cooperation.
- Undertaking communication and visibility initiatives, ensuring that the content being developed, and the key activities undertaken as part of the project and the overall Arab Land Initiative will have a good media coverage and visibility (websites, media and social media, presentations at events, etc.)
Background on the content
As in other parts of the world, land-related challenges can be root causes, triggers, proximate factors or side effects of conflicts in the Arab region. Access to land, natural resources and water sources, especially in areas where these resources are scarce, can be at the origin of conflict between individuals and social groups with competing land claims. The main goal of the study prepared for this Agreement of Cooperation is to identify and analyze land-related causes of conflicts, violent conflict and social destabilization in the Arab region and to provide recommendations on how to prevent, mitigate and address these causes in the short, medium and long term.
On the basis of the work done for the study, the implementing partner will also organize an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) whereby knowledge on land-related causes of conflict is exchanged and further developed. Experts with different professional backgrounds (academic, civil society, government, etc.) will come together for an open discussion about the role of land-related issues in triggering or reinforcing of or stemming from land conflicts and priority interventions to address these challenges.
The combined knowledge produced by the study and the event aims at increasing knowledge and awareness in the region on the land and conflict nexus, develop a succinct analysis of the issue and a set of recommendations for governments, partners and other stakeholders on the way forward – looking at both prevention and resolution of land related conflicts.
Overview of the areas of collaboration between GLTN and Rasheed-T.I
UN-Habitat / GLTN and Rasheed-T.I will collaborate in the following four areas of work:
- Organise and carry out one (1) Expert Group Meeting on “Monitoring land governance and land tenure security”, bringing together regional experts of and key stakeholders involved in land data collection, in order to assess the current state of knowledge on monitoring land governance and tenure security, the type and the quality of existing land data, as well as the used methodologies for data collection in the Arab region.
- Organise and carry out two (2) training events on monitoring land governance with a specific focus on supporting national stakeholders with the development of their capacities in collecting, analysing and reporting on land-related data as provided for by the joint module for collecting data and reporting on SDG indicators 1.4.2 and 5.a.1.
- Expand the network of experts and institutions that are part of the Arab Land Initiative. Throughout the conduct of the different activities, Rasheed-T.I will link up with new partners and develop new relationships with organisations and institutions – including the partners carrying out the other Agreements of Cooperation. A list of organisations and institutions and their individual focal points with email contacts will be submitted at the end of the project to UN-Habitat / GLTN.
- Undertake communication and visibility initiatives, (posts on websites, media and social media, etc.). ensuring that the content being developed and the key activities undertaken as part of the project and the overall Arab Land Initiative will have a good media coverage and visibility
Background on the content
The security of tenure and the governance of access and use of land affects the social, economic and environmental dimensions of a society. They are directly linked to socio-economic development and the establishment of peace and security. This makes of land a cornerstone for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and their related indicators. SDG indicator 1.4.2. measures the Proportion of total adult population with secure tenure rights to land, with (a) legally recognized documentation and (b) who perceive their rights to land as secure, by sex and by type of tenure. Indicator 5.a.1. looks into the a) Proportion of total agricultural population with ownership or secure rights over agricultural land by sex; and (b) share of women among owners or rights-bearers of agricultural land, by type of tenure.
The Global Land Indicator Initiative (GLII) has developed a list of 15 nationally applicable and global comparable land indicators that go beyond the provisions of land in the SDGs to cover four key areas of land governance: land tenure security for all, land and conflict, land administration services, and sustainable land use management. The next step of the initiative is to ensure that the SDG indicator is measured informing national policy dialogue and to operationalize the 15 indicators that helps guide interventions. The role of data institutions including National Statistical Offices, land agencies, universities and the CSOs, and the cost effectiveness and ability for routine reporting though the application of various data collection methods including administrative data, geospatial data, mobile and web-based approaches, in land tenure and governance monitoring are yet to be examined.
The aim of the EGM is to bring together experts with different professional backgrounds (academic, civil society, government, etc.) with knowledge on the challenges and experiences of data collection for these land indicators in different countries of the Arab region. The discussions should address how the monitoring of the land indicators can be carried out in the different countries. Lessons on challenges of monitoring and approaches to overcome them should be shared.
Two training sessions will be organized to discuss why land indicators should be part of national priority indicators monitored by governments; to increase knowledge and understanding of the existing methodologies for monitoring indicator 1.4.2 and 5. a.1 their integration into relevant national surveys and to increase motivation of NSOs to include essential questions in relevant surveys, collect data and report on the two indicators in the SDGs with support of custodians and other actors. The specific content of the EGM and training events will be discussed further with the selected candidate for this contract, also on the basis of other related events and initiatives planned or ongoing in the region.
Overview of the areas of collaboration between GLTN and UAWC
UAWC and UN-Habitat / GLTN will collaborate in the following five areas of work:
- Study on “evidence-based linkages between access to land and socio-economic development and empowerment, especially for women”.
- Organise an Expert Group Meeting on Women’s access to Land.
- Two training events on Women’s access to Land;
In addition, through the activities implemented in this contract, UAWC and UN-Habitat / GLTN will collaborate on:
- Expanding the network of experts and institutions part of the Arab Land Initiative. Throughout the conduct of the different activities, UAWC will link up with new partners and develop new relationships with organisations and institutions – including the partners carrying out the other Agreements of cooperation.
- Undertaking communication and visibility initiatives, ensuring that the content being developed, and the key activities undertaken as part of the project and the overall Arab Land Initiative will have a good media coverage and visibility (websites, media and social media, presentations at events, etc.)
Background on the content
Equal access to land and enhanced tenure security are crucial for poverty reduction, e.g. by provoding access to financial and economic resources, by increasing food security, by enabling people in both rural and urban areas to invest in improved homes and livelihoods, by providing access to loans, which can be reinvested in business etc. Thus, access to and control over land by both women and men can trigger broader social and economic development. Land ownership, increased knowledge about the economic value of land as well as a secure access to land administration and land related services (surveying, planning, registering, etc.) are key factors for empowering people in both rural and urban settings. Access to land, especially by the most vulnerable, can rebalance power relationships within the family, the community and the society. Access to and control over productive resources, including land, and independent income strengthens the land holder’s autonomy and brings about long-term benefits for society. Land owners become managers of economic assets, control financial resources and undertake their own economic activities. This economic independence is particularly important in conflict- and post-conflict settings, where the trheat of forced eviction is diminished. Furthermore, owners of land rights with land documents and access to land administration become involved in local decision-making processes more easily, which are – especially in rural areas – often related to the use of and the control over land. Previous interventions and studies have shown that secure access to land rights and ownership lead to increased civic engagement and public participation.[1] The capacities and willingness to negotiate are increased.
The main goal of the study is to identify and analyze the linkages between land access and control and socio-economic empowerment – especially of the most vulnerable – in different countries of the Arab region. To what extent does land tenure impact economic and political participation and empowerment of different social groups? Several variables should be defined and used in order to measure the correlation between land tenure security and socio-economic development.
On the basis of the work done by GLTN on gender, such as the Gender Evaluation Criteria and the study on Women and Land in the Muslim World (more info on www.gltn.net), an Expert Group Meeting will be organized, bringing together experts with different professional backgrounds (academic, civil society, government, etc.) in order to debate on and share empirical evidence about women’s access to and control over land in different countries of the Arab region, to what extent the land tenure security correlates with different aspects of their empowerment (political, economic, social, etc.), also on conflict- and post-conflict situations, and what priority action should be undertaken by different land actors to improve women’s situation with regard to housing, land and property rights.
The two training events have several aims, such as: an increased understanding of the importance of women’s land rights and tenure security in national policy making and land reform, more particularly; an improved knowledge of the different channels for women in the Arab region to access land; as well as the familiarization with approaches and tools promoted by GLTN, promoting land tenure security for all, and especially for the most vulnerable, such as women (e.g. the fit-for-purpose land administration approach, the continuum of land rights as well as the Islamic land principles).
Overview of the areas of collaboration
UTI and UN-Habitat / GLTN will collaborate in the following five areas of work:
- Capacity needs assessment on land governance in Arab countries not covered by the capacity needs assessment undertaken by the NELGA North Africa node.
- Assessment of existing land governance related courses and institutions in the region;
- Review of the land-related curricula in the region.
- Two capacity development events on GLTN pro-poor and gender-responsive land tools and – if applicable – partners tools and approaches that are relevant for the region and that contribute to good land governance.
- Establishment and management of a research innovation fund for young professionals and practitioners.
- Adaptation and translation of key materials to be jointly identified.
In addition, through the activities implemented in this contract, UTI and UN-Habitat / GLTN will collaborate on:
- Expanding the network of experts and institutions part of the Arab Land Initiative. Throughout the conduct of the different activities, UTI will link up with new partners and develop new relationships with organisations and institutions – including the partners carrying out the other Agreements of cooperation.
- Undertaking communication and visibility initiatives, ensuring that the content being developed and the key activities undertaken as part of the project and the overall Arab Land Initiative will have a good media coverage and visibility (websites, media and social media, presentations at events, etc.)
Background on the content
Capacity development is a pillar of the Arab Region Programme on Good Land Governance in Support of Inclusive Development, Peace and Stability. The aim is not only to produce evidence and to increase knowledge about existing land governance structures, about obstacles to land security and about potential solutions to overcome them, but also to create and foster a network of land experts and land professionals who can produce empirical evidence and transform this knowledge into concrete action. In order to achieve this objective, it is crucial to conduct a first assessment of the needs in terms of capacities, of existing knowledge sources and learning offers, of the needs in terms of training, for implementing convenient strategies and programmes in the Arab region. The expected outcomes must reflect the reality of the problems related to various needs of the Arab region countries. Building on existing regional networks of expertise in land governance (GLTN, NELGA, ILC, AUS), the aim of the capacity needs assessment is to identify the capacity needs of the land sector stakeholders, including government institutions and departments, land professionals, academia, civil society, etc. . The Agreement of Cooperation includes a review of the curricula exercises undertaken by GLTN and NELGA to adapt them to the region. The capacity needs assessment also includes the identification of existing land governance-related courses in different learning institutions in the region and to assess their gaps in order to provide a working plan complement these curricula and learning offers.
In addition, the implementing organization will organize two capacity development events on GLTN and other land governance and administration tools, which are relevant for the region.
Overview of the areas of collaboration between GLTN and CRTEAN
CRTEAN and UN-Habitat / GLTN will collaborate in the following five areas of work:
- Organise an Expert Group Meeting on Fit-for-Purpose Land Administration.
- Two training events on Fit-For-Purpose Land Administration;
- Expanding the network of experts and institutions part of the Arab Land Initiative. Throughout the conduct of the different activities, CRTEAN will link up with new partners and develop new relationships with organisations and institutions – including the partners carrying out the other Agreements of cooperation.
- Undertaking communication and visibility initiatives, ensuring that the content being developed, and the key activities undertaken as part of the project and the overall Arab Land Initiative will have a good media coverage and visibility (websites, media and social media, presentations at events, etc.)
Background on the content
Most countries struggle to put in place land registration / land administration systems that function at the national scale. New solutions are required that can deliver security of tenure for all people, are affordable and can be quickly developed and incrementally improved over time. The Fit-fur-Purpose Land Administration concept has three interrelated core components: the spatial, the legal and the institutional frameworks. The spatial framework supports recording the way in which land is occupied and used. The scale and accuracy of this representation should be sufficient to secure the various kinds of legal rights and tenure forms recognized through the legal framework. The institutional framework is designed to manage these rights and the use of land and natural resources, and to deliver inclusive and accessible services. The process entails recognizing, recording and reviewing land rights; this means balancing the financial cost against speed of delivery against quality, such as levels of accuracy to meet the needs; in short, finding a suitable solution for the purpose. Identifying appropriate approaches and solutions for sustainable land administration in the Arab region is crucial to enhance land tenure security.
Overview of the areas of collaboration between GLTN and LCPS
UN-Habitat / GLTN and LCPS will collaborate in the following five areas of work:
- Plan and carry out a study, which identifies and analyzes the different correlations between land tenure security and good land governance and combating land degradation and climate change in the Arab region.
- Organize and carry out an expert group meeting on “Land governance and climate change”.
- Organize and carry out an expert group meeting on “Pastoral land and range lands”.
- Expand the network of experts and institutions part of the Arab Land Initiative. Throughout the conduct of the different activities, LCPS will link up with new partners and develop new relationships with organisations and institutions – including the partners carrying out the other Agreements of cooperation. A list of organisations and institutions and their individual focal points with email contacts will be submitted at the end of the project to UN-Habitat / GLTN.
- Undertake communication and visibility initiatives, ensuring that the content being developed and the key activities undertaken as part of the project and the overall Arab Land Initiative will have a good media coverage and visibility (posts on websites, media and social media, etc.)
Background on the content
Land, climate and environment strongly intertwined. Climate related natural disasters such as droughts, inondations and other weather and climate-related catasrophes lead to displacement, eviction and migration, which directly impact the land tenure situation. Furthermore, demographic growth, climate change and land degradation lead to natural resource scarcity and land use change, which can heavily impact tenure security, especially of the most vulnerable groups, such as women and youth. Recent studies have shown the strong linkages between land tenure insecyrity and climate vulnerability and, vice versa, that improved tenure security could be an important enabler of climate-change adaption. Land governance is a central entry point for addressing a range of human vulnerabilities, e.g. arising from natural disasters, conflict, environmental migration, waters and food security. It is a critical component in enhancing community resilience to a variety of natural and human-induced shocks and stresses. Strategies that improve tenure security contribute to improved food and water secyrity, more sustainable livlihoods, reduced forced and unplanned human mobility that leads to landlessness, reduced environmental degratdation, less urban and rural poverty, reduced conflict over land and resources.
The aim of this study is to identify and analyze the correlations between land-related challenges (access to and control over land rights, land use, etc.), natural resources and climate change in the Arab region. To what extent are these three variables interrelated and which effect do they have on each other?
Furthermore, two Expert Group Meetings (EGMs) will be organized. A first EGM will bring together experts with different professional backgrounds (academic, civil society, government, etc.) for an open discussion about the mutual impacts of land and climate change in the Arab region. It will be an opportunity to exchange on past experiences on the interrelations between natural, climate and environmental incidents and land tenure security in different countries of the region; to share good practices, existing approaches and recommendations on how to improve tenure security in order to prevent land pressure and landlessness in context of environmental degradation.
A second EGM will address, more specifically, the challenges related to pastoral and range lands. Social dynamics related to land, access to natural resources, environmental degradation and climate change are affecting vulnerable groups, involving pastoral communities, especially those belonging to ethnic groups split across national boundaries. The aim of this meeting of experts is to discuss on empirical evidence of the impacts of climate change and environmental challenges on land tenure security in different countries of the Arab region and to identify best practices and recommendations.
Overview of the areas of collaboration between GLTN and ISTIDAMA & AUS
UN-Habitat / GLTN and ISTIDAMA & AUS will collaborate in the following five areas of work:
- Undertake a capacity needs assessment of land professionals in the region.
- Organize a Knowledge Exchange on the role of land professional in the region.
Background
The land professionals – including surveyors, lawyers, planners, engineers, etc – have an important role in different aspects of land governance. The capacity needs assessment will review the current capacities and the capacity gaps of different land professionals that will need to be filled for them to be able to play an adequate role in the different aspects of land governance as defined by the Global Land Tool Network (e.g. in the GLTN curriculum developed). The capacity needs assessment of land professionals will feed into the broader capacity needs assessment carried out under AoC n.4.
The Knowledge Exchange event aims at bringing together different land professionals from Arab countries to discuss the role they currently have and the roles they should evolve into in the coming years to ensure their full contribution to the different aspects of land governance in the region. The results of the capacity needs assessment and the GLTN curriculum will be two of the key documents reviewed at the event. The event further aims to explore opportunities for strengthening and promoting good practices in land governance and administration.
Overview of the work
This Agreement of Cooperation includes one main activity:
- Baseline study for land tenure security and land governance in the region, including policies, laws, institutional frameworks
Background on the content
The objective of the baseline study is: it will assess existing land governance mechanisms by providing an analysis of existing policies as well as legal and institutional frameworks shaping processes related to the control of the access to and use of land. Increasing knowledge and understanding about the decision-making processes and stakeholders in the land sector, the existing laws and reglementations of the land sector as well as the loopholes and gaps is an indispensable step of any research and operational programme on land governance. Specific attention should be drawn on land legislation regarding women in the region. This study will be based on case studies, empirical evidence and documentary reviews of land laws, the institutional setting and procedures from different countries of the Arab region. Therefore, data collection will be conducted on the country level. However, the study also entails a regional component: trends and areas of attention should be defined based on cross-cutting results from the case studies.
Overview of the areas of collaboration between GLTN and IYCY
IYCY and UN-Habitat / GLTN will collaborate in the following three areas of work:
- Organise a Knowledge exchange event on the role of civil society on land governance in the region.
- Expand the network of experts and institutions, which arepart of the Arab Land Initiative. Throughout the conduct of the different activities, IYCI will link up with new partners and develop new relationships with organisations and institutions – including the partners carrying out the other Agreements of cooperation. A list of organisations and institutions and their individual focal points with email contacts will be submitted at the end of the project to UN-Habitat / GLTN.
- Undertake communication and visibility initiatives, ensuring that the content being developed, and the key activities undertaken as part of the project and the overall Arab Land Initiative will have a good media coverage and visibility (posts on websites, media and social media, etc.)
Background
Civil society in the Arab World has been facing long-term challenges. The Knowledge Exchange event will be an opening discussion on the role and the challenges that face the civil societies who operates in the land governance sector in the region. The event will highlight the Civil Society (CSOs) work, the challenges they face and their capacity and contribution to a better land governance in the Arab states. One of the objectives that should be point out and analysed in the discussion; is raising the common issues facing CSOs that address the needs of women and also the women’s groups who focused on improving women’s social rights, land rights and land laws across the region. Also, the event will be stressing the local NGOs in the Arab world on the importance of joining forces and working together to demand the governments to legitimize more the actions of CSOs and their degree of autonomy and operational freedom to achieve a good land governance.
