LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 Annual Report (October 2017 – September 2018)

APRIL 2017 OCTOBER 2018 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was preparedInternational by Tetra Development. Tech. It was prepared by Tetra Tech. This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development by Tetra Tech, through the Liberia Land Governance Support Activity, Contract No: AID-OAA-I-12-00032, Task Order No: AID-669-TO-15-00003.

This report was prepared by: Tetra Tech 159 Bank Street, Suite 300 Burlington, Vermont 05401 USA Telephone: (802) 495-0282 Fax: (802) 658-4247 Email: [email protected]

Tetra Tech Contacts:

Yohannes Gebremedhin, Chief of Party [email protected]

Lauren Dees-Erickson, Deputy Chief of Party [email protected]

Megan Huth, Project Manager [email protected]

David Felson, Deputy Project Manager [email protected] LIBERIA LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY ANNUAL REPORT FY18 (OCTOBER 2017 - SEPTEMBER 2018)

OCTOBER 2018

DISCLAIMER The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ...... II EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...... 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 4 2.0 YEAR 3 ACTIVITIES ...... 5 2.1 LIBERIA LAND AUTHORITY ...... 5 2.1.1 OPERATIONALIZATION OF THE LIBERIA LAND AUTHORITY ...... 6 2.1.2 DECENTRALIZATION OF THE LIBERIA LAND AUTHORITY...... 9 2.1.3 LIBERIA LAND AUTHORITY CRITICAL ACTIVITIES ...... 10 2.2 CONDUCT ACTION RESEARCH AND DEVELOP A METHODOLGY FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAND RIGHTS POLICY (LAW) ...... 11 2.2.1 DEVELOP LEARNING AGENDA FOR CUSTOMARY LAND RIGHTS IMPLEMENTATION ...... 11 2.2.2 DEVELOP, FIELD TEST, AND REVISE PROCESSES FOR CUSTOMARY LAND RIGHTS IMPLEMENTATION ...... 11 2.2.3 FACILITATE COMMUNITY-LED PROCESSES TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY LAND GOVERNANCE ...... 13 2.3 STRENGTHEN CIVIL SOCIETY, PRIVATE SECTOR, AND CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT IN LAND GOVERNANCE ...... 14 2.3.1 DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS ...... 14 2.3.2 GENDER RESPONSIVE STRATEGY AND ACTIVITIES ...... 19 2.3.3 DEVELOP AND MANAGE GRANTS UNDER CONTRACT SUPPORTING CIVIL SOCIETY AND PRIVATE SECTOR ...... 22 2.3.4 STRENGTHEN PRIVATE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OF LAND PROFESSIONALS ...... 22 2.3.5 FACILITATing ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS ...... 23 2.4 MONITORING, EVALUATION, AND LEARNING ...... 23 TABLE 2.1: LGSA PERFORMANCE INDICATOR TRACKER ...... 26 ANNEX 1: SUCCESS STORY ...... 31

LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT i ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ADR Alternative Dispute Resolution APLSUL Association of Public Land Surveyors of Liberia CLMDC Community Land Management and Development Committee CNDRA Center for National Documents and Records Agency COP Chief of Party CSO Civil Society Organization DCOP Deputy Chief of Party DEN-L Development Education Network-Liberia DLSC Department of Lands, Survey and Cartography FCI Foundation for Community Initiative GOL Government of Liberia GPS/GIS Global Positioning System/Geographic Information System LGSA Land Governance Support Activity LISGIS Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services LLA Liberia Land Authority LRA Land Rights Act LRB Land Rights Bill MEL Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning MIA Ministry of Internal Affairs MoME Ministry of Mines and Energy MPARD Movement for the Promotion of Agriculture and Rural Development NGO Nongovernmental Organization SDI Sustainable Development Institute SEJAL Southeast Journalist Association of Liberia STARR Strengthening Tenure and Resource Rights TOR Terms-of-Reference UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNMIL United Nations Mission in Liberia USAID United States Agency for International Development WLRTF Women’s Land Rights Task Force

ii LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY USAID/Liberia contracted Tetra Tech as the Prime Contractor to implement the Land Governance Support Activity (LGSA) Task Order under the Strengthening Tenure and Resource Rights (STARR) Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Contract. LGSA supports the establishment of more effective land governance systems, ready to implement comprehensive reforms to improve equitable access to land and security of tenure, to facilitate inclusive sustained growth and development, ensure peace and security, and provide sustainable management of the environment. Tetra Tech and partners Landesa, Sustainable Development Institute (SDI), and Parley form a collaborative team providing technical and organizational assistance to the Government of Liberia (GOL), civil society, and communities in their land rights reform process. In Year 3, external reviewers Social Impact Inc., conducted a review of the LGSA project under the Liberia Strategic Analysis activity. This midterm review was an in-depth examination of how to support land tenure security through LGSA in the absence of an adopted Land Rights Act (LRA). The review looked at LGSA’s performance and appropriateness of the design and identified recommendations for the remaining implementation period. The outcome of this review led to minor adjustments in LGSA activities, including a continued focus on assisting in the strengthening of regulatory and policy framework for land governance, provide scaled up gender mainstreaming support to the Liberia Land Authority (LLA), target communities and civil society organizations; begin in earnest the implementation of pilot methodology for the recognition of community land rights; and LGSA scale up public awareness and outreach activities. During the reporting year, LGSA provided IT support to the LLA as well as technical support with respect to organizational structure, staffing and institutional development. The IT support provided is comprised of the provision of high speed fiber cable internet services to the LLA central office building. The internet provision includes a domain name that will allow LLA staff members to have official, uniform email addresses. The goal is for all LLA staff to begin using these uniform addresses within the next year. Additional IT support has included the hiring of a design firm to create and host an LLA website. This website has been mocked up, and in LGSA project Year 4 will be completed. Through ongoing training, LLA staff will be able to independently edit and upload content to their website which best reflects their dynamic goals, work and successes. In Year 3 LGSA assisted the LLA in transitioning resources from other institutions, including the Center for National Documents and Records Agency (CNDRA) and the Ministry Mines and Energy (MoME) Civil Service Agency Employees (CSA) into its fold. Throughout this process, LGSA provided technical support and provided inputs during the preparation of work plans and job descriptions. The transition of relevant staff from CNDRA and the MoME CSA to the LLA was completed by the end of Year 3. However, the transition of staff from Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) to the LLA is still pending due to legal confusion regarding the role and appointment of County Land Commissioners. During this reporting Year 3, LGSA provided substantial work in relation to the development of policy, legal and regulatory frameworks and LGSA provided legal advisory support to the difficult and protracted process of passing the LRA. Preceding the passage of the LRA, there had been persistent and serious concerns voiced by members of the Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Working Group on Land Rights with respect to some provisions that were embodied in the Land Rights Bill (LRB). The LLA and the CSO Working Group worked hand in hand to rectify the problematic provisions that were incorporated in the LRB. LGSA worked with both the LLA and the CSO Working Group on Land to help in harmonizing their views on various aspects of the LRA and in dealing with the long negotiations with the legislature with respect to the concerns raised by the CSO Working Group.

LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT 1 Moreover, in Year 3, LGSA assisted the LLA with the preparation of two draft regulations: 1) Draft Land Survey Regulations; and 2) Draft Land Surveyors Regulations. The first draft Land Survey Regulations was completed and then presented to an open forum of survey stakeholders for review and refinement. The final draft of the Survey Regulations has been presented to the LLA for its adoption process. LGSA also supported the LLA in developing a draft of Land Surveyors Regulations, which aim to regulate the surveying profession. The draft regulations were prepared through a consultative process between the LLA, LGSA and public and private surveyors. The first draft of the Land Surveyors Regulations was presented in a workshop. Stakeholders in attendance participated and deliberated upon it thoroughly. The regulations will continue to be refined and taken thorough the adoption process in the first quarter of Year 4. Originally, the LGSA Year 3 work plan envisioned that the Project would support the LLA in formulating two policy documents and six regulations. The policy documents that LGSA originally planned to assist in their design include: 1) the Land Dispute Resolution policy; and 2) the National Spatial Data Infrastructure policy. The Land Dispute Resolution Policy was designed and adopted in the current work plan period. Following the adoption of the policy on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for land disputes by the LLA, the LLA and LGSA in collaboration with the Carter Center organized a stakeholders’ workshop to hold consultations on prioritizing and strategizing the implementation of the policy. LGSA also developed a draft National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) policy in the reporting period. In implementing the recommendations by the NSDI consultant, Moses Mosegosi, LGSA has supported the LLA and Liberia Institute of Statistics & Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) in the establishment of a National Spatial Data Infrastructure Committee of heads of institutions and the technical committee for which LISGIS is Chair of the Council while LLA chairs the secretariat. However, not much has moved forward with respect to the NSDI due to the elections activities as there were anxieties and expected changes to heads of institutions pending. Even after the elections, time was required for all positions to be filled and heads of institutions briefed on such activities by the technical committee for a clear appreciation of what the NSDI is all about. To date the technical committee has had few meetings and has adopted a work plan, budget and schedule of meetings of the two bodies. In Year 3, LGSA considered a range of capacity building options and pursued different interventions to build skills in the land administration arena in Liberia. Besides short-term trainings and in-service mentoring that LGSA has provided to land surveyors and other land administration personnel, LGSA, in partnership with the Forestry Training Institute (FTI) and the LLA, took the initiative to proactively support the establishment of a certificate Geomatics Education Program (GEP). The GEP is expected to fill the longstanding vacuum in geomatics education that exists in Liberia. In Year 3 LGSA has methodically assisted the FTI in fulfilling the requirements for the establishment of the GEP. Based on consultations with the LLA and Association of Public Land Surveyors of Liberia (APLSUL), LGSA has also developed a program for existing surveyors. The program will be structured so that surveyors, over a three-month period, can upgrade their surveying skills while maintaining their employment. The details of this program will be completed in segments during project Year 4. Moreover, LGSA provided advisory support to the LLA’s critical activities including issues surrounding land disputes, public land management, urban land use planning, land registration, preservation of DLSC documents and establishing spatial data infrastructure. In pursuance of its support regarding the LLA’s institutional development, in the last quarter, LGSA assisted the LLA in appropriately conceptualizing the development of a comprehensive management strategy for the Land Authority, including planning and supporting a Commissioners retreat and prioritization of short-term Land Authority activities. The Commissioners retreat that took place in the third quarter of Year 3 was positively assessed by LGSA and the LLA in terms of achieving its main objectives, i.e. forging mutual understanding and clarity of

2 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT direction and responsibilities within the Board of Commissioners and building consensus and resolving management issues relating to efficient use of the knowledge and experiences of individual members of the Board of Commissioners. During the reporting period, LGSA intensified its communications and outreach activities and programs. The activities focused on supporting the LLA to improve its visibility in Liberia and to facilitate communications between the LLA and different communities in different counties. The visibility and outreach efforts concentrated on the services being rendered by the LLA and progress and challenges in the land reform process. As such, LGSA worked with the LLA in embarking on a major outreach program in the southeast of the country to create awareness on the establishment of the LLA, its mandate, functions and powers. The awareness activity also introduced the board of commission to the counties. LGSA printed and used a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) brochure as a tool for informing Liberians about the land sector. Furthermore, LGSA worked closely with the media and individual journalists to train them on how to better report on the nuances that exist in the land sector and how to best report on the LRA. A First Land Registration, Records Management and Reporting Training was designed and implemented by LGSA intended for Registrars, Recorders and Acting County Land Administrators as an introduction to the fundamentals, concepts and principles of land registration, recording, land allocation and reporting. The main objective of the workshop was to empower registrars, assistants/recorders and Land Commissioners by enhancing their roles and functions in improving tenure security, services and allow for good land governance, transparency and accountability. Meetings were held with the land registry section of the LLA still at the CNDRA building to solicit feedback on the training objectives of the workshop and get commitments on the level of participation. These meetings were also intended to assess the current situation of the registry in the face of the transition to the LLA looking at issues, gaps and challenges to be able to determine the level of support required from LGSA. The trainings were held in Grand Cape Mount, Bong and Nimba Counties. LGSA’s gender mainstreaming efforts in Year 3 focused on supporting the LLA to establish a Gender Unit that would help strengthen gender integration in the land reform processes in Liberia. Further the Gender and Land Specialist provided technical assistance to the Women’s Land Rights Task Force (WLRTF) and the CSO Working Group on Land to improve the LRB in ways that ensured the incorporation of gender safeguards in the version that was finally enacted. LGSA’s pilot activities, which focus on the recognition of community land rights, are ongoing. To date SDI has conducted training on legal framework for all communities in (Gizzima, Valvalah and Palma), conducted a gender training for communities that did not participate in the LGSA funded training, and conducted introductory meetings with government, private sector and communities. Parley has also made progress on their activities, including completing sketch maps and holding coordination meetings in Dubuzon, Gayea, Kpatawee and Kporyorquelleh. In addition, Parley has held meetings for the verification of each self-identified community in partnership with the LLA. Three grantee’s (Foundation for Community Initiative [FCI], Movement for the Promotion of Agriculture and Rural Development [MPARD] and Development Education Network-Liberia [DEN-L]) have been actively engaged in pilot activities through conducting training on women’s land rights for men, traditional leaders, elders and women. The LGSA team continues to hold monthly coordination meetings that will continue to streamline processes and activities across partners and grantees. All pilot activities are ongoing and with the end of the rainy season, activities will ramp up, allowing all partners and grantees to make substantial progress towards satisfying their contractual obligations.

LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT 3 1.0 INTRODUCTION USAID/Liberia contracted Tetra Tech as the Prime Contractor to implement the Land Governance Support Activity (LGSA) Task Order under the STARR Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Contract. Tetra Tech and partners Landesa, CDR Associates, Sustainable Development Institute (SDI), and Parley form a collaborative team providing technical and organizational assistance to the Government of Liberia (GOL), civil society, and communities in their land rights reform process. LGSA is applying USAID’s collaborating, learning, and adapting principles through the demand-driven support to the land reform agenda led by the GOL. LGSA activities are a continuation of USAID’s engagement in the land sector reform underway in Liberia, beginning with the Millennium Challenge Corporation funded Land Policy and Institutional Support project and the Land Conflict Resolution Project which ended in 2013 and 2014 respectively. These initial efforts assisted the GOL in the development of a Land Rights Policy, the evolution of the Liberia Land Authority (LLA), and a Land Administration Policy. LGSA continues USAID’s engagement in land sector reform underway in Liberia through ongoing support to the LLA in its establishment and its implementation of the Land Rights Act (LRA). While LGSA is designed with four project components (see text box), the focus of LGSA work in Year 3 was the establishment, transition, and operationalization of the LLA; facilitation of the passage of the LRA; development of a methodology for the implementation of the provisions of the Land Rights Policy with respect to the recognition of customary tenure; raising awareness on land-related issues nationwide; and support to pertinent private entities and civil society organizations.

LGSA Components Component 1: Strengthening the policy, legal and regulatory framework for land governance • Provide advisory support and recommendations for land policy and legal and regulatory reform, • Develop and disseminate public information on proposed reforms, and • Conduct and disseminate policy research. Component 2: Improvement of human and institutional capacity for land governance • Support institutional transition to the Liberia Land Authority, • Support decentralized management and institutional capacity development, and awareness of GOL land governance institutions, • Support master’s-level training in land governance (subsequently converted to a Geomatics’ certificate program), and • Public outreach and awareness campaigns Component 3: Conduct action research to support provisions of the land rights policy and land rights law • Develop a learning agenda followed by the development and field testing of processes for customary land rights implementation, • Facilitate community-led processes to strengthen community land governance, including capacity building of communities, local institutions, and stakeholders. Component 4: Strengthen civil society, private sector, and citizen engagement in land governance • Develop and manage grants under contract supporting civil society and private sector entities engaged in land governance activities, and • Strengthen private professional organizations and facilitate the establishment of public-private partnerships in activities surrounding land administration.

4 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT 2.0 YEAR 3 ACTIVITIES LGSA priorities in the first two quarters of Year 3 concentrated on supporting the institutional development of the LLA, including facilitating the transitioning process of staff and resources from other land agencies as well as supporting the implementation of the Land Authority Act. However, following the “Pause and Reflect” exercise that was held in quarter 2 and quarter 3, LGSA adjusted its focus in a balanced way. Accordingly, in quarter 3 and 4, LGSA focused on assisting in strengthening the regulatory and policy framework for land governance, especially in the areas of land surveying and land dispute; provided scaled up gender mainstreaming support to the LLA, target communities and civil society organizations; began in earnest the implementation of pilot methodology for the recognition of community land rights; and scaled up public awareness and outreach activities. Furthermore, with the passage of the LRA around the end of Year 3, LGSA commenced in earnest advising the LLA on matters pertaining to the implementation of the LRA. These activities are discussed in detail in the following sections.

2.1 LIBERIA LAND AUTHORITY Chairman Brandy of the LLA addresses a group regarding the role of the LLA. The President’s appointments for the LLA Board of Commissioners were announced on February 2, 2018. The Chairman was reappointed by the President - and later confirmed by the Senate - to continue in his position. The former Commissioner for Policy and Planning, Commissioner Manobah, was reappointed and then later confirmed by the Senate as Co- Chairman of the LLA, with oversite on Administration. Commissioner Pratt was also reappointed and confirmed to continue in her position as the Commissioner for Land Use Planning and Management. In addition to the three previously confirmed Commissioners, two new Commissioners were appointed, Commissioner for Land Administration and Commissioner for Administrative and Customer Services were appointed and confirmed in March 2018. The appointment and confirmation of these Commissioners has completed the Board of Commissioners composed of five Commissioners including the position of Chairman and for the oversight of the operations of the four departments of the LLA. These five Commissioners and the Executive Director fill the executive positions of the LLA. The LLA received approval to transition all staff and functions of the Department of Land Surveys and Cartography (DLSC), Center for National Documents and Records Agency (CNDRA), and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) County Land Commissioners in October 2017. However, institutional issues associated with the election and various other practical issues pertaining to civil service regulations required longer time than anticipated and the transition was delayed. The transition of relevant staff from CNDRA and the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MoME) to the LLA was completed by the end of Year 3. However, the transition of staff from MIA to the LLA is still pending due to legal confusion regarding the role and appointment of County Land Commissioners. Due to the delay in transferring resources from MIA, CNDRA and MoME, the LLA has resolved to extend the transitional period by six months, until December 31, 2018.

LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT 5 2.1.1 OPERATIONALIZATION OF THE LIBERIA LAND AUTHORITY During Year 3, LGSA provided technical support in configuring official email addresses for LLA officials and staff that can be accessed through the Webmail, revised the organizational structure and staffing chart, and assessed the situation of and documentation maintained by the County Land Commissioners. IT SUPPORT TO LLA. In Year 3 LGSA provided significant IT support to the LLA. LGSA continued to provide high-speed internet to the Land Authority building. Additionally, the LGSA team provided an email domain name that allows all LLA staff members to have official uniform email addresses. Although not all members of the LLA have begun using their new email addresses, with the transition recently ending, the LLA staff are expected to gradually move their official work over to the official accounts. In addition to ongoing technical support to the LLA, administratively the LGSA team supported the transition of the LLA to a new building in Mamba Point, supported the transition of IT network infrastructure, identified an IT company to design and build a website, and continue to support the provision of monthly internet services. Additionally, our administration and IT staff are on call to provide training and support where needed. This LLA website has been mocked up, and will be completed in Year 4. Through ongoing training, LLA staff will be able to independently edit and upload content to their website which best reflects their dynamic goals, work and successes. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND STAFFING. In Year 3, LGSA supported the LLA with the preparation work plans and job descriptions as requested by the LLA. In addition, in anticipation of the transitioning of the County Land Commissioners and Resident (County) Land Surveyors into the LLA fold, LGSA supported the conduct of an orientation meeting with County Land Commissioners and Resident Land Surveyors that was held in on November 27 and 28, 2017. In the first day of the meeting, the program focused on providing orientation on the legal foundation of the LLA. Commissioner Monobah, invoking the legal basis, explained the nature, purpose and mandate of the Authority. Furthermore, based on the Land Authority Act, he explained the general and specific functions of the LLA as well as the establishment and the powers and responsibilities of the Board of Commissioners. On the same day, Mr. George Miller, LLA Director of Land Administration provided an orientation session on general principles relating to the Land Surveying and Mapping Sector and deeds probation and issuance of certified copies of deeds. He provided his orientation based on practical challenges in this sector and the draft Cadastral Surveying and Mapping Regulations that is still in the development stage. On the second day, the LLA Staff members in partnership with the LLA travelled to counties Chairman of the LLA, Dr. Brandy, spoke to talk about the role of the LLA about the overall challenges facing the land sector in Liberia, and explained the need to adjust the functions of County Land Commissioners in the context of the establishment of county land offices that are envisaged within the Land Authority Act.

INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE LLA. The primary mandate of the LLA is to develop policies on a continuous basis, undertake actions and implement programs in support of land

6 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT governance, including land administration and management. The Land Authority Act stipulates the broad structure of the LLA as having four overarching departments; Land Administration, Land Use and Management, Land Policy and Planning, and Administration and Customer Services, each having a commissioner responsible for the respective departments, and a Chairman of the Commission. During this reporting period LGSA provided advisory support to the LLA on management styles and coordinated the efforts of all members of the Board of Commissioners, the Executive Director and other members of the LLA. Furthermore, LGSA assisted the LLA in appropriately conceptualizing the development of a comprehensive management strategy for the Land Authority, including planning for a Commissioners retreat. The retreat focused on forging a common understanding and clarity of direction and responsibilities within the Board of Commissioners. It also aimed to discuss the then prevailing LLA management style in the context of efficient use of the knowledge and experiences of individual members of the Board of Commissioners.

The Chairman and other Commissioners expressed their gratitude for the support USAID/LGSA continues to give to the Authority. They also confirmed to the COP that the two-day Commissioners’ Retreat that took place in Buchanan achieved its intended purpose. They further explained that most of the administrative and operational issues that were causing confusion within the Board of Commissioners were resolved during the retreat.

The LLA, with the support of LGSA, redirected its focus on crucial areas of land governance because of delays in passage of the Land Rights Bill. In quarter 4, LGSA continued providing advisory support to building the foundations of the land administration system, addressing issues relating to public land, mainstreaming Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), improving the land registration system, land use planning and improving the tenure security of customary land. POLICY, LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK. In Year 3, LGSA provided legal advisory support in the difficult and protracted process of passing the LRA. Preceding the passage of the LRA, there had been persistent and serious concerns voiced by members of the Civil Society Organization (CSO) Working Group on Land Rights with respect to some provisions that were embodied in the LRB. The LLA and the CSO Working Group worked hand in hand to rectify the problematic provisions that were incorporated in the LRB. LGSA worked with both the LLA and the CSO Working Group on Land to help in harmonizing their views on different aspects of the LRA and in dealing with the long negotiations with the legislature with respect to the concerns raised by the CSO Working Group. The LRA was passed by the Senate and concurred by the House of Representatives in August 2018 and subsequently signed into law by the President of Liberia on the 19th of September 2018. The Land Rights Act is expected to rectify historical injustice with respect to land ownership and to provide tenure security to the legitimate claimants of community land rights. LGSA provided advisory support to the LLA to realistically rethink and conceive the legislative and regulatory framework that is needed to implement the Land Authority Act. LGSA’s views were informed by drawing lessons from the process that the LLA went through to pass the Land Rights Bill. Originally, the LGSA Year 3 work plan envisioned that the Project would support the LLA in formulating two policy documents and six regulations. The policy documents that LGSA originally planned to assist in their design include: 1) the Land Dispute Resolution policy; and 2) the National Spatial Data Infrastructure policy. The Land Dispute Resolution Policy was designed and adopted in the current work plan period. Following the adoption of the policy on ADR for land disputes by the LLA, the LLA and LGSA moved forward to planning a stakeholders’ workshop to hold consultations on prioritizing and strategizing the implementation of the policy. Accordingly, the LLA, with the support of LGSA and the Carter Center, held a workshop on Development of a National Legal Framework for Alternative Dispute Resolution on Land from June 20 to 22, 2018. The workshop, held in Buchanan, was attended by representatives of main

LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT 7 stakeholders including the LLA, Land Reform Commission, the National Traditional Council of Chiefs and Elders, the University of Liberia, Law School, the Ministry of Justice, the Liberian National Bar Association, the Carter Center, Female Association of Lawyers and other members of the civil society. LGSA Chief of Party and the Gender and Land Specialist also participated in the workshop. The participants reviewed the ADR methodology, processes and procedures that was piloted by the Land Commission and brainstormed strategies to develop standardized procedures for incorporating ADR in the formal legal system. At the end of the two and a half day discussions, the participants resolved to make ADR mandatory for cases that are brought before the court system. Among other things, the participants also agreed unanimously that Chapter 64 of the Civil Procedure Law on Arbitration be amended to include a mandatory procedure on land ADR, and that the Law Reform Commission shall lead the process to develop the draft amendment. With respect to customary procedures on land ADR, it was suggested and then agreed on that a proposal will be made to incorporate the procedures into the draft Local Government Act under consideration by the National Legislature. LGSA developed a draft National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) policy in the reporting period. Formulating an appropriate policy framework for NSDI requires working with multiple actors, significant resources and more time than the Technical Working Group on NSDI anticipated originally. Therefore, in accordance with USAID guidance, LGSA omitted the task for supporting the complete development of the NSDI policy from its work plan. However, LGSA has remained engaged with relevant stakeholders in relation to further development of the NSDI policy. The different sets of regulations that LGSA originally planned to assist in their preparation include: 1) Land Survey Regulations; 2) Land Surveyors Regulations; 3) Land Alternative Dispute Resolution Mainstreaming Regulations; 4) Regulations for the Sale, Lease, and Concessions of Public and Government Land; and 5) Land Valuation Regulations. Accordingly, in Year 3, LGSA assisted the LLA in preparing two draft regulations: 1) draft Land Survey Regulations; and 2) draft Land Surveyors Regulations. The first draft Land Survey Regulations was completed and presented to an open forum of survey stakeholders for review and refinement. The final Draft of the Survey Regulations was presented to the LLA for its adoption process. LGSA also supported the LLA in developing a draft Land Surveyors Regulations, which aim at regulating the surveying profession. The draft regulations were prepared through a consultative process with the LLA and public and private surveyors. The first draft Land Surveyors Regulations was presented in a workshop. The regulations will be refined and taken thorough the adoption process in the first quarter of next year. The task of assisting in the development of ADR Mainstreaming Regulations was dropped from LGSA’s work plan following discussions with USAID, and following the Development of a National Legal Framework for Alternative Dispute Resolution on Land workshop. Based on the recommendations made by the participants of the workshop, the Land Reform Commission is tasked to spearhead the drafting of a necessary legal instrument for the mainstreaming of ADR. Based on discussions with the LLA and USAID, assisting in Regulations for the Sale, Lease, and Concessions of Public and Government Land was omitted from LGSA’s work plan. However, LGSA carried out the groundwork for preparing a draft regulation for the Sale, Lease, and Concessions of Public and Government Land, which include a strategy for managing public land and some revised guidelines for the sale, lease, and concessions of public land. This work was meant to inform the drafting of the regulations on public land. LGSA and LLA agreed that the LLA, through the support of another partner, will commission local lawyers to prepare a draft regulation on public land. While the Public Land Act has been repealed by the LRA, the draft guidelines can still be used to inform the development of a process for validating Tribal Certificates.

8 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT Based on USAID guidance, discussions with the LLA and other development partners, the Land Valuation Regulations was omitted from LGSA’s work plan for Year 3.

ESTABLISH A GEOMATICS TRAINING CERTIFICATE PROGRAM. In Year 3, LGSA revised its workplan to establish a surveyor curriculum to address the lack of technical training currently available to surveyors in Liberia. Surveying and mapping are important aspects of a land administration system since providing the positional referencing for all spatial data contained in the system is essential. The surveying and mapping sector, however, lacks the technical and material resources required to respond to the current needs of Liberia. Since 1982, there has not been technical or professional level education for geomatics in Liberia. To address this problem LGSA proactively engaged the Forest Training Institute (FTI), located in Tubmanburg, , and the LLA to facilitate and support the immediate establishment of a certificate Geomatics Education Program (GEP). FTI, which functions under the auspices of the Ministry of Education (MoE), has offered to host the 10-month GEP. The GEP is expected to fill the longstanding vacuum in geomatics education in Liberia. LGSA methodically assisted the FTI in fulfilling the requirements for the establishment of the geomatics program, including the development of a road map of activities leading to the operationalization of the GEP. LGSA also worked on detailed planning, including the preparation of Year 1 budget; the budget includes funding the rehabilitation of the premises to accommodate the students, procurement of equipment, and engagement of GEP staff. Further, LGSA worked directly with the MoE to facilitate the fulfillment of all necessary requirements to ensure the GEP course was an established, certified course. LGSA’s effort in this regard culminated in obtaining approval in May 2018 for FTI to launch and operate the GEP as an accredited program. PROVIDE CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR PRACTICING LAND SURVEYORS. During discussions about the establishment of the GEP at FTI, the LLA and the Association of Professional Land Surveyors of Liberia (APLSUL) requested a practical and accessible continuing education program for surveyors. Consequently, LGSA has had a series of meetings with the Commissioner for Land Administration and the Director of Land Administration of the LLA and the Chairman of the LLA, to discuss possible models for providing continuing education. Based on the consultations with LLA and APLSUL, LGSA has developed a program of studies for existing surveyors. The program will be structured such that surveyors, over a three-month period, can upgrade their surveying skills while maintaining their employment. The program of studies is planned to be completed in segments over the next year.

2.1.2 DECENTRALIZATION OF THE LIBERIA LAND AUTHORITY PILOT REGIONAL LAND GOVERNANCE OFFICES. LGSA continued discussing the implementation of the Land Administration Act in relation to the establishment of county land offices. The LLA has not yet selected a location for the pilot regional office as envisaged by the LGSA Year 3 work plan. LGSA has proposed that the LLA seek support from the World Bank to equip LGSA Communication and Outreach Specialist leads a group discussion on and furnish two prototype Pilot major land issues being faced by communities Regional Land Offices. The LLA has

LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT 9 agreed with this proposal but has requested LGSA to provide the necessary technical support needed to build the institutional capacity of the regional offices. LGSA believes that it is well positioned to provide technical support needed for the operationalization of the regional offices, including the development of Terms of References for positions of the decentralized land offices, if and when the LLA establishes, equips and furnishes the pilot regional offices.

2.1.3 LIBERIA LAND AUTHORITY CRITICAL ACTIVITIES PRESERVATION OF DLSC FILES. The DLSC has large volumes of historic information about land rights, containing information on the extent and location of these rights. There are also significant numbers of maps and plans of different scales and formats that are the only sources of land information related to the early settlement and development of Liberia. This data, which are of critical importance to land governance in Liberia, are stored in manners that have caused their deterioration into poor condition. Therefore, it is imperative to preserve these documents as early as possible. In Year 3, LGSA worked with DLSC senior officials to prepare an inventory of documents to be converted to digital format as a method of preservation of the documents. In addition, LGSA Chief of Party held further discussions with Mr. Verlon Stone, International Advisor to CNDRA, on the possibility of integrating geographic reference into the deeds registration. In connection, the Chief of Party, Mr. Stone and LGSA Land Administration Specialist visited DLSC to observe the status of the ongoing initiative to organize files, maps, deeds and other land related documents at DLSC and to provide advice to the LLA’s Director of Land Administration on organizing, indexing and preserving documents. The visit set the stage for further discussions and planning on the possibility for cross- checking between the two sets of property documents that are kept at DLSC and CNDRA. Based on the experiences gained from working with DLSC on preparing an inventory of documents and consultations with Dr. Stone and the LLA, LGSA reconceptualised its approach for dealing with the DLSC documents and developed a plan of action to assess the documents’ overall physical and legibility condition, preserving DLSC records, both as digital database entries and as physical paper records, and to compare the CNDRA Open Title database structure used for CNDRA’s Deed Register with the DLSC deeds and survey maps to recommend necessary modifications to the basic database structure. This plan will be executed starting from October 2018. INTRODUCTION OF SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF DATA STANDARDS FOR LAND INFORMATION SYSTEM. There are several agencies involved in spatial data collection and the development of spatial databases keep growing steadily in Liberia. Many institutions including central government agencies, donor agencies, local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as well as private companies, are collecting spatially-related data for various purposes with each entity designing its own tools and standards for collecting spatial data without consideration of other agencies’ effort and tools. Therefore, LGSA has strived to build consensus among stakeholders on the need for the establishment of spatial data infrastructure and conducted the groundwork towards the development of minimum standards in relation to spatial data collection, utilization, and sharing among relevant institutions in Liberia. In the last quarter of the reporting year, LGSA attended a GIS Round Table meeting organized by the USAID funded Digital Liberia project. The meeting was held at LISGIS and brought together high-level government officials from institutions generating and collecting spatial data. The Ministry of Post and Telecommunication has been nominated to serve as the lead agency for the government e-Governance strategy. LISGIS, MoME, Forest Development Authority, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Environmental Protection Agency, LIBTELCO, National of Bureau of Concessions, Public Procurement and Concessions Commission, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, LRA, Ministry of Post and Telecommunication, Liberia Electricity Corporation,

10 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT LLA and Liberia Water and Sanitation Corporation were amongst invited institutions. At the request of LISGIS, LGSA’s Land Administration Specialist, on behalf of the LLA, LGSA and the Technical Working Group, delivered a presentation on the ongoing initiative to establish NSDI. LGSA also shared the proposed draft Liberia NSDI Policy prepared by LGSA, to begin the process of implementing a stakeholder consultation which should be driven by LLA and LISGIS. LGSA plans to continue providing advisory support to the stakeholders.

2.2 CONDUCT ACTION RESEARCH AND DEVELOP A METHODOLGY FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAND RIGHTS POLICY (LAW) The Land Rights Policy defines four major land categories: public, government, customary, and private. Under the LRA customary lands are statutorily recognized as equal to private land. Recognition of customary lands requires communities to self-identify members (including women, youth, and minorities), demarcate boundaries, and constitute representative land governance entities. LGSA is supporting the GOL to develop a process for the recognition of customary lands that will in turn inform the design of new laws, regulations, administrative procedures, and guidelines to implement the Land Rights Policy and LRA. LGSA hired a Community Land Rights Specialist in August 2018, thereby enabling greater oversight of the field activities.

2.2.1 DEVELOP LEARNING AGENDA FOR CUSTOMARY LAND RIGHTS IMPLEMENTATION During Year 1, LGSA developed a set of research topics to inform the process for the recognition of customary land. Seven broad research topics were identified, and research was completed in Years 2 and 3. The methodology for the recognition for customary tenure was adopted by the LLA in Year 2 and formed part of LGSA’s subsequently developed draft methodology for the holistic recognition of customary land, as implemented under 2.2.2 below.

2.2.2 DEVELOP, FIELD TEST, AND REVISE PROCESSES FOR CUSTOMARY LAND RIGHTS IMPLEMENTATION PILOT COMMUNITY METHODOLOGY AND IDENTIFICATION. Under the guidance of the LLA, LGSA waited to begin its work in the pilot communities until after the Presidential elections, concluding in Quarter 2 of Year 3. LGSA partners, SDI and Parley, began implementation in earnest in Quarter 3. In 2017, LGSA, in conjunction with the LLA LGSA Seven Initial Pilot Sites and its partners, identified an initial seven pilot Partner Community District County communities, located in Bong, Lofa, and Nimba Counties. Palama Clan Salayea Lofa To date SDI has conducted training on legal SDI Fissebu Town Zorzor Lofa framework for all communities in Lofa County Vavala Clan Salayea Lofa (Gizzima, Valvalah and Palma), Conducted a Dubuzon Clan Kparblee Nimba gender training for communities that did not participate in the LGSA funded training, and Gayea Clan Kparblee Nimba Parley conducted introductory meetings with Kpatawee Clan Suakoko Bong government, private sector and communities. Kporyorquelleh Clan Suakoko Bong Partner Parley started work in the four pilot communities (Kpatawee and Kporyorquelleh in

LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT 11 and Dubuzon and Gayea in ) in June 2018 after their scope was approved and subcontract signed. They have made progress in their activities, including completing sketch maps and holding coordination meetings in Dubuzon, Gayea, Kpatawee and Kporyorquelleh. In addition, Parley has held meetings for the verification of each self-identified community in partnership with the LLA. Three grantee’s have also been actively engaged in pilot activities, Foundation for Community Initiative (FCI), Movement for the Promotion of Agriculture and Rural Development (MPARD) and Development Education Network-Liberia (DEN-L). The work completed to date has included conducting training on women’s land rights for men, traditional leaders, elders and women in select pilot communities. The LGSA team continues to hold monthly coordination meetings that will continue to streamline processes and activities across partners and grantees. All pilot activities are ongoing and with the end of the rainy season, activities will ramp up, allowing all partners and grantees to make substantial progress towards satisfying their contractual obligations. LGSA conducted the ground work to improve the community land governance system. In this regard, LGSA commissioned a short-term consultant to review the existing community land governance structures with the objective of contributing to their improvement. The consultant worked with LGSA staff and partners to review the governance activities to be conducted under the recognition of customary tenure pilots and discussed potential changes to increase impacts. The consultant will make recommendations that will aim at improving the conduct of the pilot to achieve the goal of increased representative participation of community members in transparent and participatory decision-making with respect to land. Parley and SDI both have held larger community sub-unit meetings to explain the process for the formation of the Community Land Management and Development Committee (CLMDC), and roles and responsibilities of the CLMDC, and the nomination or election of sub-unit’s representatives to the CLMDC. Separate meetings were held with women to give them space to contribute to the process leading to the election or selection. Towns/villages were encouraged to elect or select at least one female representative to the community self-identification assembly and CLMDC. LGSA developed communications materials for subcontractor and grant staff implementing the training for traditional leaders, men, and women that will cover awareness-raising about gender and development, existing legal land rights and protections for women and girl-children, and the importance of women’s participation in land governance and administration. The women’s land rights training manual is in the process of being finalized and will be used by all partners in the pilot communities to conduct this training. Meetings were held throughout the year with project partners to review the pilot process to further refine the approach based on previous lessons learned. LGSA convened a special meeting while Landesa was in Liberia in June for the launch of the Women’s Land Rights Study and the LLA’s Gender Unit, to bring all partners together to discuss potential new activities to further strengthen community governance, women’s rights to land and land dispute resolution. Ideas generated from this meeting (i.e. drafting model community by-laws, examining decision making structures within a community, identifying champions as a model for outreach campaigns, and additional training on boundary harmonization or land dispute resolution) were shared with USAID in LGSA’s revised Year 3 Work Plan and Year 4 Work Plan. At the project grantee kick-off meeting held in August 2018, LGSA launched its monthly coordination meetings that will bring all partner, grantee and LLA stakeholders together to assess progress, discuss lessons learned and adjust the pilot process. The implementation of the pilots is broken down into two phases for ease of management and oversight. The first phase focuses on community self-identification and establishment of gender-

12 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT responsive community governance structures, including the steps in the textbox below. The second phase will begin in Year 4 and will focus on the identification and mapping of community boundaries and the verification of the community map by the LLA. LGSA’s Mobile Mapping Specialist reviewed potential platforms on which to design the mapping of community boundaries. He is drafting a training manual to use to train LGSA implementing partners, staff and the LLA on the mobile mapping approach in Liberia in January 2019.

Phase I of the Process for the Recognition of Customary Lands The first phase focuses on community self-identification and establishment of gender-responsive community governance structures, including the following steps: 1. Introduction of the recognition of customary land process to government, private sector and the community themselves if not already completed. 2. Review work to-date in the communities if the community has begun the process of self-identification or commence the self-identification process. Identify next steps to self-identify if not already completed. 3. Collaborate with the community, including men, women and youth, to establish an appropriate governance structure to oversee the process of identification and mapping of community land and its subsequent management. 4. Throughout the process, attend coordination meetings with LGSA, the LLA and other implementing partners. 5. Collect gender-disaggregated monitoring and evaluation data throughout the process as guided by LGSA’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist. 6. Collaborate with LGSA’s Communications and Outreach Specialist on appropriate awareness raising and outreach events and materials throughout the process. 7. Collaborate with LGSA’s Gender and Land Specialist on the integration of gender sensitive approaches and training throughout the process. 8. Collaborate with LGSA grantees and the LGSA Grants and Subcontracts Specialist in the delivery of women’s land rights related training and awareness raising activities amongst traditional leaders, men, rural women and rural women’s groups in the pilot communities. More details on the grants can be found in Sections 2.3.2 and 2.3.3 below.

RESEARCH ON WOMEN’S LAND RIGHTS. In June 2018 LGSA and Landesa hosted a launch of the research conducted on women’s land rights in Grand Bassa, Nimba, and Maryland Counties. Landesa and LGSA’s Gender and Land Specialist formally presented the Women’s Land Rights Study. The research focused on the following thematic areas: inheritance rights for widows and daughters, cohabitation/informal unions, land governance, access to justice/ADR, community membership, and concessions. At the same event the LLA launched its Gender Unit, which LGSA continues to support through the identification of a Gender Coordinator.

2.2.3 FACILITATE COMMUNITY-LED PROCESSES TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY LAND GOVERNANCE In addition to the activities described above, LGSA collaborated with project partners, SDI, Parley, and the LLA, to examine the governance processes outlined in the LLA and Tenure Facility community self- identification guide. The guide calls for the establishment of an interim coordinating committee (ICC) to

LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT 13 assist the community during the implementation of community self-identification steps, including organizing community members in identifying their landmarks and sketch mapping and establishing the CLMDC as a land governance body. LGSA helped develop a sub-guide to outline the steps leading to the election/selection of ICC members. The steps describe the processes, strategies, and timeframe of the election, as well as the membership representation or delegates to the elections. LGSA also helped draft a structural framework to identify the steps leading to the establishment of working committees, the duration or tenure of members, and the election of members. The proposed framework considered the collective and participation of all sub-units in their land governance and management processes.

2.3 STRENGTHEN CIVIL SOCIETY, PRIVATE SECTOR, AND CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT IN LAND GOVERNANCE

2.3.1 DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS In Year 3, LGSA scaled up its public outreach and communication activities. A specific way that LGSA scaled up its activities under this objective was through the organization of community land conferences and public awareness campaigns. The main purpose of the land conferences and awareness campaigns was to bring community members, opinion leaders, surveyors, land owners and administrators, farmers, and businesses together with the Land Authority, the media and other government stakeholders in the land sector, such as the police and the judiciary, to discuss specific land issues that are widespread or serious in particular communities and explore opportunities and possible solutions to these issues. ORGANIZING LAND CONFERENCES. LGSA partnered with the LLA in hosting four separate land conferences in December 2017 in rural Montserrado and Lower Margibi, specifically, in , Marshall City, Schiefflin Town and the township of Caldwell. The main purpose of the meetings was to bring together various stakeholders in these locations to discuss the challenges that the land sector is facing and how the communities can work together in resolving these issues and live in peace. Participants of the conferences included various community leaders, including traditional leaders, youth and women leaders, township and city authorities, land owners, property dealers, the County Land Commissioner of , County Resident Surveyors, the president of the surveyors’ association, the Liberia National Police, and other invitees. The conferences were opened with a key note speech by the Township Commissioners and in some cases by the City Mayor or District Superintendent. The speeches highlighted the main challenges and issues in the land sector and how the authorities are currently dealing with such issues as they arise. The key note speeches were followed by a presentation on the Criminal Conveyance Law and the functionality of the LLA. In all four locations, this presentation was delivered by Atty. Adams Manobah, Commissioner for Policy and Planning at the LLA. For most participants the Commissioner’s presentation was an eye opener in terms of understanding the challenges and possibilities of addressing the issues in accordance with the law. The conferences enhanced the participants’ understanding of the property registration system. A representative of CNDRA delivered a presentation on the process of deeds registration and the CNDRA steps in mitigating falsification of certified copies of deeds. Group discussions were held at the end of the sessions where participants discussed relevant issues to the group and came up with several recommendations on the way forward. A notable recommendation that was put forward was setting up of community land task force/groups to support the authorities in creating public awareness on land issues and serve as a watch dog in relation to land grabbing and

14 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT unlawful conveyancing of properties. Other recommendations that came out of the meetings was ensuring that all land owners register their land with the township authorities and that all land buyers should notify the township authority when buying land to verify that the seller is the rightful owner. The feedback from the participants was positive. The participants called upon the LLA and LGSA to continue this kind of engagement so that more people can be aware about their rights and responsibilities relating to the land. Many stakeholders who attended the conferences, including the resident County Surveyors, County Land Commissioner, city/township authorities and the Liberia National Police (LNP), expressed gratitude to the LLA and the LGSA for taking this initiative, which they characterized as an important endeavor towards ensuring peace in Liberia. The Police Commander of the LNP called on participants to always feel free to report all issues of victimization in relation to property conveyance, and the police would be fully ready to respond and support the process within the confines of the law. He shared his contact numbers with the participants and encouraged them to always feel free to call. PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS. During Year 3, LGSA conducted public awareness campaigns in several localities in the nation. The first series of public awareness campaigns were conducted in collaboration with UNDP. Subsequent campaigns incorporated lessons learned from this first series. LGSA initiated and completed the first leg of a joint LLA and LGSA nation-wide awareness and stakeholders’ consultative mission from April 23, 2018 to May 11, 2018 in five southeastern counties, i.e. Sinoe, Grand Kru, Maryland, River Gee and Grand Gedeh. 1. Public Awareness Campaign Conducted In partnership with UNDP Since the establishment of the LLA in October 2016 and the subsequent appointment of a five-member board of commissioners who have been confirmed by the Liberian Senate, it has become clear that the public needs to be informed of the existence, mandate, functions, governance structure and institutional arrangements of the LLA. LGSA supported the LLA in organizing and facilitating three separate land workshops covering eight counties, which include Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba and Sinoe. The events were funded by (or through) three United Nation’s agencies – United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). LGSA was requested by the LLA to provide technical support in designing and carrying out the entire program. Accordingly, LGSA facilitated the three events held in Bentol, , Harper, and Sanniquelle, Nimba County. The workshops brought together more than 240 representatives of stakeholders from eight counties, including county superintendents, county and local government officials, chiefs, elders, women and youth representatives, CSOs, County Land Commissioners from the MIA and resident surveyors from the DLSC. The workshops were conducted with dual objectives. The first objective was to introduce the Chairman, Vice Chairman and other members of the LLA Board of Commissioners, as well as the Executive Director to the Liberian people through town hall meetings and radio talk shows. The second objective was to inform the participants and radio listeners of the existence of the LLA, its mandate and functions, mandate areas and organizational framework, among other topics. While conducting the workshop, the participants showed interest to be more informed about their land rights and how the LLA intends to tackle land disputes involving individual and community land as well as concessions related disputes. Some participants wanted the deliberations to highlight women’s rights to land ownership and the general procedures for acquiring land by individuals. During the sessions, several concerns were also raised regarding the status of the Land Rights Bill, at that time before the Liberian Senate for passage

LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT 15 into law. With respect to the establishment of the LLA, participants inquired about the mandate and functions particularly relating to the issue of surveyors and the establishment of county offices. The first of the three regional workshops were convened in Bentol City, Rural Montserrado County on March 13th, 2018, with participants from and surrounding towns and villages in rural Montserrado County. The second workshop was held in Harper City on March 19th and 20th and brought together participants from Sinoe, Grand Kru, Grand Gedeh and host Maryland, while the third workshop took place in Sanniquellie on March 22nd and 23rd, which brought together participants from Lofa and Nimba Counties. The workshops were structured around four sessions: (i) opening ceremonies (ii) technical sessions (iii) plenary discussions and (iv) closing ceremonies. The opening ceremonies focused on speeches and remarks from authorities of the host counties and officials of the LLA. In Bentol, LGSA Chief of Party gave remarks on crucial land issues in Liberia. He explained the challenges and possibilities of addressing these issues. While the technical sessions focused on presentations by the facilitators, which included Commissioners and the Executive Director of the LLA. The plenary discussions were highly A Paramount Chief Greeting the LGSA COP and LLA interactive and allowed the participants to ask Commissioners at the end of the workshop held in questions, sought clarifications on land matters and Fishtown, made recommendations for consideration. Following the technical sessions, the participants were organized into groups by their counties to critically think among themselves and provide pertinent issues on land that could possibly be incorporated by the LLA in the policy formulation processes. During the three separate events, the profile of each Commissioner and the Executive Director, printed in hard copies, was included in the awareness package given to the participants. During the workshop, the Commissioners and Executive Director introduced themselves individually and explained to the participants their duties and responsibilities and some of the qualities and innovations they are bringing to the Authority. 2. Public Awareness Campaign Conducted in Collaboration with the LLA Following the first outreach campaign, LGSA initiated and completed the first leg of a joint LLA and LGSA nation-wide awareness and stakeholders’ consultative mission from April 23, 2018 to May 11, 2018 in five southeastern counties, i.e. Sinoe, Grand Kru, Maryland, River Gee and Grand Gedeh. With technical and financial support from LGSA, the objective of the public awareness and consultations tour to the South East aimed, among other things, at introducing the five-member Board of Commissioners to the participants relative to their duties and oversight responsibilities, inform participants on LLA’s transitional issues and to continue raising awareness on the mandate, functions, governance structure and institutional arrangements of the LLA. Various stakeholders in the land sector including county officials, chiefs, elders, women, youth groups, representatives of CSOs, community members, members of the media, and employees of agencies whose land functions are being transferred to the LLA participated in the public awareness and consultations events.

16 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT Each of the events in the five counties started with an opening ceremony featuring remarks from the county authorities, LGSA Chief of Party and the LLA Chairman. All five members of the Board of Commissioners of the LLA participated in the workshop and delivered presentations on various aspects of the LLA’s functions and responsibilities. In addition, the Chairman of the LLA seized this opportunity to campaign for the passage of the Land Rights Bill (which at the time had not been passed). He urged the participants to engage their senators to support the passage of the Bill in ways that will adequately establish community land rights. Participants were introduced to the members of the LLA Board of Commissioners, their mandate areas and counties of oversight so that they could have a better understanding and trends of events taking place in the land reform process. In all the counties visited, the issue of land disputes over boundaries, disputes between concessions and communities and double land sale by land owners and administrators perpetrated by surveyors were highlighted. The consultative process revealed that the participants were eager to see the Land Rights Bill passed into law so that rural communities will no longer have insecure users’ rights but rather ownership rights over their ancestral land. In his opening and closing remarks in all the events, LGSA Chief of Party explained the nature of the support that the LLA has been receiving from USAID towards improving the land governance system in Liberia. Moreover, he underscored the importance of public awareness towards meaningful public participation in land governance and promoting accountable and equitable land governance system. The workshops also provided the opportunity for the LLA and LGSA to obtain feedback from the participants on various land issues that are prevalent in their respective counties. The events were facilitated by LGSA’s Communications and Outreach Specialist and the Public Relations Officer of the LLA. Since the establishment of the LLA, this was the maiden visit for the LLA Commissioners to converge in one sitting to discuss land issues with different stakeholders. SUPPORT IN DEVELOPING LLA COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY. A robust and effective communications strategy is a valuable tool needed by any institution such as the LLA. Hence, the LLA noted the need to develop a communications strategy that would set communication goals to support and help achieve the agency’s overall objectives. As part of its day-to-day technical support, LGSA worked with the LLA to develop the LLA’s first communications strategy, which aims to serve as a live document in support of their communications and outreach activities. This initiative was financially supported by the UNDP. In the course of developing the communications strategy, LGSA provided technical assistance in terms of reviewing the documents, providing feedback as appropriate and providing information on the work LGSA has done with the LLA with regards to communications and outreach. LGSA’s Communication and Outreach Specialist also provided feedback to the consultants on the communications needs of the LLA and the way forward in meeting these needs. LGSA’s Communications and Outreach Specialist also worked with the consultants in responding to feedback and comments coming from the Board of Commissioners to ensure that the document was finally accepted and endorsed. The strategy is approved and being used by the LLA. NETWORKING. An aspect of LGSA’s communication and LGSA partners conducted customary legal outreach strategy is to build relationships and link the public to land rights activities in Gokai Town. the relevant authorities where they can access land services.

LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT 17 Following the land conferences indicated above, LGSA facilitated an important meeting between the LLA and the Urban Farmers Association. This group approached LGSA through the Communications and Outreach Specialist in connection to their problems they face in relation to accessing land for farming and the challenges they encounter from land owners including destroying their products. Through a brainstorming session, recommendations and suggestions were provided to the group including getting more knowledge on how to access land for farming in the urban areas and contact the County Land Commissioner to explore options and possibility of acquiring public land. The farmers were called on to explore other options including seeking grants and funding to purchase land of their own. During the Year 3, LGSA also had the opportunity to link the LLA to some members of the press and assisted the LLA to showcase their institution and the work and its functions. LGSA views LLA-media relationship as a key ingredient for ensuring accountability and enhancing public awareness on the services provided by the LLA. LLA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS). LGSA collated questions from the outreach activities in all the and many of these questions were asked with a high frequency. LGSA saw the need to provide accurate answers to these questions by concerned stakeholders and officials. This led to the development of a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) brochure on the land sector. Subsequently, in consultation with the LLA, LGSA printed ten thousand copies of the document. These copies have been used during outreach and engagement programs and meetings, including the LLA awareness program throughout the southeastern counties and the launch of the women land rights study and the gender unit within the LLA. About three thousand copies of the document have also been assigned to the LLA and some of LGSA partners for use during their own outreach and engagement programs and meetings. MEDIA SUPPORT. During Year 3, LGSA continued to provide mentorship and guidance to members of the Liberian media, especially to those that have participated in previous LGSA media training. LGSA maintained its communications with members of the media in all the counties and responded to their requests for guidance and direction. In particular, LGSA provided technical support to local journalists working with community radio stations in gathering information and forming stories on matters relating to the land sector. LGSA also provided comments and suggestions when members of the media shared their productions. LGSA continued to provide technical support to the South-Eastern Journalists Association of Liberia (SEJAL) legalization process of the association, including review of the association’s by-laws. They have plans to host their first convention to adopt the association’s constitution and conduct elections for the leadership. PRESS UNION OF LIBERIA AWARDS 2018. LGSA’s key strategy in its media development plan has been maintaining partnership with the Press Union of Liberia (PUL). In year 2 of the LGSA Project, LGSA initiated partnership discussions with the union leading to establishing the Best Land Reporter Award category at the PUL. Since then, this award has been presented every year at the union annual awards and dinner program marking the celebration of the World Press Freedom Day. LGSA’s main objective of this initiative is to encourage the journalists of Liberia to do more work in accurately covering the land sector. LGSA uses this award as a motivation to increase journalists’ interests in the land sector thereby causing scaled up reportage about crucial land related issues. Accordingly, for the second year running LGSA supported the press union in presenting the award. Beyond supporting the presentation of the award for the best land reporter award category, LGSA also supported the union to make sure that the whole program was a success.

18 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT The award ceremony was held on June 9, 2018 in the port city of Buchanan in . Several journalists from all over the country gathered to attend this prestigious event in the media sector. As part of awards presented on June 9, 2018 evening, the LGSA Land Reporter of the Year award was presented by the LGSA Chief of Party, accompanied by the project’s Communications and Outreach Specialist. The award was presented to Gbatemah Success Senah of the Bush Chicken Online News Media.

2.3.2 GENDER RESPONSIVE STRATEGY AND ACTIVITIES SUPPORT WOMEN’S LAND RIGHTS ADVOCACY INITIATIVES. Throughout Year 3, LGSA’s Gender and Land Specialist continued to coordinate the activities of the Women’s Land Rights Taskforce (WLRTF). She provided advisory and secretarial support for the group responsible for calling meetings, co-facilitating the meetings with the chair and coordinating all follow up actions emulating from the meetings. Because of these efforts, in Year 3, the Taskforce held its monthly meetings as well as other ad hoc meetings to strategize engagements and advocacy to promote women’s land rights in Liberia. During the reporting year, LGSA supported the following: • WLRTF worked to ensure that a gender responsive LRA was passed. This was achieved through collaborative efforts with Landesa working with the WLRTF in advising law makers and other stakeholders on the need to maintain gender safeguards incorporated in the LRB. The WLRTF held bilateral meetings with the Senate Committee on Land and Natural Resources, the Senate Committee’s Legal Consultant hired to review and advice on the Land Right Bill passed by the House of Representatives as well as with other key stakeholders in the land sector. • In collaboration with the CSO Working Group on Land, the Taskforce created awareness through radio and town-hall meetings on the significance of the LRA for Liberia in general and women. During these awareness, the group highlighted the need for citizens to engage their law makers to pass the LRB. A citizen petition for the passing of the LRB was initiated by the Taskforce, which is believed to have contributed to the passage of the LRA. • At the request of the Government, the WLRTF, with support from LGSA, reviewed and provided input to the government’s 5-year Development Agenda. The WLRTF ensured that gender and women’s land rights were integrated into the document. The GOL also consulted with the WLRTF when the National Gender Policy was being revised. As a result, for the first-time women’s land rights were incorporated in an important national policy document. GENDER FOCUSED COMMUNICATION OUTREACH. Noting gaps in women’s participation from previous communication and outreach activities, the Gender and Land Specialist and Communication and Outreach Specialist designed an awareness building plan targeting woman. It was learned from follow-up on other public outreach carried out that the turnout of female participants during the information and awareness sessions held in open gathering was fewer than expected. To understand the problem, the Gender and Land Specialist held consultations with women in project communities. They said that women in rural communities are usually not able to be present at spontaneous gatherings because of their competing domestic responsibilities. The women suggested that if the messages were to reach women, LGSA should consider meeting women separately and provide them opportunities to prepare to attend these sessions. They also flagged that very few women were part of the local authority leadership structures thus women did not usually receive timely information shared by the leadership. In response to this gap, LGSA developed an outreach plan with a goal to reach women in the seven pilot communities with information on the Land Rights Policy, Inheritance Law and criminal conveyance of properties.

LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT 19 Based on the gender focused outreach plan, LGSA, in collaboration with the LLA, conducted a series of outreach activities in 10 communities in Bong County. The main objectives of the awareness activities were to enhance women’s awareness of land rights and women’s participation in land governance and leadership. A total of 367 women, including women leaders, women traditional leaders, and women youth leaders, participated the activities. The participants received copies of the land and property laws simplified in Liberian English and copies of the FAQs booklet. LAUNCH OF WOMEN’S LAND RIGHTS STUDY AND LLA’S GENDER UNIT. During the reporting period, the Gender and Land Specialist, in partnership with the Chief of Party, the Communications and Outreach Specialist and other LGSA staff, worked on preparation for the launching of the Gender Unit at the LLA and the Women’s Land Rights Study. In preparation for the formal launch, the Gender and Land Specialist led a team of panelists from the LLA, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and WONGOSOL to develop talking points and hold a live radio talk show. The talk show highlighted the launch of the Women’s Land Rights Study, the significance of the Gender Unit to the Land Authority and other key findings of the study. The talk show was played live on the state radio station (ELBC) and LNTV. On June 6, 2018, LGSA supported the LLA to launch a Gender Unit at the LLA and the report of the Women’s Land Rights Study. The launch brought together 80 participants (43 female and 38 male) from government institutions, the legislature, international and local non-governmental organizations, journalists and members of various research communities targeted to conduct the Women’s Land Right Study. Key note speakers at the launch, including the Chairman of the LLA, the Chairperson of the Female Legislative Caucus, USAID representative, and LGSA Chief of Party, stressed the need to consider women’s LLA Chairman speaking at the Gender Unit Launch land rights as one of the priorities in the land reform process of Liberia. The chair of the Female Legislative Caucus promised to use the findings of the women’s land rights study to lobby for women’s land rights at the legislature. The study researched women’s land and property rights with regards to: 1) Marriage/De Facto Unions; 2) Inheritance; 3) Community Membership, 4) Land Governance; 5) Access to Justice/ADR; and 6) Concessions. The key findings of the study were co-presented by LGSA’s Gender and Land Specialist and a Landesa expert. During the presentations, some participants from the research communities were invited to provide testimonies of how their land rights were violated through gender discriminatory practices. The newly established Gender Unit of the LLA is charged with mainstreaming gender and ensuring that women’s land rights form an integral part of the land reform process at the Authority. Following the official launch, LGSA organized a one-day technical working session that was attended by technicians from the various organizations including the LLA, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and members of the WLRTF. The participants of the technical sessions reviewed the study findings by thematic areas and identified practical and strategic interventions to be recommended to key policy and decision makers. Recommendations and copies of the study reports were shared with

20 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT the Office of the President, the Legislature and local authority leaders to ensure that women’s land rights are recognized and protected in the land reform processes of Liberia. As a follow-up activity to the official launch, the Gender and Land Specialist participated in a panel discussion with staff from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia on a live radio and television show highlighting the significance of the Gender Unit to the Land Authority and some key finding from the women’s land rights study. There were live calls received from the listening audience during the show. SUPPORT TO ENHANCE WOMEN’S LAND RIGHTS IN ACCESS TO JUSTICE PROGRAM. In Year 3, LGSA facilitated a one-day women’s land rights awareness training for 88 Carter Center Access to Justice Program staff. The training was in response to a request from the Carter Center to enhance the capacity of their staff to appropriately respond to issues of women land rights arising from their work. The training provided the opportunity for the staff to discuss the challenges women faced in access, use and control of land in Liberia and identify strategies and approaches to carry out gender responsive activities in the land conflict issues they work. The participants proposed the desire for a more detailed gender and women’s land rights training. SIMPLIFIED LAWS. During the reporting year, LGSA simplified Liberian land and family related laws and the LRB with the objective of promoting the property rights of women, including: 1) the Liberia Land Rights Bill, 2) the Descendants Estate Law; 3) The Equal Rights for Customary Marriage Law, and 4) the Criminal Conveyance laws. The LRB and the other laws were translated into simple (Liberian English) to make them suitable for carrying out awareness and education activities targeting illiterate or semi-literate women in rural communities. Before putting the simplified laws in use, LGSA reviewed the simplified laws thoroughly to ensure that the language and message was appropriate for the targeted audience. TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO THE LLA REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF Community land rights meeting supported by GENDER UNIT. In 2017, LGSA assisted the LLA in LGSA technical staff and partner Parley. designing the structure of the LLA. Since then, LGSA persistently advanced the idea of establishing a separate unit that would be responsible to ensure gender integration across the land reform processes. This advocacy led to the establishment of a Gender Unit under the Land Policy and Planning Department. Although the Gender Unit is established as part of the LLA structure it has yet to be fully operational. During the reporting year, LGSA provided technical support to the LLA to establish the operationalization of the Gender Unit. BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF CSOs. LGSA’s Gender and Land Specialist, in collaboration with Landesa, conducted a Gender and Women’s Land Rights Capacity Assessment with DEN-L and FCI. The assessment reviewed the capacity of the organizations’ ability to integrate gender and women’s land rights in their work. Staff capacity, policy documents and structures of the organizations were reviewed. LGSA provided feedback to the organizations on identified gaps. The result of the assessment will be used to plan interventions to mitigate the gaps that have been identified.

LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT 21 GENDER TRAINING MANUAL. In quarter 2 of Year 3, DEN-L was given a grant to implement a women’s land rights awareness project in Bong County. The project phase-out assessment showed profound impact in the community. As such, during the 4th quarter, LGSA awarded another grant to DEN-L and two other CSOs to replicate the project in other pilot communities in Nimba, Bong and Lofa Counties. A key component of the project was to provide gender and women’s land rights training to women and other community leaders. To ensure unified messaging, the Gender and Land Specialist supported the partners to revise the training manual developed and used by DEN-L during the first phase of the project and to be used by the partners in all the trainings. Additionally, a one-day meeting of the gender trainers from the partners’ organizations was convened to review and adapt the manual.

2.3.3 DEVELOP AND MANAGE GRANTS UNDER CONTRACT SUPPORTING CIVIL SOCIETY AND PRIVATE SECTOR In Quarter 2 of Year 3, LGSA started the process of soliciting grantees for the Phase II of the women’s land rights awareness for the pilot communities. The RFA was placed on the EMASION website for 30 days, from January 19, 2018 to February 18, 2018. In quarter 3, three grantees were selected to implement this grant; DEN-L was selected to implement in seven communities in Bong County, FCI was selected to implement in fourteen communities in Lofa County and MPARD was selected to work in nine communities in Nimba County. The grant packages for the three grantees were approved in quarter 4, at which time the grantees started implementation. The grant period is from August 13, 2018 to December 31, 2018. In quarter 4, the grantees conducted trainings for 450 traditional leaders and 450 women from 30 communities in the pilot communities. These grants will conclude in year 4, Quarter 1. They will conduct awareness on three simplified laws which include: Decedent Estate Law, Equal Rights for Customary Wives, and the Criminal Conveyance of Land Rights law. They will also set up Women Land Rights Committees structures in each project community and mentor them in carrying out advocacy engagements and referral of women’s land rights matters.

2.3.4 STRENGTHEN PRIVATE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OF LAND PROFESSIONALS SUPPORT FOR APLSUL. APLSUL is the professional body responsible for surveying and mapping in Liberia and, hence, is a very significant component of a functional land administration system. To have an effective, reliable spatial information system it is essential that those responsible for its operations and maintenance are competent, reliable, and professional individuals. APLSUL understands the need for upgrading the education level and the professional practice standards of its members. Given this understanding APLSUL has requested assistance from LGSA and other sources of support to enhance the profession of land surveying and mapping in Liberia. In response to the APLSUL request, LGSA has provided educational support in the form of one-day seminars, two-day workshops, and a five-day training session in cooperation with UNDP during the reporting period. Topics covered included land administration with a focus on the role of land surveyors, introduction to new tools and technology, professional practice (international best practice) for land surveyors, and survey standards for data collection, processing and presentation of results (survey reports and plans). APLSUL has also agreed that LGSA would provide short seminar sessions (two hours each session) in land administration for small groups (eight to 12 people) of surveyors. LGSA supported APLSUL in organizing a land surveyor’s symposium that took place in from November 21 – 23, 2017. On November 21, 2017, the Land Governance Advisor and the Chief of Party delivered presentations on “The Role of Land Administration in Security of Land Tenure” and the “Role of Donors for Security of Tenure” respectively. In the opening morning, the Chairman of the LLA, Dr. Brandy, gave a key note speech focusing on the Liberian Land Tenure System and Security of Tenure. The Communication and Outreach Specialist organized LGSA’s media support to the APLSUL for the

22 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT three-day symposium by arranging the participation of the press from the Daily Observer Newspaper, the Inquirer Newspaper and ELBC (state radio). Finally, LGSA facilitated a discussion with executives of APLSUL leading to the development of a success story highlighting APLSUL’s achievements given LGSA engagements over the years. The second part of this engagement with APLSUL looked at the current transitional situation of the institution as the result of appointment of the Commissioner for Land Administration of the LLA thereby provide guidance on the development of a one-year work plan. VALUERS AND APPRAISERS ASSOCIATION. LGSA engaged the interim leadership of the newly organized Institute of Valuation and Appraisal of Liberia (IVAL) to finalize plans for implementing a two-year work plan and budget. LGSA also provided advisory support to IVAL regarding raising funds for their activities. Moreover, LGSA has engaged IVAL on organizing an event to have LGSA present the legal documents establishing IVAL, raise funds to implement the first two years’ budget, and create awareness on the role of land valuation in land administration. LGSA engagement encompasses the planned program but also on mentoring and building the capacity of IVAL, thus ensuring full collaboration between the association and key stakeholders including the Liberia Revenue Authority, Institute of Architects, and APLSUL. In the meetings that LGSA had in the last reporting quarter with IVAL, a total of nine architectural firms and 50 individuals took part as institutions and individual members of IVAL. LGSA will continue its role in the establishment of professional land organizations but most importantly to strengthen their role and capacity in the regulation and conduct of professional services in the sector.

2.3.5 FACILITATING ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS LGSA continued working with the LLA and private surveyors to reinforce the consensus it helped build between the LLA and private surveyors, represented by APLSUL, in relation to formalizing private-public partnership with respect to land surveying and mapping. With the appointment of the President of APLSUL as LLA Commissioner responsible for Land Administration, LGSA seized the opportunity to further solidify the informal agreements that exist between the LLA and APLSUL towards establishing a formal public-private partnership regarding surveying and mapping functions.

2.4 MONITORING, EVALUATION, AND LEARNING LGSA performed several significant Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) activities in Year 3. 2.4.1 REVIEW OF LGSA MEL PLAN LGSA’s MEL Plan (MELP) serves as a guide for learning, accountability and reporting procedures, and outlines responsible persons, timelines and data sources of the project during the five-year activity lifespan. Each indicator has a Performance Indicator Reference Sheet (PIRS), wherein details of the indicator are outlined. The LGSA MELP will rely upon systematic collection, analysis and reporting of information (quantitative and qualitative). The MELP was reviewed and revised based on feedback from the Pause and Reflect activity, as well as changes to the Year 3 and 4 work plans. 2.4.2 COORDINATION MEETINGS WITH LIBERIA LAND AUTHORITY AND PARTNERS Regular coordination meetings with the LLA continue with highlights in specific areas of capacity support for the institution. During the year, LGSA recognized that program staff and the MEL Specialist at the LLA would need additional capacity building in the areas of MEL and basic land tenure and property rights issues. The details of this this training will be finalized by LLA management and submitted to the LGSA management team for review and approval.

LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT 23 LGSA implementing partners have been supplied with all the reporting documents to help make their work easy by providing timely and accurate reporting to LGSA for onward reporting to USAID. A one- day meeting was organized in which the data tools were reviewed and shared with Parley and SDI. 2.4.3 LAND TENURE AND PROPERTY RIGHTS TRAININGS During the year under review, LGSA (inclusive of its implementing partners) conducted several trainings with the total of 695 participants. LGSA technical staff and implementing partners actively engaged in training the national and community media, county land registrars, county land recorders, surveyors, county land commissioners or administrators, women, youths, marginalized groups, elders, land lords and land administrators. The following trainings were conducted in and around the pilot communities: 1. Basic monitoring and evaluation 2. Legal framework training on customary land recognition 3. Media training 4. Grant kickoff training for implementing partners 3. Gender safe guards training 5. New business processes and land administration for surveyors 6. Behavioral change training 7. Community animators training 8. Survey regulations training 9. Registrars and recorders basic training on data reporting Of all the trainings during the year, 24% (169, M-111, F-58) are youth, 30% (207) women above 35 years and 46% (319) men above 35 years. 2.4.4 RETENTION SURVEY As part of routine monitoring and evaluation activities after each successful training LGSA conducts a follow up survey to authenticate the validity of the training, per indicator 1.3: Percent of people trained who can correctly identify key learning objectives 30 days later as a result of USG assistance. Out of 695 participants, we surveyed 417 which is 60% of the persons who participated in the training. Of the total number of participants trained, 50 of them could not reached through a phone call or in person. Of the 417 persons surveyed, 367 persons could correctly identify key learning objectives 30 days after the training. This means that 88% of the participants could correctly identify key learning objectives 30 days after the training, showcasing the exceptional skills used by LGSA partners and technical staff to train the participants in complicated subject matters. Key findings for the high retention rate include that the trainers used people from within the same county familiar with the local context and language. Key messages of the training were dramatized for added understanding of the participants and those who came to watch the drama at evening hours. There was high turnout of women not just to respond to the questions, but to express their satisfaction of the trainings and to request similar or more of such trainings be conducted for their fellow women in their communities and their towns. The male participants on the other hand commended USAID for all the trainings they have received thus far and requested that more of these training will help them have a clear understanding of their land rights and other land related issues. They also requested that more men need to know the rights of women not just on land and property, but in gender equality as well. 2.4.5 PUBLIC AWARENESS ACTIVITIES As we begin our pilot site activities, the awareness campaign intensified, increasing stakeholders and the beneficiary’s knowledge. The focus was mainly on women, youth, elders, chiefs and the disadvantaged,

24 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT on topics covering women’s land rights, customary land rights recognition, and community self- identification process. LGSA also provided awareness on the establishment, mandate and functions of the Land Authority and the Board of Commissioners, the processes and importance of land registration, land use and management, surveyors roles in land management and administration, land dispute resolution processes, and the criminal conveyance of land.

LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT 25 TABLE 2.1: LGSA PERFORMANCE INDICATOR TRACKER

Data Source Year 3 Achieved Comment/ Type of Reporting Year 1&2 Year 3 LOP Indicator & Collection Baseline Achievement up to explanation # Indicator Frequency Achievements target Target Method date on indicator 10.4-1: Number Land agencies of specific or LGSA pieces of implementing legislation or partners; implementing copies of regulations proposed, proposed, adopted or 1 LTPR adopted, and/or Annual implemented 0 5 3 4 9 12 Exceeded implemented pieces of target for affecting legislation or year 3 property rights regulations of the urban and affecting rural poor as a property result of USG rights assistance collected 1.3: Number of Completed people trained participants’ 3 Custom in land tenure Quarterly 0 805 550 695 1500 1900 Exceeded attendance and property target forms rights issues 10.4-2: Percent Completed of people participants’ trained who can attendance correctly forms and 80% 4 LTPR Annually 0 89.8% 88% 88.9% 80% Exceeded identify key follow-up (440/550) target learning survey, objectives 30 disaggregated days later as a by gender

26 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT Data Source Year 3 Achieved Comment/ Type of Reporting Year 1&2 Year 3 LOP Indicator & Collection Baseline Achievement up to explanation # Indicator Frequency Achievements target Target Method date on indicator result of USG assistance1 This indicator 2.3: Number of Individuals is proposed individuals from receiving changed to land governance master’s Number of institutions who degrees will individuals received submit a brief who received 7 Custom Master's- Annually 0 0 0 0 0 4 report, specialized degrees in land including a geomatics administration copy of their education and governance completed (certificate in as a result of degree surveying USG support. technology) 2.4: Number of Land agencies land track and Did not 8 Custom Quarterly 2311 4388 3200 1838 6226 16000 transactions report this achieve completed data to LGSA 3.1: Percentage of adults in pilot 15% areas who Activities are LGSA survey Not over 9 Custom report that their Annually 40.1% 0% +5% Not applicable planned for data applicable the land tenure year 4 and 5 baseline rights are secure

1 1.3: Percent of people trained who can correctly identify key learning objectives 30 days later because of USG assistance. 80% of participants trained is the target of each year and LOA target. A simple survey would be conducted 30 days later after the training is completed. This indicator requires percent, but numbers has been added for clarity.

LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT 27 Data Source Year 3 Achieved Comment/ Type of Reporting Year 1&2 Year 3 LOP Indicator & Collection Baseline Achievement up to explanation # Indicator Frequency Achievements target Target Method date on indicator Collected 10.4-5: Number from land of parcels with agencies relevant parcel database information quarterly. corrected or Household newly members or Activities are N/A 10 LTPR incorporated Annually organizations 0 0 5 N/A 40 planned for into an official report to LLA year 4 and 5 land with evidence administration of formalized system as a land rights in result of USG hard copies or assistance electronic forms 10.4-6: Number of people with secure tenure rights to land, with legally Reports 20% recognized collected from 129 Activities are above 11 LTPR documentation Annually land agencies. M-85 0 +10% N/A N/A planned for the and who LGSA Annual F-44 year 4 and 5 base perceive their survey rights to land are secure as a result of USG assistance2

2 Indicator 3.3 contributes to a USAID Standard Indicator (FACTS 4.5.1-25 or EG.10.4-6)

28 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT Data Source Year 3 Achieved Comment/ Type of Reporting Year 1&2 Year 3 LOP Indicator & Collection Baseline Achievement up to explanation # Indicator Frequency Achievements target Target Method date on indicator 3.5: Percentage of community governance Reports from entities LGSA Activities are 80% 89% 13 Custom implementing Quarterly technical staff, 0 0% N/A N/A planned for (8/10) 40/45 rules for the and bylaws year 4 and 5 inclusion of submitted women, youth and strangers 4.1: Number of Copies of gender outreach responsive materials, outreach reports and materials on 14 Custom Quarterly receipts from 0 22 21 21 43 66 Achieved land tenure and printing press target property rights and distributed distribution through USG lists collected assistance Reports 4.2: Number of including gender summary of Tremendous responsive each activity, effort was public outreach with receipts, made though 15 Custom activities on land Quarterly where 0 137 106 88 225 474 we did not tenure and appropriate, reach our property rights and target. held with USG distribution assistance information collected 4.3: Number of LGSA new or existing technical staff Exceeded 16 Custom professional Quarterly and 0 3 3 4 7 9 target organizations of implementing surveyors and partners

LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT 29 Data Source Year 3 Achieved Comment/ Type of Reporting Year 1&2 Year 3 LOP Indicator & Collection Baseline Achievement up to explanation # Indicator Frequency Achievements target Target Method date on indicator other land submit related reports professions including supported support provided Target was 4.4: Number of not achieved marginalized Reports from as historically people who LLA/LCC did not have accessed showing the 368 include LGSA to land tenure 338 30 17 Custom Quarterly marginalized 150 180 M-203 900 partner data. and property (151 women) (F-11) groups who F-165 Definition rights services have accessed and data from land services source governance changed in institutions PIRS.

30 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT ANNEX 1: SUCCESS STORY

LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY QUARTERLY REPORT, FY17, Q2 31 U.S. Agency for International Development 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20523 Tel: (202) 712-0000 Fax: (202) 216-3524 32 LAND GOVERNANCEwww.usaid.gov SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY18 ANNUAL REPORT