LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY TECHNICAL REPORT FY20 Q1 OCTOBER 1, 2019 – DECEMBER 31, 2019
TETRA TECH TETRA
PHOTO CREDIT: PHOTO
January 2020
This publicationLAND was GOVERNANC produced forE SUPPORT review ACTIVITYby the United FY20 QUARTERStates Agency 1 REPORT for (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) International Development. 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]
Megan Huth, Project Manager [email protected]
David Felson, Deputy Project Manager [email protected]
ii LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019)
LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY TECHNICAL REPORT FY20 Q1 OCTOBER 1, 2019 – DECEMBER 31, 2019
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.
LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS ...... IV ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ...... V EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 4 2.0 FY20 QUARTER 1 ACTIVITIES ...... 4 2.1 SUPPORTING THE LIBERIA LAND AUTHORITY ...... 5 2.1.1 OPERATIONALIZATION OF THE LIBERIA LAND AUTHORITY ...... 5 2.1.2 DECENTRALIZATION OF THE LIBERIA LAND AUTHORITY ...... 8 2.2 FINALIZE A METHODOLGY FOR RECOGNITION OF CUSTOMARY LAND RIGHTS AND IMPLEMENT THE METHODOLOGY IN PILOT COMMUNITIES ...... 9 2.2.1 DEVELOP, FIELD TEST, AND REVISE PROCESSES FOR CUSTOMARY LAND RIGHTS IMPLEMENTATION ...... 9 2.2.2 CONDUCT CAPACITY BUILDING OF COMMUNITIES, LOCAL INSTITUTIONS, AND STAKEHOLDERS ...... 10 2.2.3 DEVELOP PHASED AND COSTED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ...... 10 2.3 STRENGTHEN CIVIL SOCIETY, PRIVATE SECTOR, AND CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT IN LAND GOVERNANCE ...... 10 2.3.1 DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS ...... 10 2.3.2 DEVELOP AND MANAGE GUC SUPPORTING CIVIL SOCIETY AND PRIVATE SECTOR ...... 13 2.3.3 SUPPORT TO CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGMENT IN LAND GOVERNACE ...... 13 2.3.4 STRENGTHEN PRIVATE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OF LAND PROFESSIONALS ...... 14 2.4 GENDER ACTIVITIES ...... 15 2.5 SUPPORT TO FOREST COMMUNITITIES ...... 19 2.6 MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING ...... 21 ANNEX A: LGSA INDICATORS AND TARGETS ...... 22 ANNEX B: SUCCESS STORY ...... 25
iv LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
APLSUL Association of Public Land Surveyors of Liberia CA Community Assembly CFMB Community Forest Management Body CLDMC Community Land Development and Management Committee COP Chief of Party CSO Civil Society Organization EC Executive Committee FCI Foundation for Community Initiatives FTI Forestry Training Institute GEP Geomatics Education Program GOL Government of Liberia GUC Grants under Contract LAA Liberia Land Authority Act LARNET-L Land Reporters Network – Liberia LGSA Land Governance Support Activity LLA Liberia Land Authority LRA Land Rights Act NGO Nongovernmental Organization P3CL Tenure Facility’s Protecting Community Collective Customary Land SA Social Agreement SDI Sustainable Development Institute SOP Standard Operating Procedure STARR Strengthening Tenure and Resource Rights TOT Training of Trainers USAID United States Agency for International Development WLRTF Women’s Land Rights Task Force
LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) v
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 Duration 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, 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. During the reporting quarter, in spite of funding challenges, LGSA accomplished important works that aimed to solidify the progress made over the last four years, especially those activities that aimed to improve the service delivery of the land administration system, landowners’ security of tenure and building the capacity of the Liberia Land Authority (LLA) and other partner stakeholders in the land sector. LGSA also carried out significant activities in relation to recognition of community land rights and brought its outstanding pilot efforts closer to their final conclusion. Furthermore, LGSA, in partnership with partner Foundation for Community Initiatives (FCI), continued providing support to 16 Authorized Forest Communities, in Kparblee District, Nimba County. In quarter 1 of year 5, LGSA’s support to the LLA focused on activities that aimed to solidify and ensure the continuity and sustainability of the progresses made in the land sector with the support of LGSA, especially those activities that aimed to improve the service delivery of the land administration system, strengthen LLA’s institutional capacity and landowners’ security of tenure. Furthermore, LGSA’s support also focused on providing technical assistance in relation to the LLA’s strategic direction and prioritization of competing objectives. A notable activity that pertained to LLA’s service delivery capacity was LGSA’s support to the LLA in implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in four county land offices. The support involved providing one-on-one orientation regarding the SOPs to county land administrators, land registry staff and surveyors in Bomi, Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount and Grand Bassa Counties. Throughout the reporting quarter, LGSA continued providing day-to-day advisory support with respect to the LLA’s mandates and activities, especially in regard to the implementation of the LRA, strengthening the land governance regulatory framework, institutional development, enhancing the capacity of the Gender Unit, establishing basic infrastructure (including consolidating physical presence in the counties) to implement the LRA and perform other land governance functions. LGSA’s Chief of Party (COP), the Land Administration Specialist, Communication and Outreach Specialist and the Gender and Land Specialist continued to be embedded with the LLA, and provided advisory and technical support to the Acting Chairperson, Commissioners, the Executive Director, and other management and technical staff. LGSA continued providing support to the LLA in strengthening the legal and regulatory framework for the land sector. In quarter 1 of year 5, LGSA’s support in strengthening the legal/regulatory framework for land governance aimed to build upon the progress made in year 4 with respect to the proper implementation of the Land Rights Act (LRA). Accordingly, LGSA provided technical assistance that complements the provisions of the draft Customary Land Governance Regulation with respect to determining the validity of Tribal Certificates. In accordance with an agreement reached with the LLA, LGSA, in consultation with the CSO Working Group on Land and the LLA, developed a draft regulation for determining the validity of Tribal Certificates.
LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) 1 LGSA continued implementing its comprehensive program of training for land surveyors as part of its efforts towards capacity building of the Department of Land Administration of the LLA and the Association of Public Land Surveyors of Liberia (APLSUL). In quarter 1 of Year 5, LGSA continued adhering to its twin-track efforts: 1) producing new survey technicians through a certificate offering surveyors’ curriculum; and 2) providing skill upgrading training to existing public and private land surveyors. In quarter 1 of Year 5, LGSA continued to implement the Geomatics Education Program (GEP) at the Forestry Training Institute (FTI). Students are expected to submit their final research papers by January 30, 2020 and defend their research works in early February 2020. In the last quarter of Year 4 LGSA implemented a skill upgrading training program for land surveyors, which was designed in consultation with the LLA. The training was offered as part 1 of a training of trainers’ program to 10 members of the land surveying community who are professionally in good standing. In quarter 1 of Year 5, LGSA provided advanced survey training to these participants as part 2 of the trainers training. The training was conducted for one month at the campus of FTI in Tubmanburg, Bomi County. Participants of the survey training of trainers were selected from both the public and private sectors. In quarter 1, LGSA provided technical assistance to the LLA in relation to the feasibility of establishing adequate county land offices at this time and the requirements for establishing land offices in all 15 counties. To gain deeper understanding of the overall institutional context that potentially can facilitate or constrain efforts to consolidate the LLA county land offices and to assess their capacity to adapt workflows and SOPs developed by LGSA, the LGSA COP, Land Governance Adviser and Land Administration Specialist conducted a series of field work activities in Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount and Bomi Counties. During their visits, the LGSA staff assessed the institutional situation of the LLA’s county land offices. They held discussions with various county land office staff and other county and city officials regarding options for consolidating the scattered county land functions. In addition, the LGSA staffers presented workflows and operating processes to county land officials in the four counties. LGSA has completed the process of community self-identification, development of community by- laws, establishment of CLDMCs and boundary data collection in the first seven pilot communities (Fissebu Town, Valvalah and Palama in Lofa County, Kpatawee and Kporyorquelleh in Bong County, and Dubuzon and Gayea in Nimba County). LGSA and Parley created initial boundary maps for each community and at the end of the quarter were able to validate the maps with the four communities and their neighboring communities in Bong and Nimba Counties. SDI also created the draft community boundary maps for the three communities in Lofa County; however, final validation – including for some contested areas in Palama and Vavalah - will occur in early 2020. Communities with final agreed upon boundaries, with the support of LGSA, will be ready for the LLA to conduct a confirmatory review of the boundary maps and then to obtain a formal government recognition of their customary land rights starting in quarter two of year five. LGSA, in partnership with FCI, continued providing support to 16 Authorized Forest Communities, in Kparblee District, Nimba County. LGSA’s pilot initiative is assisting the 16 affected Authorized Forest Communities in Nimba County, and their respective Community Forest Management Body (CFMB), Executive Committee (EC) and Community Assembly (CA) membership, by providing training, information and legal advice with respect to negotiating Commercial Use Contracts or Social Agreements, entering into agreements with timber companies where community development projects are clearly identified and implementation is time bound, or legal rights associated with contract or agreement monitoring. Specifically, during the reporting quarter, LGSA in partnership with FCI carried out various tasks and activities including: 1) Review of Social Agreements and Commercial Use Contracts that the affected communities have already made with timber companies; 2) provided several trainings to CFMB, EC and CA members as well as other community leaders. The trainings included legal training on Social Agreements, Commercial Use Contracts and contract negotiation and training on enforcement and monitoring of contracts.
2 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) As a cross-cutting issue, almost all LGSA activities aim to mainstream gender considerations. In quarter 1 of Year 5, LGSA’s gender related activities focused on strengthening the capacity of the LLA Gender Unit, the Women’s Land Rights Task Force (WLRTF) and other gender and land practitioners. In the reporting quarter, LGSA’s Gender and Land Specialist continued supporting the staff of the LLA Gender Unit in building their capacity and finalizing the Gender Integration Strategy. LGSA implemented a training of trainers (TOT) for practitioners from Bong, Nimba and Lofa - the three counties that LGSA is piloting processes for community land rights recognition. The TOT aimed at further solidifying ongoing efforts to promote gender and women’s land rights in these communities and combat social and cultural biases that hinder women’s land rights. A total of 29 people (16 male and13 female) including local government representatives, representatives of civil society and community-based organizations and local journalists participated in the training. Two of the participants were Monrovia-based trainees who previously participated in LGSA’s TOT on Gender and Land Rights in Monrovia in June 2019. These participants were given the opportunity to apply the skills they gained from their previous training. As a continuation of its previous years’ efforts, during the reporting quarter, LGSA planned and implemented public information campaigns through community radio stations. LGSA’s communications and outreach activities in different communities focused on informing the public about the provisions of the LRA and the services offered by the LLA. In addition, LGSA’s efforts focused on enhancing the LLA’s and USAID/LGSA’s visibility in Liberia and to facilitate communications between the LLA and different communities in different counties. With the primary objective of reaching as wide an audience as possible, LGSA signed new agreements with eight community radio stations to continue community awareness on various land related issues in eight counties of Liberia. After signing the agreements with the community radio stations, LGSA’s Communications and Outreach Specialist worked with them to ensure that appropriate and comprehensive work plans for the outreach activities were developed.
LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) 3 1.0 INTRODUCTION
The Land Governance Support Activity (LGSA) activities are a continuation of USAID’s engagement in the land sector 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 preliminary efforts assisted the Government of Liberia (GOL) in the development of a Land Rights Policy, the evolution of the Liberia Land Authority (LLA), and a Land Administration Policy. LGSA continues this engagement through support to the LLA in its establishment and implementation of the Land Authority Act and Land Rights Act (LRA). While LGSA is structured with four project components (see below text box) the focal points of LGSA are the establishment and operationalization of the LLA, the development of a methodology for the implementation of the provisions of the Land Rights Policy and Land Rights Act and raising awareness on access to gender equitable land tenure.
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 training in land governance, 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, and • 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 public-private partnerships in activities surrounding land administration.
4 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) 2.0 FY20 QUARTER 1 ACTIVITIES
LGSA Year 5 project activities will mainly focus on: 1) supporting the LLA in land governance areas where the chances for producing concrete results that will have direct bearing on improving service delivery and tenure security are good; 2) implementing community based processes to strengthen community land governance structures, including capacity building of communities, local institutions, and testing of a methodology for the recognition of customary tenure; 3) improving the legislative/regulatory framework for land administration; 4) improving the LLA’s operating procedures and systems; and 5) developing and disseminating information to build public awareness on land. Most of the current year activities will aim to solidify and ensure the continuity and sustainability of the progresses made in the land sector with the support of LGSA.
2.1 SUPPORTING THE LIBERIA LAND AUTHORITY In line with the project’s experiences in the past, LGSA’s Chief of Party (COP), land administration technical advisers, Communication and Outreach Specialist and the Gender and Land Specialist continued providing advisory and technical support specific to institutional development, capacity building and implementation of the core legislation relevant to the land sector as described in detail below. In so doing the LGSA COP and technical advisers continued working closely with the LLA Chairman, Commissioners, the Executive Director and other management and technical staff. The LGSA COP, supported by other technical advisers including the Gender and Land Specialist, the Land Governance Adviser, the Communication and Outreach Specialist and the Land Administration Specialist, continued to be embedded within the LLA to provide strategic and day-to-day technical assistance and mentoring.
2.1.1 OPERATIONALIZATION OF THE LIBERIA LAND AUTHORITY INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICE DELIVERY OF LLA. In quarter 1 of Year 5, LGSA’s support to the LLA focused on activities that aimed to solidify the progress made over the last four years, especially those activities that aimed to improve the service delivery of the land administration system and landowners’ security of tenure. Furthermore, LGSA’s support also focused on providing technical assistance in relation to the LLA’s strategic direction and prioritization of competing objectives. With respect to the former, LGSA supported the LLA in implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in four county land offices. The support involved providing one-on-one orientation regarding the SOPs to county land administrators, land registry staff and surveyors in Bomi, Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount and Grand Bassa Counties. The orientation provided to the county land office staff focused on the application of SOPs for deeds registration and land surveying functions of public surveyors. The application of the land survey and registration related SOPs aim at improving (and lending certainty to) the LLA service delivery system by providing relevant staff members with the information and a set of written instructions to perform their work properly. It is also expected to promote consistency and certainty in the quality of the services provided by the LLA. The SOPs describe both technical and essential operational activities of the LLA. With respect to providing technical assistance in relation to the LLA’s strategic direction and prioritization of competing objectives, during the reporting quarter, the LGSA COP provided a series of advisory support to the LLA Chairman and other members of the senior management. The advisory support was provided in the context of various initiatives that were proposed by various development partners. Specifically, the LGSA COP provided advisory support regarding proposed initiatives relating to systematic land titling and registration and LLA land records. The COP’s
LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) 5 advisory support culminated in a joint LGSA-LLA technical working session, which aimed to revisit and clarify the LLA’s short-to-medium-term strategic direction in relation to reforming the land registration system, land titling, land surveying and mapping and recognition of customary land rights. During the technical session presentations were delivered by LGSA Land Governance Adviser, LGSA COP and SDI’s Program Manager respectively on practical issues in building a land administration system; conceptual, design and Staff from the LLA and LGSA hold a technical session to discuss land administration issues in December implementation issues regarding land titling and 2019 registration; and progress made towards customary land recognition and the way forward after boundary harmonization. Following the presentations, the participants of the technical session held interactive discussions in relation to options for clarifying property rights within customary land boundaries and practical challenges and possibilities in designing and implementing systematic land titling and registration operation. The technical session enabled participants to acquire a better understanding of the issues involved in the subjects of discussions. The technical session was participated by members of LLA senior management and technical staff and LGSA staffers. LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK. LGSA continued providing support to the LLA in strengthening the legal and regulatory framework for the land sector. In quarter 1 of Year 5, LGSA’s support in strengthening the legal/regulatory framework for land governance aimed at building upon the progress made in Year 4 with respect to the proper implementation of the LRA. Accordingly, LGSA provided technical assistance that complement the provisions of the draft Customary Land Governance Regulation. Regulation for Determining the Validity of Tribal Certificates. The LLA, in collaboration with communities, is mandated to determine the validity of Tribal Certificates. According to the LRA, Tribal Certificates are recognized as a legitimate basis for claiming ownership of land. Nonetheless, recognizing the complexity of Tribal Certificate-based claims of land ownership, the LRA envisages “a rigid validation process” by which to determine the validity of Tribal Certificates. In this regard, LGSA’s advisory and technical assistance focused on the process of development as well as the substance of the validation process. LGSA’s COP facilitated a series of consultations with representatives of the Land Working Group on Land, the LLA Chairman and other members of LLA senior management and technical staff to advance a consultative modality of developing the regulations for determining the validity of Tribal Certificates. Consequently, both sides reached consensus on a framework agreement on the consultative steps to be followed in developing the regulation. In accordance with the framework agreement, LGSA, in consultation with the CSO Working Group on Land and the LLA, developed a draft regulation for determining the validity of Tribal Certificates. After preparing the first draft regulation for determining the validity of Tribal Certificates, LGSA’s COP and Legal Adviser convened a working session with the representatives of the CSO Working Group on Land to hold consultations on the provisions of the draft regulation. During the session, difficult issues relating to acceptable standards or criteria that should be used in determining the validity of Tribal Certificates were raised and discussed. The complex issues raised and discussed in the working session revealed the challenges that lie ahead in determining the validity of Tribal Certificates. LGSA has been striving to promote reasonable and acceptable legal solutions to the difficult issues pertaining to determining the validity of Tribal Certificates.
6 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) SURVEY STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING. The success of the LLA in building a functioning land administration system will, to a large extent, be contingent upon the skills and integrity of its human resources who are responsible to discharge the different aspect of land administration functions. Surveying and mapping are important aspects of a land administration system in Liberia. However, the surveying and mapping sector lacks adequate human and material resources that are required to respond to the current needs. Building well-trained human resources will enable the LLA to promote the efficient functioning of surveying activities through the introduction of new standards, systems, procedures and equipment. Therefore, LGSA has been implementing a comprehensive program of training for surveyors as part of its efforts towards capacity building of the Department of Land Administration of the LLA and Association of Public Land Surveyors of Liberia (APLSUL). In quarter 1 of Year 5, LGSA continued adhering to its two- pronged approach: 1) produce new survey technicians through a certificate offering surveyors’ curriculum; and 2) provide skill upgrading training to existing surveyors. Implementing a Geomatics Education Program. In quarter 1 of Year 5, LGSA continued to implement the Geomatics Education Program (GEP) at the Forestry Training Institute (FTI). In line with its settled practice, LGSA has ensured the GEP lesson plans, quizzes, midterms and teaching material are submitted monthly to the Land Administration Specialist for review and guidance. LGSA’s COP and technical specialists have also visited the GEP in Bomi to provide feedback and to ensure that the program is running smoothly. This practice continued to enable LGSA to proactively and timely respond to any programmatic and administrative needs as well as to steadily improve the quality of education provided by the GEP. At the same time, consistent with previous practices, through continuous interaction with the GEP and FTI, LGSA continued creating more opportunities for the GEP instructors and coordinator to build their capacity to manage the program. During the quarter, the GEP students completed the course requirement of the program. Twenty students successfully completed the course work and were given clearance of completion and letters of introduction to carry out their various research. The research topics were initially categorized into three general topics of Cadastral Surveying, Customary Land Rights and Alternative Dispute Resolution. Students then conducted literature review and identified specific research topics for approval. The students who successfully completed their course work were also required to participate in a one-day GEP students conducting practical exercises on workshop on Land Administration, followed by a topographic surveying at FTI two-day class session on research methodology that was conducted by LGSA’s Land Administration Specialist. The class sessions focused on the Liberia Land Surveyors Regulation and Ethics and Professionalism. Prior to holding the class sessions, the students were given an assignment to read the surveyor regulations and identify those articles or sections that deal with ethical standards and professional responsibilities. Subsequently, as part of preparing the students for the research assignment, which is the final stage of the GEP program, LGSA’s Land Administration Specialist, the GEP instructors and students held a final meeting and a training session of the GEP at the conference room of LGSA on December 24, 2019. The purpose of this technical session was to follow-up on the research methodology lessons provided to the GEP students earlier in the semester and provide feedback on all research proposals submitted by students. The feedback focused on technical review of research methods; the scope of individual research proposals; and mitigation of challenges that students are likely to encounter during field activities. The meeting was opened by remarks by LGSA’s Land Administration Specialist and COP, who encouraged students to successfully complete their research works.
LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) 7 It is expected that the first draft of the students’ research papers will be submitted by January 17, 2020. Final research papers will be submitted by January 30, 2020 and students will defend their research work in early February 2020. In the reporting quarter, LGSA also worked to link the GEP with the LLA to ensure the relevance and sustainability of the program. Furthermore, LGSA engaged USAID and other stakeholders to explore possibilities for funding the second year of the program. Skill Upgrading Surveying Training. In the last quarter of Year 4 LGSA implemented a skill upgrading training program for land surveyors, which was designed in consultation with the LLA. The training was offered as part 1 of a training of trainers’ (TOT) program to 10 members of the land surveying community who are professionally in good standing. As part of its efforts for strengthening land governance in Liberia, in quarter 1 of Year 5, LGSA provided advanced survey training to these participants as part 2 of the TOT. Four facilitators conducted the training for one month. The training aimed at fulfilling the educational and training needs of public and private surveyors across Liberia. It involved both theoretical and practical lessons. The main topics covered included Introduction to Surveying, Digital Cartography, Land Laws, Ethics and Regulations, and Survey Report Writing. The participants of the training were challenged to learn theoretical concepts during lectures and to apply them in the field during practical training. The training was conducted for one month at the FTI campus in Tubmanburg, Bomi County. A comprehensive set of training materials (notes), in soft copies, were made available by the consultant (lead facilitator) and distributed to participants. The training began with ten participants and eight of them Group photo of the surveyor participants and completed the final phase of the training. Participants facilitators during a practical training exercise were selected from both the public and private sectors.
2.1.2 DECENTRALIZATION OF THE LIBERIA LAND AUTHORITY The LLA county land offices are inadequately organized and resourced to implement and operate modern land governance systems. They do not have adequate human resources, equipment and facilities to deliver efficient land governance services. According to the Liberia Land Authority Act (LAA) (October 2016) the LLA is required to establish and operate county land offices in all 15 counties of Liberia. It is therefore essential for the LLA to establish adequate and coherent physical presence in all counties in order to efficiently implement the LRA and the LAA. In quarter 1, LGSA provided technical assistance to the LLA in relation to the feasibility of establishing adequate county land offices at this time and the requirements for establishing land offices in all 15 counties. To gain deeper understanding of the overall institutional context that potentially can facilitate or constrain efforts to consolidate the LLA county land offices and to assess their capacity to adapt workflows and standard operating procedures developed by LGSA, LGSA’s COP, Land Governance Adviser and Land Administration Specialist conducted a series of field work activities in Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount and Bomi Counties. During their visits, the LGSA staff assessed the institutional situation of the LLA’s county land offices. They held discussions with various county land office staff and other county and city officials regarding options for consolidating the scattered county land functions. In addition, the LGSA staffers presented workflows and operating processes to county land officials in the four counties. The county land office officials were receptive of the idea of introducing the workflows and operating procedures to improve their service delivery in the future.
8 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) 2.2 FINALIZE A METHODOLGY FOR RECOGNITION OF CUSTOMARY LAND RIGHTS AND IMPLEMENT THE METHODOLOGY IN PILOT COMMUNITIES By virtue of 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. Rural communities are keenly interested in obtaining a deed to customary land, but policymakers and rural communities alike are unaware of the extent and location of deeded lands, tribal certificates, concessions, and other government and public lands. LGSA is supporting the GOL to develop a process for the recognition of customary lands which has been in turn informing the design of new regulations, administrative procedures, and guidelines to implement the LRA. The process of customary land recognition requires communities to self-identify, demarcate their boundaries, and establish land governance by-laws and structures. LGSA support to the LLA to develop model by-laws and regulations, as discussed in Section 2.1.1, assisted in the development of steps and processes leading to the establishment of community by-laws and the Community Land Development and Management Committees (CLDMCs), and will inform the process for the LLA’s confirmatory survey or review, one of the last steps before a community can receive a land deed. LGSA shared the draft Methodology for the Recognition of Customary Land with project partners and the Tenure Facility for review and comment with the goal of holding a formal review with the LLA in early 2020. The Methodology will continue to be updated with lessons learned from the pilots, new templates and examples under development and feedback from stakeholders.
2.2.1 DEVELOP, FIELD TEST, AND REVISE PROCESSES FOR CUSTOMARY LAND RIGHTS IMPLEMENTATION LGSA has completed the process of community self-identification, development of community by- laws, establishment of CLDMCs and boundary data collection in the first seven pilot communities (Fissebu Town, Valvalah and Palama in Lofa County, Kpatawee and Kporyorquelleh in Bong County, and Dubuzon and Gayea in Nimba County). LGSA and Parley created initial boundary maps for each community and at the end of the quarter were able to validate the maps with the four communities and their neighboring communities in Bong and Nimba Counties. SDI also created the draft community boundary maps for the three communities in Lofa County; however, final validation – including for some contested areas in Palama and Vavalah - will occur in early 2020. Communities with final agreed upon boundaries, with the support of LGSA, will be ready for the LLA to conduct a confirmatory review of the boundary maps and then to obtain a formal government recognition of their customary land Parley conducts training on boundary harmonization rights starting in quarter two of year five. LGSA brought together stakeholders from the LLA and civil society to discuss the regulations for the LLA’s conduct of a confirmatory survey/review in the process for a community to obtain a land deed. Once this regulation is drafted, LGSA will look to collaborate as feasible and appropriate with the LLA and CSO partners to pilot the approach in one or more communities who have completed the previous steps of self-identification, governance and boundary harmonization. LGSA brought together civil society partners to review the draft Methodology for the Recognition of Customary Land. Partners provided feedback and identified additional tools, templates and processes to be included as annexes. LGSA will continue to improve the tools and documents based on feedback from the LLA, communities and implementing partners, and share the Guidelines more
LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) 9 broadly in the next quarter at a learning event to be co-hosted with the Tenure Facility funded project (Protecting Community Collective Customary Land [P3CL]). LGSA identified seven communities in which to continue working on the customary land recognition process. As funding was uncertain, LGSA paused the commencement of new activities in the quarter. Early in 2020 LGSA will begin to directly work with communities to increase awareness of their rights under the LRA, including the process for self-identification and community land governance.
2.2.2 CONDUCT CAPACITY BUILDING OF COMMUNITIES, LOCAL INSTITUTIONS, AND STAKEHOLDERS As mentioned above and in more detail in previous reports, LGSA collaborated with SDI and Parley to draft and implement the draft community land governance bylaws and elect CLDMCs in the seven pilot communities. As part of the election process, the community and CLDMC members were informed of the roles and responsibilities of the CLDMCs and broader community assembly. As discussed in more detail below in Section 2.4, LGSA conducted a second Gender Equality and Women’s Land Rights TOT in Gbarnga, Bong County in November 2019 for stakeholders based in Bong, Lofa and Nimba Counties. The four-day LGSA conducts a Gender Equality and Women’s training had 28 participants from local government Land Rights TOT in Gbarnga in November 2019 (including the Superintendent from Bong County and LLA Land Officers), CSOs, CBOs, and journalists. Two women who were trained at LGSA’s Monrovia Gender TOT in June 2019 conducted a portion of the training to gain experience in the delivery of the material.
2.2.3 DEVELOP PHASED AND COSTED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN No new work was completed this quarter towards updating the initial estimation of the direct and indirect costs for implementing the draft customary land recognition methodology. The original estimation incorporates lessons learned from LGSA partners and other CSOs working on customary land tenure issues in Liberia and calculates the average costs incurred by government, local communities, and supporting civil society from the start of the rights recognition process to the issuance of the community deed. This estimation will be revisited and updated through a more thorough study once the process is further refined and will inform the implementation process in subsequent years. A more thorough phased and costed implementation plan for LGSA activities will be completed in Year 5 after the pilot community implementation is completed.
2.3 STRENGTHEN CIVIL SOCIETY, PRIVATE SECTOR, AND CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT IN LAND GOVERNANCE
2.3.1 DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS LGSA has been striving to build public awareness by targeting the marginalized segments of the Liberian society, including the landless and other vulnerable segments of communities who have had no or limited information on how to register land, their right to access land and how to claim ownership of land. Moreover, as much as possible, LGSA has been working to build public awareness about the fundamental land tenure changes introduced by virtue of the LRA.
10 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) In previous years, LGSA was able to make significant contribution in informing the public about the land governance system and regarding their rights and obligations under relevant Liberian laws. In quarter 1 of Year 5, LGSA continued conducting public awareness campaigns in relation to crucial land governance issues including the provisions of the LRA and LAA using effective tools to reach out to members of various communities. PUBLIC AWARENESS ON LAND ADMINISTRATION SERVICES AND THE LRA. As continuation of its previous years’ efforts, during the reporting quarter LGSA planned and implemented public information campaigns through community radio stations. LGSA’s communications and outreach activities in different communities focused on informing the public about the provisions of the LRA and the services offered by the LLA. In addition, LGSA’s efforts focused on enhancing the LLA’s and USAID/LGSA’s visibility in Liberia and to facilitate communications between the LLA and different communities in different counties. With the primary objective of reaching as wide audience as possible, LGSA signed new agreements with eight community radio stations to continue community awareness on various land related issues in eight counties of Liberia. After signing the agreements with the community radio stations, LGSA’s Communications and Outreach Specialist worked with them to ensure that appropriate and comprehensive work plans for the outreach activities were developed. The support to the radio stations varied in scope and nature as the number of communities assigned for LGSA’s Communications and Outreach Specialist talks their implementation varied as well as the areas of with women about the LRA during an outreach event focus for the outreach activities. Some of the radio stations were required to target four communities, while others targeted five to eight communities. Four of the eight radio stations that LGSA concluded new agreements with were selected from the western region of the country where LGSA aimed to provide technical support towards consolidating the county land offices (Grand Bassa, Bomi, Gbarpolu and Grand Cape Mount Counties). According to the agreements and LGSA’s work plan, LGSA will collaborate with the community radio stations to inform the public about the land administration services and processes that the LLA provides at the county and national levels. Additionally, LGSA, through the radio stations, will inform communities in these counties on the provisions of the LRA. LGSA has identified local interviewees who are knowledgeable in land administration and land management to participate in the radio programs. Out of the remaining four radio stations, three were selected from Bong, Lofa and Nimba Counties where LGSA’s pilot communities are located. The last radio station was selected from Margibi due to the prevalence of high volume land disputes and frictions in the county. LGSA, through the four radio stations, is informing the public about their rights and obligations under the LRA, with particular focus on women’s land rights. LGSA will continue the radio awareness campaign in the next quarter in ways that will complement implementation of its forthcoming pilot activities in Lofa, Nimba and Bong. As such, the radio stations will focus on public education with respect to community self-identification, establishment of CLDMCs and protection of customary land rights. LGSA’s radio outreach campaign has the following objectives: • Increase public awareness on the details of the LRA, land administration and women land rights.
LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) 11 • Provide citizens with key information and messages to help them understand the LRA, their rights and the responsibilities the rights come with. • Explore with local leaders and residents the roles and responsibilities of communities in the implementation of the LRA. • Build understanding of the land administration issues in the counties and the work the LLA is doing through their local county offices. • Reinforce the existing relationship with local media institutions and empower them LGSA hosts a community awareness meeting to to disseminate land governance-related discuss the LRA and the LLA information into the public sphere. Consistent with the first set of agreements that were concluded last year, the approach followed in the design of the radio outreach activities proved effective in terms of conducting successful outreach activities. The approach followed embedded the following methodology: 1. The use of community radio journalists: The radio stations’ ability to speak the local language clearly to mobilize the people was key to the success of the activities. Their familiarity with the local terrains and their relationship with the people was also instrumental and greatly impacted the success of the activities. 2. Town hall meetings: Reaching the people in their towns and villages through town hall meetings was the major method used to disseminate the information on the LRA. On a weekly basis, the responsible radio staff paid prior visits to the communities to do their community entry and prepare the communities for the outreach. Their next visit to the community was to conduct the outreach and record the program. 3. Radio broadcast: Airing the awareness messages on the radio stations to get broader reach of the campaign proved also to be very strategic. After the activities, a one-hour production was developed in the studios of the radio stations and it was aired on the radio stations. The intent was to get others from different communities involved through listeners’ roles. The community awareness activities that are being conducted in these counties have been empirically assessed by LGSA that the citizens of the counties are benefiting in the following ways: 1. Those participating from the communities are learning new things about the LRA. 2. The airing of the awareness from the different communities enabled others who couldn’t attend awareness events to learn as well. 3. The awareness campaigns are creating opportunities for community members to seek information and advice by calling on the facilitators and asking questions pertaining to the LRA and real-life matters relating to land. 4. The more the awareness activities are being conducted, the more some commissioners, town chiefs and zonal heads have started settling land disputes using the knowledge they were able to acquire from the outreach activities. The following were the community radio stations selected to conduct the outreach activities in the eight counties:
12 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) # County Radio Station Representative Robert Y. Matally Station Manager 1. Nimba Radio Saclepea 077453272/0886453272 [email protected] Elton Wroinbee Tiah Program Director 2. Grand Bassa Radio Light 0777332493 [email protected] Persie Folley 3. Bomi Radio Bomi Programs Director 0775214377 Saah Hudson Grand Cape Business Manager 4. Radio Piso Mount 0881338937/0778399087 [email protected] Tokpa M. Tarnue Sr. Station Manager 5. Lofa Radio Kintoma 0776576649/0886465761 [email protected] Elvis Gono Station Manager 6. Margibi Hope Radio 0775407123 [email protected] Henry Gboluma 7. Gbarpolu Voice of Gbarpolu Station Manager 0888185747 Olando Kolliemelling Director of Programs 8. Bong Radio Totota 0777266823 [email protected]
DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION MATERIALS TO SUPPORT DEEDS REGISTRY. In previous quarters LGSA assisted the LLA in developing SOPs for deeds registration. As a continuation of LGSA’s support to the Deeds Registry at the LLA, in the reporting quarter, LGSA further supported the LLA to develop corresponding Information, Education and Communications materials to inform the public about the deed registration processes and procedures at the registry. Three separate flyers and banners were produced: an outline of the steps to register a deed, how to commission a search of title deeds and how to register a mortgage. These materials are important public information tools that are expected to improve the efficiency in delivering quality registration services to Liberians. Copies of these materials have been produced and shared with the registry.
2.3.2 DEVELOP AND MANAGE GUC SUPPORTING CIVIL SOCIETY AND PRIVATE SECTOR LGSA did not award or manage any Grants Under Contract (GUC) during this quarter.
2.3.3 SUPPORT TO CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGMENT IN LAND GOVERNACE During this reporting period, LGSA’s COP continued providing advisory support and mentoring to key members of CSOs engaged in the land sector. The support and mentoring related to key issues regarding the implementation of the LRA, protection of customary land rights and CSO engagement in development of laws and regulations pertaining to land. Aside from capacity building, the objective
LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) 13 of the advisory support and mentoring has been to encourage and facilitate a partnership between the LLA and CSOs in implementing the LRA, as well as to encourage appropriate participation of the CSO in land governance matters. As indicated earlier in section 2.1.1, during the reporting quarter, LGSA facilitated and supported adequate participation of CSO engagement in the development of secondary legislation pertaining to Tribal Certificates.
2.3.4 STRENGTHEN PRIVATE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OF LAND PROFESSIONALS LGSA continued its efforts for the establishment of professional land organizations. In quarter 1 of Year 5, the focus of LGSA’s efforts in this regard was on strengthening the capacity and role of professional associations in carrying out professional services in the land sector. LAND REPORTERS NETWORK – LIBERIA. LGSA has all along been engaging the local media in Liberia, with particular focus on media coverage of the land sector. LGSA’s involvement with the media has ranged from media training to mentorship and other forms of technical support. As a result, there have been significant improvements in the media coverage and reportage of land issues in Liberia. In quarter 1, LGSA took an initiative to support the establishment of a new professional pro-media and advocacy group named and styled Land Reporters Network – Liberia (LARNET-L). This network consists of twelve journalists from rural areas of three counties: Bong, Lofa and Nimba. Although LGSA has been working with some of these journalists, it became imperative to form a network of these journalists to leverage their synergy in terms of media pitching, sharing information and other forms of collaboration, especially in reporting on land related issues. To facilitate the establishment of the network, LGSA supported the convening of an initial meeting in Nimba, which was participated by the twelve journalists from Bong, Lofa and Nimba as founding members of the network. This meeting marked the de facto establishment of the network. In the meeting, LGSA’s Communication and Outreach Specialist made presentations to the founding members on the power of networking, how they can all work together to bridge the information gap facing the land sector in Liberia and important leadership characteristics. In his presentation, a key message that he underscored was the spirit of volunteerism, commitment and hard work. He told those aspiring to lead the network to always remember that they were volunteers serving the bigger interest of the society and not their personal interest. And as such, they should always think about the greater good of the communities in everything that they do, say or write. The objectives and purposes of the Network are enshrined in its constitution as follows: • To serve as a platform to bridge the information gap on land and other environmental issues between national government and the local people of Liberia or communities and peoples. • To increase awareness on land and other environmental issues through community engagements and the media. • To efficiently and effectively increase the reportage of issues emanating from the Liberia land sector aimed at promoting good land governance and to improve natural resource management. • To conduct or/and carry on research work for individuals and institutions working in the Liberia land sector. • To contribute to the sustenance of peace, justice, solidarity and environmental awareness within the Liberia land sector. • To associate, cooperate, coordinate and work with other individuals and institutions engaged with the promotion of peace and development within the Liberia land sector.
14 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) • To provide a network for fellowship, contacts, and professional opportunities among Liberian journalists interested in the Liberia land beat. • To establish LARNET-L as a clearing house for information on the land sector that journalists would want to use in their stories as a means of ensuring accuracy and truth. • To promote communication and cooperation among the media, academic, private and public entities mutually concerned with the land sector and good land governance. When registered, the Network will be an autonomous group with individual and institutional members working together to raise awareness on land and natural resources management issues. This network will be mostly community based and will make use of the various media institutions in the counties. The Network members are expected to support both local, national and international institutions and government partners with outreach and media activities in the land sector. These activities will range from community entry and engagements to awareness and sensitization programs. The Network aims to collaboratively work with other media associations including the Press Union of Liberia. ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYORS OF LIBERIA (APLSUL). In quarter 1, LGSA continued working with APLSUL in regard providing skill upgrading training to private surveyors. LGSA continues to believe that APLSUL can and should play a key role in regulating the survey profession and addressing ethical concerns related to land surveyors in Liberia. However, to effectively play its role, APLSUL needs to build its organizational capacity and address ethical and capacity issues relating to its members. As a continuation of its previous efforts, in quarter 1 of Year 5, as indicated earlier in this report, LGSA provided a skill upgrading training to members of APLSUL, which took the form of a TOT. The APLSUL members who successfully completed the TOT are expected to train other members of the Association.
2.4 GENDER ACTIVITIES As a cross-cutting issue, almost all LGSA activities involve gender mainstreaming considerations. The following are specific gender related activities that LGSA conducted in quarter 1 of year 5. TRAINING OF TRAINERS. In Year 4, the LGSA Gender and Land Specialist partnered with Landesa’s Senior Land Policy/Gender Advisor to conduct a TOT for Monrovia based land sector stakeholders. The TOT in gender, land and women’s land rights that took place in Year 4 was preliminarily assessed as successful in terms of equipping the participants with the necessary tools to enhance their understanding of equal access to land rights. Therefore, in quarter 1 of Year 5, LGSA replicated the TOT for LGSA’s Gender and Land Specialist delivering a presentation at the practitioners from Bong, Nimba and Gender TOT in Gbarnga Lofa - the three counties that LGSA is piloting processes for community land rights recognition. The TOT aimed at further solidifying ongoing efforts to promote gender and women’s land rights in these communities and combat social and cultural biases that hinder women’s rights. The TOT for practitioners from the three counties was provided in November 2019 by LGSA Gender and Land Specialist with a team of trainers including Landesa’s Senior Land Policy/Gender
LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) 15 Advisor. The training was organized with two key goals: 1) to train a pool of gender and women’s land rights trainers who will also serve as knowledge hubs in the three LGSA land rights recognition pilot counties; and 2) to provide opportunity for the first gender and women’s land rights batch of trainers to practice the skills acquired from their own TOT. The specific objectives of the training were to: 1) help land rights practitioners to identify and understand key portions of the LRA that promotes women’s land rights; 2) Participants at the close of LGSA’s Gender TOT in Gbarnga enhance the participants’ ability to identify and include women and youth rights in their program agenda; and 3) improve their ability to plan and conduct gender and women’s land rights training in the LGSA pilot communities. The training involved discussions on several topics including gender concepts and terminologies; power, gender and participation; gender from a development perspective and gender in land administration. The training started with the participants receiving tips on key facilitation skills. Through plenary discussions and group work, the participants were able to identify the different sources of power, how power was used at different levels and how it translates into how men and women exercise their rights to access to land and decision making. The participants were trained on how to understand gender analysis and the steps involved in conducting gender analysis. It was stressed that the steps should be applied at all levels of the project and that it was important to allocate the appropriate resources and time to this process. They were advised to use gender analysis in understanding the historical trend of land governance policy and law and the customary norms and practices in their communities, as well as women’s participation in land governance. Moreover, through group work, experience sharing and presentations, they were able to understand how they could mainstream gender and advance women’s land rights in their respective work in the land sector. The trainers observed the positive impact of the training from the interactive discussions conducted during the training on the importance of gender mainstreaming in land governance and development work. The participants were encouraged to use a transformative gender approach to tackle power imbalance in their communities and work places to promoting women’s land rights. Throughout the training, a participatory approach was used to allow interactive discussions and experience sharing with and among participants. The trainees jointly identified gaps in women’s land rights and collectively brainstormed on possible solutions. At the end of the training, the participants expressed gratitude for the in-depth understanding they were able to gain on the relationship between land rights and gender. They promised to use the skills that they acquired from the training to improve their work with respect to gender and land rights. Moreover, the participants from Lofa started preliminary discussions on establishing a network in their county to promote women’s land rights using a unified approach. A total of 29 (16 male and13 female) people, including local government representatives, representatives of civil society and community- based organizations and local journalists participated in the training. Two of the participants were Monrovia-based trainees who previously participated in LGSA’s Monrovia TOT on Gender and Land Rights. These participants were given the opportunity to apply the skills Participants in group work during LGSA’s Gender they gained from their previous training. They TOT in Gbarnga
16 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) were assigned to facilitate discussions on some topics and had the opportunity to gain practical experience in providing training on gender and land rights to participants with diverse views and from different cultural contexts. The training also gave them the opportunity to broaden their networks and have better understanding of women’s land rights challenges in rural communities. PACKAGE USER FRIENDLY SIMPLIFIED WOMEN’S LAND RIGHTS MESSAGES. In quarter 1 of Year 5, LGSA designed simplified visual messages on the gender safeguards in the LRA. These messages were used in communities that are not very literate. The Gender and Land Specialist worked with LGSA Communication and Outreach Specialist to develop a user-friendly pictorial of women’s land rights messages for rural communities. The pictorial captured key articles of the LRA that promote the protection of women’s land rights. It was designed in two forms, one in bold large poster to be pasted in communities and another as a leaflet that can be used during training. The pictorial messages will enhance the understanding of illiterate women of their land rights according to the LRA. Copies of the messages were distributed to participants of the WLRTF.
SUPPORT TO THE LLA GENDER UNIT. In quarter 1 of Year 5, LGSA’s Gender and Land Specialist continued supporting the staff of the LLA Gender Unit in building their capacity and finalizing the Gender Integration Strategy. Capacity Building. During the quarter, LGSA’s Gender and Land Specialist continued initiatives to develop the capacity of staff of the LLA Gender Unit in several ways. Firstly, the Gender and Land Specialist mentored them in preparing and delivering trainings. During the mentoring sessions, the staff were trained on developing training modules and preparing power point presentations. Secondly, LGSA’s Gender and Land Specialist mentored them on how to carry out advocacy engagements with the LLA management and donor community to enhance women’s land rights promotion and consideration in all of LLA’s projects and programs. The Gender and Land Specialist worked with the Gender Unit staff to prepare for major donor meetings. She supported them to identify and develop talking points for key meetings and guided them through presentation techniques. As a result of the mentoring and coaching provided by the Gender and Land Specialist, the Gender Unit staff are showing significant improvement in their advocacy engagements. This, in turn, has led to a wider gender representation and inclusion in initiatives undertaken by the LLA and partners. The LLA and its partners have increased their understanding of the value of designing and implementing programs with a gender perspective. As such, the Gender Unit staff are now being represented in all major project meetings and discussions and their perspective is being considered. Donor funded projects operating within the LLA have started engaging the Gender Unit more and are now sharing project documents with the Gender Unit for gender analysis and advice.
LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) 17 LGSA has observed that the Gender Unit staff are steadily getting more proactive in engaging the different LLA departments, other governmental and non-governmental stakeholders and development partners to advance women’s land rights and gender inclusion. Moreover, during the reporting quarter, with the skills developed from the mentoring and coaching, the Gender Unit was able to develop and conduct gender and Gender Unit staff and LGSA advisors after a working session women’s rights presentations at several high level LLA trainings and other external meetings. They were also able to engage with other international NGOs and civil society organizations to advise on mainstreaming gender and women’s land rights in their projects. LLA GENDER INTEGRATION STRATEGY. During the reporting period, the Gender and Land Specialist worked extensively with the LLA Gender Unit staff to develop the first draft of the Gender Integration Strategy for the LLA. Using the questionnaires drafted in the last quarter, she supported the Gender Unit team to hold focus group and one-on-one interviews with LLA staff as well as external partners including civil society and government institutions working in the land sector in the fifteen counties of Liberia. The interview transcripts, findings from the desk review and notes from the observation of the LLA work-culture were used to develop the first draft of the Gender Integration Strategy. Subsequently, the Gender and Land Specialist, along with Landesa Land Policy and Gender Advisor and the LLA Gender Unit, conducted a thorough technical review of the Gender Integration Strategy. The review took into consideration the local context and international best practices. SUPPORT TO THE PILOT IMPLEMENTATION. In quarter 1 of Year 5, LGSA’s Gender and Land Specialist assisted LGSA partners, SDI and Parley, in implementing recommendations from findings of the gender assessment in the pilot communities. She provided hands-on gender integration coaching during their pilot activities for the recognition of customary land rights in Bong, Lofa and Nimba Counties. She supported the staff to co-facilitate several gender sensitization meetings and participated in some boundary harmonization meetings. The sensitization was geared towards helping women to increase their awareness of the CLDMC, its role and the criteria for selection of membership. The sensitization enhanced the capacity of women to better understand the gender safeguards enshrined in the law. The Gender and Land Specialist also assisted women to better prepare to participate in leadership positions on the CLDMC. The Gender and Land Specialist provided guidance to the partners on how to mentor the communities regarding the election of CLDMC members in an inclusive manner as envisioned by the LRA. She also held consultations with local leaders and community members and admonished them to be open to including women and youth on the boundary harmonization teams and shared some gender issues for their consideration when working towards harmonizing community boundaries. As a result of the gender sensitizations carried out in the pilot communities, three women were elected as chairpersons of the CLDMCs in Vavala, Telmai and Fissebu. Women are now participating more proactively in boundary harmonization activities in their communities. SUPPORT TO WOMEN’S LAND RIGHTS TASKFORCE. LGSA supported the formation and operationalization of the Women’s Land Rights Task Force (WLRTF) for the last four years. The Gender and Land Specialist coordinated the convening of the Task Force throughout this period. Since its formation the WLRTF has succeeded in carrying out important activities regarding women’s land rights. In carrying out its activities, the WLRTF has been to largely dependent on LGSA’s support. Considering the phasing out of the LGSA project in Year 5, the members of the WLRTF
18 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) resolved to transform the Task Force from an ad hoc entity into a registered legal entity. This measure is expected to help in ensuring the sustainability of the Task Force. In quarter 1 of Year 5, LGSA’s Gender and Land Specialist provided support to the Executive Committee of the Task Force in processing its registration application and other requirement needed for the WLRTF to be established as a legal entity.
2.5 SUPPORT TO FOREST COMMUNITITIES LGSA, in partnership with FCI, continued providing support to 16 Authorized Forest Communities, in Kparblee District, Nimba County. LGSA’s pilot initiative is assisting the 16 affected Authorized Forest Communities in Nimba County, and their respective Community Forest Management Body (CFMB), Executive Committee (EC) and Community Assembly (CA) membership, by providing training, information and legal advice with respect to negotiating Commercial Use Contracts or Social Agreements (SAs), entering into agreements with timber companies where community development projects are clearly identified and implementation is time bound, or enforcing legal rights associated with contract or agreement monitoring. Specifically, during the reporting quarter, LGSA in partnership with FCI carried out various tasks and activities including: 1) review of SAs and Commercial Use Contracts that the affected communities have already made with timber companies; and 2) provided several trainings to CFMB, EC and CA members as well as other community leaders. The training included legal training on SAs, Commercial Use Contracts and contract negotiation and training on enforcement and monitoring of contracts. TRAINING. LGSA, through FCI, provided legal trainings on SAs and Commercial Use Contracts for members of sixteen (16) Affected Forest Communities around Kparblee District, Nimba County. These trainings were held from September 18 to October 24, 2019. The trainings were provided by dividing the 162 participants from Affected Forest Communities into three hubs - which included Old Yorpea, Kaylay and Kparble - to create an easier and interactive learning environment. The trainings were provided in two parts: 1) negotiation and renegotiation of SAs and Commercial Use Contracts; and 2) enforcement and monitoring of SAs and Commercial Use Contracts. The first part of the training aimed at educating participants on the provisions of the Community Rights Law dealing with their rights and obligations regarding community forests and how to negotiate good contracts for the benefit of forest communities, and the second part was given with the objective of sensitizing the community governance structures (CA, EC and CFMB) on their roles and responsibilities regarding monitoring and enforcement of SAs and Commercial Use Contracts. LGSA staff participated in the training and provided necessary support including facilitation of group discussions. LGSA’s COP, Communications and Outreach Specialist, and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Specialist were present during the conduct of the training. During the training, LGSA’s COP remarked on the overall objectives of LGSA’s support to forest communities and preparations needed to negotiate a fair and enforceable contract with timber companies. He also strongly encouraged community members to make effective use of USAID support by taking advantage of the training that is being provided to them. The trainings were preceded by conducting a need assessment and review of already signed SAs, Commercial Use Contracts and forest community constitution and by-laws in order to make the training relevant and responsive to the needs of the forest communities. The review of the agreements was conducted by a lawyer deployed by the project in consultation with the representatives of the forest communities. The review of the agreements revealed that the agreements contain clauses that are unfavorable to the forest communities. Additionally, a clear case of non-performance on the part of a timber company was disclosed during the consultative review of the SA. The timber company has failed to provide most of the benefits agreed in the SA, such as payment of scholarship fees, construction of a youth center, construction of the offices of the EC and rehabilitation of community roads. The forest communities were counselled on legal options to
LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) 19 Chart showing attendance by catogories
28%
52% Females Youths 20% Males
rectify the unfavorable and unfair terms and conditions of the agreements as well as the contractual non-performance of the contracting timber company. QUARTERLY MONITORING MEETINGS. Over the period under review, FCI held quarterly monitoring and mentoring meetings in three hubs of Kpablee Town, Kaylay Town and Yorpea Old Town. One hundred sixty members of the communities in Kparblee Administrative District, Nimba County participated in the meetings. During the meetings, FCI’s lawyer explained to the participants the gaps identified in the SA and the fourteen-year management plan developed using the FDA template. Moreover, during the meeting, the lawyer provided further mentoring for representatives of the communities in regard to (re)negotiation of Commercial Use Contracts and SA. During the monitoring and mentoring meeting, members of the communities explained that the governance bodies have not been able to hold regular meetings to discuss challenges relating to their forest governance, as required by law, due to the lack of resources. The members of the forest communities further lamented that the SA they entered Coordination meeting with Kaylay community into with the Kparblee Timber Corporation did not contain items discussed during contract negotiation due to lack of their knowledge. According to them, the training will bring changes to the Kparblee Authorized Community Forest as they now know the rights and roles of each of the parties involved in the governance and management structures as well as the parties to the contract. At the end of the meeting, FCI’s Attorney encouraged the communities to always seek legal support before signing any contract or Memorandum of Understanding with individuals or companies. COORDINATION MEETINGS. During the quarter, LGSA COP and MEL Specialist held regular monthly coordination meetings with FCI. The coordination meetings were fruitful in terms of
20 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) supporting the implementation of the pilot project in Kparblee, as well as ensuring effective project management and appropriate monitoring of progress and challenges. Additionally, the regular meetings were used to review the contract (re)negotiation guide and negotiation training manual, and to hold discussions on planned activities.
2.6 MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING During the reporting quarter, with respect to monitoring, evaluation and learning, LGSA focused on two main activities: 1) PIDS data entry and uploading of new indicators for support to Authorized Forest Communities; and 2) identifying an organization that will conduct a retention survey for LGSA. On the former, during the reporting quarter, LGSA completed 100% of its data entry requirement for the last quarter. LGSA also uploaded its revised approved MEL Plan and new indicators regarding its support to forest communities. Furthermore, in order to address USAID’s DQA recommendation, LGSA has identified an organization through a competitive process that will conduct a retention survey within communities where LGSA has conducted trainings and implemented piloting activities. The retention survey work will begin in the next quarter and will be overseen by the MEL Specialist and the COP.
LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) 21 ANNEX A: LGSA INDICATORS AND TARGETS1
# Type of Indicator DQA Reporting Data Source and Baseline Y1-Y4 Y5/ Q1 Y5 Q1 Achieved Life of Indicator Date Frequency Collection Method Actuals Target Actuals to Date Activity Target 1 LTPR 10.4-1: Number of specific pieces of Y5/Q2 Annually LGSA implementing legislation or implementing regulations partners; copies of proposed, adopted, and/or proposed, adopted 12 0 12 1 0 12 implemented affecting property rights or implemented of the urban and rural poor as a result pieces of legislation of USG assistance or regulations 2 Custom 1.3: Number of people trained in land Y5/Q2 Quarterly Completed 3811 tenure and property rights issues participants 0 3,434 1200 377 3,850 attendance forms 3 LTPR 10.4-2: Proportion of individuals Y5/Q2 Bi-annually Completed trained who can correctly identify key participant 84.3% learning objectives 30 days later as a attendance forms and 80% 80% 80% 0 N/A result of USG assistance2 follow-up survey, (160/ 200) (960/1200) (3080/3850) disaggregated by gender 4 Custom 2.3: Number of individuals who Y5/Q2 Annually Individuals receiving received specialized geomatics certificate in education (certificate in surveying surveying technology Ongoing 0 N/A 0 Ongoing 21 technology) with confirmation from the training institute 5 Custom 3.1: Proportion of adults in pilot areas Y5/Q2 Bi-annually LGSA survey data 20% over who report that their land tenure 40.1% N/A 15% N/A N/A baseline rights are secure
1 In the revised MELP, several indicators were removed; however, LGSA wants to maintain the indicator numbers to ensure there is no confusion when looking at data throughout the life of the project. 2 Percent of people trained who can correctly identify key learning objectives 30 days later as a result of USG assistance. 80% of participants trained is the target of each year and also 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.
22 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) # Type of Indicator DQA Reporting Data Source and Baseline Y1-Y4 Y5/ Q1 Y5 Q1 Achieved Life of Indicator Date Frequency Collection Method Actuals Target Actuals to Date Activity Target 6 LTPR 10.4.5: Number of parcels with Y5/Q2 Annually Collected from land relevant parcel information corrected agencies database or newly incorporated into an official quarterly. Household land administration system as a result members or of USG assistance organizations report 0 0 0 4 0 4 to LLA with clear evidence of formalized land rights in hard copies or electronic forms 7 LTPR 10.4-6: Number of people with secure Y5/Q2 Annually Reports collected tenure rights to land, with legally from land agencies. 129 recognized documentation and who LGSA Annual survey 20% over M-85 0 +20% 0 perceive their rights to land are secure 0 baseline F-44 as a result of USG assistance3
8 Custom 3.5: Percentage of community Y5/Q2 Quarterly Reports from LGSA governance entities implementing rules technical staff, and 86% 86% 0% 0% 0% for the inclusion of women, youth and bylaws submitted (6/7) 86% (12/14) strangers 9 Custom 4.1: Number of gender responsive Y5/Q2 Quarterly Copies of outreach outreach materials on land tenure and materials report and property rights distributed through receipts from printing 0 65 6 2 67 66 USG assistance press and distribution lists collected 10 Custom 4.2: Number of gender responsive Y5/Q2 Quarterly Reports including public outreach activities on land summary of each tenure and property rights held with activity, with receipts, 479 0 463 102 16 474 USG assistance where appropriate, and distribution information collected
3 Indicator 3.3 contributes to a USAID Standard Indicator (FACTS 4.5.1-25 or EG.10.4-6)
LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) 23 # Type of Indicator DQA Reporting Data Source and Baseline Y1-Y4 Y5/ Q1 Y5 Q1 Achieved Life of Indicator Date Frequency Collection Method Actuals Target Actuals to Date Activity Target 11 Custom 4.3: Number of new or existing Y5/Q2 Quarterly LGSA technical staff professional organizations of surveyors and implementing 9 and other land related professions partners submit 0 8 1 1 9 supported reports including support provided 12 Custom 4.4: Number of marginalized people Y5/Q2 Quarterly Reports from LTPR who have accessed land tenure and implementing property rights services or have gained organizations or basic knowledge from land tenure and LLA/LCC showing M-241 property rights implementing partners the marginalized 150 428 10,000 F-5081 5750 16,000 or land governance institutions with groups who have T-5322 support from USG accessed services or basic knowledge of LTPR services 13 Custom 5.1: Number of community members Y5/Q2 Quarterly Participants trained in legal issues, management of attendance lists are community forestry and monitoring of completed at all 333 0 171 160 162 320 forest concession agreements training events, verified and by the LGSA MEL specialist 14 Custom 5.2: Number of outreach/awareness Y5/Q2 Quarterly Participants list, activities conducted, or public pictures or meetings held in Natural Resources audio/video or audio 0 management through UGS assistance recordings of the 0 N/A 240 0 240 awareness, outreach or meetings held for NRM activities 15 Custom 5.3: Number of quarterly monitoring Y5/Q2 Quarterly Participants list, meetings held to discuss or review pictures/video or concession agreements for negotiation audio recording, 0 4 4 3 7 8 or renegotiation. agenda of the meeting and report
24 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) ANNEX B: SUCCESS STORY
LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019) 25
U BURPHY, TECH TETRA BURPHY, U PHOTO CREDIT: RICHLE PHOTO
U.S. Agency for International Development 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20523 Tel: (202) 712-0000 Fax: (202) 216-3524 26 LAND GOVERNANCE SUPPORTwww.usaid.gov ACTIVITY FY20 QUARTER 1 REPORT (OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019)