Land and Poverty Conference 2014 RURAL LAND REGISTRATION IN ETHIOPIA INCREASED TRANSPARENCY FOR 26,000,000 LAND HOLDERS Dr Zerfu Hailu & David Harris Responsible & Innovative Land Administration (REILA) Project, Ethiopia Paper prepared for presentation at the “ ANNUAL WORLD BANK CONFERENCE ON LAND AND POVERTY ” The World Bank - Washington DC, March , 2014

Presentation outline 1.Introduction 2.Transparency before the field work 3.Farmers’ participation during the field work 4.Public display after data processing 5.Women’s visibility and enhanced land rights 6.Parcels visibility 7.Conclusions

INTRODUCTION During the past 15 years, Ethiopia has made considerable progress in registering rural land rights, mostly without surveying and mapping the boundaries of the country’s 50,000,000 plus rural land parcels through a process known as 1 st level registration In recent years, the Ethiopian Government has been looking for a low-cost method of surveying and mapping rural land parcels, so that registration can be completed, with each parcel having a map of its boundaries and an accurate parcel area. This parcel mapping activity is known as 2 nd level certification

The ‘1 st level’ registration of over 12 million rural households’ land holdings is now being enhanced by a ‘2 nd level’ process to survey the land parcel boundaries. During the past two years, the REILA project (Responsible & Innovative Land Administration) has implemented trials in five Ethiopian Regions, which have mapped land parcel boundaries using orthophotos based on aerial photographs or satellite images. REILA imagery trial sites location

These trials have shown that the surveying and mapping methodology is effective, low cost and sustainable. The work is now being scaled-up on a countrywide basis, by REILA and other donors Based on the trials’ experience this paper highlights the importance of: Transparency in land rights Strengthening of women's land rights Workable procedures for managing and controlling urban expansion Co-ordination of agricultural investment Multi-faceted usefulness of spatial data

Higher level consultation and common vision establishment

Regional, Zonal Woreda level workshops Identified roles and responsibilities were further sharpened in subsequent discussions in stakeholders workshops Purpose of the trial elaborated

Kebele Level Discussion and Orientations Information is given, discussion conducted with All Land Administration & Use Committee Members Kebele administration Land holders

Farmers’ participation in parcel boundary identification Transparency during the field work

Farmers participation in boundary identification

Transparent Mapping of parcels with farmers

Transparent Registration of rights and confirmation of registered rights

Information at public display site Transparency after data processing

Farmers in action on checking and confirmation of land information

Elderly and disabled farmers are encouraged to check displayed data

New parcels 261 Area in ha140.6 Oromiya Region, Kata Kebele, map showing former 'hidden' parcels

SNNPR Region, Wolenshu 2 Kebele, map showing former 'hidden' parcels

Encroached Grazing land

Reclaimed grazing areas during the trial

Women’s apparent participation during the field work

Women’s Land Rights The parcel where we stand is inherited by the women standing in the middle. However, it was taken by their uncle. During the imagery trial work it became a reality and they got it back

Women’s Land Rights Widowed woman farmer showing how her grazing land boundary is pushed inside by her male neighbour Re-fixing the boundary during the imagery trial.

Conclusions Transparent procedures and participatory actions will help to:- Have planned and controlled urban expansion Exercise well managed agricultural investment Protect women’s land rights Maintain accurate standards of procedures Harmonise procedures between Regions

Thank you very much for your attention