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Land is Crucial for Development

2018-09-03

The Liberian town of Kinjor is a picture-book example for what happens, if land rights aren’t protected, and it illustrates how to move forward from there. The keyword: Multi-Actor Partnership

Ich bin ein Alternativtext — "Land is crucial to national development, which makes it relevant to political actors." © picture-alliance/Zentralbild

By M. Sahr Nouwah

M. Sahr Nouwah is a dedicated young Liberian with a servant-leadership skill and a hands-on and result-oriented gifts with a solid background in governance, community development, advocacy and empowerment. As a National Head of Projects for two Land rights projects supported by the European Union and the Germany Foreign Ministry for International development cooperation separately, Sahr uses a mix methodology including Multi-Actor Partnerships (MSPs) and social innovative approaches to effect change in the Land reform processes of Liberia using constructive dialogue and engagement.

All contributions

By Roselyn Korleh

Roselyn Korleh is the Communication, Policy and Reporting Officer on the BMZ Funded Multi Actor Partnership project called ‘’Land for Life- Making Policies Work for Food Security in Liberia working with Rights and Rice Foundation; a national Implementing Partner to Welthungerhilfe.

All contributions

Welthungerhilfe (WHH)

Kinjor is a small town in Grand Cape Mount County, North-Western Liberia, approximately 100 km from Monrovia. Amongst the original residents of Kinjor are two ethnic groups: the Gola, who are referred to as land owners because they inherited the land from their ancestors, and the Vai who are referred to as the settlers because they migrated from their original village years ago to settle in Kinjor in search of gold. The Vai and many other tribes living in Kinjor live at the mercy of the Golas.

This town is the home of Edwin Saye with his wife and two kids. He migrated here from Nimba County in search of fertile soil and other mineral resources about 12 years ago. But regardless of how long they have been bere, Edwin and many others remain strangers without hope of one day being recognized as citizens of the location. Both of Edwin’s children were born in this town but they and their parents are deprived of the right to use the land freely.

Like many others, Edwin depends on farming. According to him, he is denied using the land except by permission which allegedly includes unspecified demands of payments by a group called “the Land Administrators”. One narration by some young men of the village suggests that to gain access to a piece of land for farming, one must pay 2500.00 Liberian Dollars (equivalent to about USD 20.00to the Gola people every year.

Edwin further revealed that if people don’t have the money to pay for a piece of land, they go to the middle of the forest to farm, where nobody can easily trace them. But whenever they are caught, they have to pay 5,000.00 Liberian Dollars (equivalent to about USD 50.00) or their farms are taken away from them. For this reason, he said, many community members are not developing farms, and things are so difficult for the people of New Kinjor.

Edwin concluded by saying that their survival depends on the land and hard work. He teaches his children how to farm and cut trees which are then burned to produce coal that he sells. Edwin works daily with his children who, despite only being 11 and 5 years old, already master the skills of handling cutlass even though they are supposed to be in school.

If the community people, especially women, can’t afford to pay the stipulated fees, they negotiate with the town management team (10-member committee led by a doctorate holder) to allow them to continue to farm; during harvest, a certain percentage (which was not disclosed) is given to the management team.

This situation explains why development interventions cannot simply concentrate on contributing to food security through improved agricultural production. The underlying social structures, and the land rights situation in particular, have to be considered for any intervention to be successful and sustainable.

In many countries, for many years, land rights have been a source of conflict. Traditional concepts of land ownership vary between regions and are often not easy to reconcile with more recently introduced land rights legislation. In many African regions, rural land rights are not documented; moreover, land ownership is often subject to multiple, overlapping claims and ongoing debates over these claims’ legitimacy and their implications for land use and the distribution of revenue.

With new stakeholders coming into play (such as international agricultural investors leasing large tracts of land), still another potentially conflictive dynamic is introduced. In Liberia, agricultural concessions, many for palm oil and rubber, have increased sharply during the past decade, covering an estimated 40% of the available agricultural land in the country today; a development, that has already led to violent clashes in different regions.

Edwin`s situation could change when he is granted secure access to and control over land.

Edwin is a hard-working farmer, but his production level is low. He has no incentive to invest in the land as the expectations of rights over the returns are insecure.

His situation could change when he is granted secure access to and control over land. Given the complexity of land tenure systems and the different dynamics that come into play, only transparent social dialogue involving all relevant actors can lead to sustainable change for land users, including women and children, land owners, traditional authorities, public administrations, and the agribusiness sector.

Land is crucial to national development, which makes it relevant to political actors. It is also a valuable economic asset; a fact, which makes land governance prone to corruption – particularly in countries with weak governmental structures. In Africa, every second person reported that they have paid a bribe for land services (Transparency International 2013). It also means that people with less influence may likely fall prey to others who claim certain rights. For people like Edwin, however, land is a matter of survival and livelihood improvement. Land rights and land governance are at the core of rural development, including local food security and agriculture.

Given the complexity and the dynamics that come into play, one way to address this issue may be Multi-Actor Partnerships (MAP), an approach that the International Land Coalition, the German NGO Welthungerhilfe and African civil society partners, such as the Liberian NGO Rights and Rice Foundation, have been supporting for a couple of years. Those MAP engage all relevant actors into constructive and interactive dialogue based on human rights values, such as transparency and inclusiveness. Based on a joint analysis of the situation and on a commonly defined goal, these MAP have the potential to limit abuses, create a dignified environment and expand opportunities for all. Actors need to understand why Edwin has to hide food and why his children remain outside the school system.

Given the existing power imbalances, particular attention must be given to the meaningful participation of legitimate civil society representatives in such fora.

An opportunity equally presents itself by regulating that farmers in Kinjor contribute a quota to a local development fund, so they can get a better training, buy added value items from dealers and receive additional training from their contributions.

For the past four and half years Liberia has been struggling to pass the land rights bill into law and fighting for a law that will support the decentralization of development planning, especially in terms of tenure rights for customary people. On 23 August 2018, the Liberian senate passed the land rights bill with modifications on the bill earlier passed by the lower house, in keeping with demands from the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), communities and other stakeholders about the previous 2017 bill. With this passage, the Senate and the house committees will now meet and ensure that the lower house concurs with what has been passed by the Senate, after which the bill will be forwarded to the president of Liberia for approval. However, the example of Edwin’s case illustrates the challenges to putting such a new bill into practice. If we actually want to end world hunger, local realities of Edwin and others must be carefully studied. Based on this, concrete actions are required to eliminate and reduce chances of a malpractice system that in fact caters only to the elites. For more than a century, Liberia has lived at the mercy of the elites which has received little attention from the world. This has resulted into open neglect, thereby forcing citizens to become corrupt themselves without considering that ultimately it is the entire nation that suffers and it is the citizens that will continue to pay the price.

Opening political spaces for socio-political dialogue would give Edwin and others the opportunity to speak out about his challenges. It is also an opportunity for the government to listen to the challenges that farmers are facing. Agribusiness can also render some basic judgement in terms of employment, services provided and conditions necessary for their investment. In this manner, dialogue fora can really evolve into Multi-Actor Partnerships based on a common vision of improved land governance that will serve and reconcile the interests of all.

BY: M. Sahr Nouwah & Rose Korleh, Land Rights Team, Liberia, 19 July 2018.

Back to overview

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A project of GIZ

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A World Resources Institute project

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A project of GIZ

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A contribution by Ralf Südhoff

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A contribution by Paul van Zwieten

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"Extreme is the new normal"

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As the climate changes, the population of Africa is growing and fertile land and jobs are becoming scarcer. New ways are currently leading to urbanisation of agriculture and a new mid-sized sector in the countryside

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A contribution by Michael Brüntrup (DIE) und Daniel Tsegai (UNCCD)

Droughts are the natural disasters with far-reaching negative consequences. While rich countries are still vulnerable to drought, famines are no longer found.

(c) Christof Krackhardt/Brot für die Welt

Together and resourceful against worldwide hunger

A contribution by Brot für die Welt

Climate change disturbs the climate in Ethiopia. The answer from small farmers in the northern region is convincing: diversify!

No rainforest for our consumption

A contribution by Jenny Walther-Thoß (WWF)

In the tropics rainforests are still being felled for the production of palm oil, meat and furniture. It is high time to act. Proposals are on the table.

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Interview with Lawrence Haddad (GAIN)

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Interview with Joao Campari (WWF)

Journalist Jan Rübel spoke with Joao Campari ahead of the UNFSS Pre-Summit. The Chair of Action Track 3 highlights key challenges in transforming existing food systems towards sustainable production and shares his expectations for the Summit.

Biodiversity and agriculture – rivalry or a new friendship?

A contribution by Irene Hoffmann (FAO)

In this article, the author describes what we know about interlinkages, what role agriculture has to play in the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity, and what the necessary changes in agricultural systems might look like, both on small and large-scale farms.

Food System Transformation Starts and Ends with Diversity

A Contribution by Emile Frison and Nick Jacobs (IPES-Food)

While having failed to solve the hunger problem, industrial agriculture appears to be causing additional ones both in environmental and health terms. Emile Frison and Nick Jacobs call for a transformation.

Sustainable Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture in Rural Areas

Fish is important for combating malnutrition and undernourishment. But it is not only notable for its nutritional value, but also secures the livelihoods and employment for 600 million people worldwide.

A Project of GIZ

A Climate of Hunger: How the Climate Crisis Fuels the Hunger

A photo reportage by the Zeitenspiegel agency

Every one degree Celsius rise in temperature increases the risk of conflict by two to ten percent. The climate crisis is a humanitarian crisis, as the photos by Christoph Püschner and Frank Schultze illustrate.

Engaging the Community to Solve the Bushmeat Crisis

A Contribution by the Forestry Research Institute Nigeria

The 'Domestication of Small Monogastric and Ruminant Animals' (DSMR) project led by a Nigerian research institute works with local communities to solve the bushmeat crisis.

‘Preserving and restoring fertile soils is a global responsibility.’

An Interview with Jochen Flasbarth (BMZ)

Healthy, productive soils are a prerequisite for global food security – one of the priorities of German development cooperation. State Secretary Jochen Flasbarth on Germany’s efforts to support sustainable land management and why the VGGT are more important than ever today.

Strengthening food markets across the rural-urban continuum

A Contribution by Thomas Forster

How to maintain functioning food markets in global food supply chains in the face of vulnerability and disruption? Markets that support local and territorial food systems are part of the solution. Thomas Forster presents proposals for these markets to cope with future shocks.

The importance of water for sustainable rural development

A contribtion by WE4F

How can the challenges related to water, rural development and climate resilient agriculture be addressed? What innovations need to be promoted? The Water and Energy for Food (WE4F) initiative presents strategies and innovations for sustainable, integrated water management in German and international cooperation.

New legal initiatives towards deforestation-free supply chains as a game changer

A Contribution by Gerhard Langenberger

Regarding deforestation free supply chains, there are challenges and opportunities for smallholder farmers as well as for international forest governance. Also, responsibilities for companies and potential incentives for manufacturers to use materials from fair trade and sustainable sources need to be explored. But what does “deforestation-free” actually mean?

The fight against illegal fishing

A Report

The oceans are important for our food supply, but they are overfished. To halt this trend the global community is now taking action against illegal fishing. Journalist Jan Rübel spoke with Francesco Marí, a specialist for world food, agricultural trade and maritime policy at "Brot für die Welt," and others.

Water may offer the only chance

Interview with Caroline Milow and Ramon Brentführer

Groundwater resources remain dormant in the soil of African regions. Where does it make sense to use them – and where does overexploitation of nature begin? Caroline Milow (GIZ) and Ramon Brentführer (BGR) talk about potentials in the future and lessons from the past.

Sowing change

A Contribution by Brot für die Welt

Roughly 800 million people suffer from hunger worldwide. Change is needed - for people and for the environment. Brot für die Welt reports on the starting points offered by everyone's ecological footprint and handprint.

Circular Economy: From Innovation to Upscaling

A Contribution by the Project RUNRES

Recycling organic waste into soil amendments and animal feed through a transdisciplinary approach – this is what the RUNRES project, launched in four sub-Saharan African countries four years ago, seeks to achieve. Three of the project's scientists report.

From the perennial to the catwalk – banana silk as an alternative

A Contribution by Paul Kadjo

The textile industry contributes significantly to environmental pollution as it produces over 100 billion garments every year, resulting in huge CO2 emissions and water consumption. Fashion designer Paul Kadjo uses banana silk as an environmentally friendly alternative to make textile production more environmentally conscious and socially just.

A Call to Action against Desertification

A contribution by GIZ

Every second, worldwide, we lose valuable and healthy soil with the size of four football fields. This was only one of the many facts being presented to a wide audience in Bonn and worldwide via livestream at the World Desertification and Drought Day on 17th June 2024. This was the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on Combatting Desertification (UNCCD), which was celebrated at the Bundeskunsthalle in Bonn.

The untapped potential of protein diversification

A Contribution by Ivo Rzegotta

Diversifying our protein supply to include plant-based foods and cultivated meat can be a game-changer for climate mitigation and climate adaptation, especially in the countries of the Global South. However, a great deal of research is still required to capitalise on this potential. And political support, as Ivo Rzegotta, Good Food Institute, demonstrates.

How a Tea adds to Forest Conservation and Food Security

A Contribution by Wallace Gichunge

The Nyayo Tea Zones Development Corporation is committed to the preservation of forests in Kenya: The establishment of so-called buffer zones counteracts deforestation by planting trees and tea. In addition to the production of environmentally friendly tea, the project benefits the resources of the forests and the livelihoods of the communities living near the forests, says project manager Wallace Gichunge.

“Corona exposes the weaknesses of our nutritional systems"

Interview with Arif Husain (WFP)

The United Nations plan a Food Systems Summit - and now the Corona-Virus is dictating the agenda. The Chief Economist of the UN World Food Programme takes stock of the current situation: a conversation with Jan Rübel about pandemics, about the chromosomes of development - and about the conflicts that inhibit them.

5 questions to F. Patterson: Why is there more hunger?

Interview with Fraser Patterson

Every year in October, the "Welthungerhilfe" aid organisation, with the Irish "Concern Worldwide" NGO, publishes the Global Hunger Index, a tool with which the hunger situation is recorded. What are the trends - and what needs to be done?

Is the international community still on track in the fight against hunger?

Interview with Miriam Wiemers (Welthungerhilfe)

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2020 shows that the world is not on track to meet the international goal of “zero hunger by 2030”. If we continue at our current speed, around 37 countries will not even have reached a low hunger level by 2030.

Resilience in times of crisis

Yemen is currently experiencing one of the worst disasters, due to war, hunger and disease outbreaks. The GIZ is locally engaged to improve the nutrition and resilience of Yemenites.

A project of GIZ

Leveraging investment impacts

A contribution by Heike Baumüller, Christine Husmann, Julia Machovsky-Smid, Oliver Kirui, Justice Tambo

Any initiative whose aim is to reduce poverty in Africa should focus first on agriculture. But what kind of investment has the greatest impact? The use of scientific criteria provides some answers.

Do we have to dare a new food system?

A contribution by Dr. Felix zu Löwenstein (BÖLW)

Lack of seasonal workers and virus explosion in slaughterhouses, rising vegetable prices, climate crisis – all this demonstrates: Our food system is highly productive and (at least for the rich inhabitants of planet earth) guarantees an unprecedented rich and steady food supply - but it is not resilient.

Global responsibility: Tackling hunger is the only way forward

A contribution by Lisa Hücking (WHH)

Chancellor Merkel has begun an ambitious European political programme: Striving for compromise in budget negotiations, an orderly Brexit as well as an appropriate response to the corona crisis. Unfortunately, one of her positions that she previously held is nowhere to be found: Africa's prosperity is in the interest of Europe.

"Without peace, there will be no development"

Interview with Karina Mroß (DIE)

What contribution does development cooperation make to conflict prevention? What can it do for sustainable peace? Political scientist Karina Mroß talks to Raphael Thelen about post-conflict societies and their chances for peaceful development.

Actual Analysis: The locusts came with the crises

A report by Bettina Rudloff and Annette Weber (SWP)

The Corona-Virus exacerbates existing crises through conflict, climate, hunger and locusts in East Africa and the Horn of Africa. What needs to be done in these regions? To face these challenges for many countries, all of these crises need to be captured in their regional context.

Innovation Challenge 2021

Competition for ideas by BMZ

Out of 40 consortia that applied from all over the world, 14 were invited to present their innovative concept on agroecological approaches in the form of an online pitch and to face the questions of an international jury of experts. Find out which six semi-finalists were selected by the jury and what happens next in this article.

Feminist development policy – A new beginning?

An Interview by Journalist Jan Rübel

Cameroonian gender and peace activist Marthe Wandou on the role of women and girls in development policy – then and in the future.

Drugs and the Environment

A Contribution by Jorrit Kamminga

This year's United Nations World Drug Report highlights for the first time the nexus between illicit drugs and the environment. In view of climate change, it is time to feed the debate with facts and make drug policy greener

How are transformation and crisis intervention related, Dr. Frick?

An Interview by Jan Rübel

Martin Frick has been director of the WFP office in Berlin for a year – since then one hunger crisis has followed another. What are the diplomat's answers? A conversation about opportunities in agriculture, the interplay of multiple crises, the importance of resilience and tighter budgets.

From reaction to action

A contribtion by GIZ

A Year of Multiple Crises: Russian war against Ukraine, extreme weather events, high prices for energy and fertilizer, food crisis had severe implications for food security and agriculture globally and especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. A Transformation of the food systems is needed.

How the War against Ukraine Destabilizes Global Grain Markets

A Contribution by GIZ

Since early February 2022, two of the biggest grain and oilseed exporters have been at war. An overview, which countries are affected most severely by the destabilized grain markets, and what comes next.

The Black Sea Breadbasket in Crisis: Facts and Figures

An infographic by ONEWORLD no Hunger

Rising food and gas prices, physical destruction and supply chain disruptions: Why the Black Sea region matters and how the war in Ukraine affects global food security.

What the Middle East conflict means for the children in Gaza

An Interview by Jan Rübel

The Gaza Strip depends heavily on humanitarian aid, more than ever with the current war. Gaza population is very young: Half of them are children. What is their situation on the ground? Questions for Lucia Elmi, Unicef Special Representative to the State of Palestine.

Where can international cooperation in Gaza come in, Ms. Asseburg?

An Interview by Jan Rübel

The armed conflict between Israeli forces and the Hamas is escalating. What does this mean for a Gaza, region that was already heavily dependent on external aid? Questions for Dr. Muriel Asseburg, Senior Fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) in Berlin.

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Land is Crucial for Development

By M. Sahr Nouwah

By Roselyn Korleh

Welthungerhilfe (WHH)

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