The joint initiative by Dublin City University, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh and Wageningen University and Research on “Power and Politics in Land Administration Reform”, funded by the European Union’s Jean Monnet scheme has a call for abstracts. The objective is to convene a research cluster focusing on this crucial area, with the view to publishing a special issue in a leading peer-review journal.
Despite a number of welcome developments in recent years, including the emergence of “continuum of land rights” approaches, significant gaps remain between the findings of an increasingly critical scientific literature on land administration reform, and land administration as a public policy domain. In order to address some of these gaps, they are keen to hear from anyone who’s research relates to the broad themes listed below. Securing contributions from a diverse range of geographical settings is a high priority.
- The diversity of ways in which “legalisation” and “formalisation” processes are mediated by political and social relationships that exist within often extreme asymmetries of power.
- The opportunities such processes provide for facilitating rather than preventing disenfranchisement and dispossession through processes like land grabbing.
- Modalities by which such processes intersect with and impact upon disparities based on gender, ethnicity and religious minority status.
- How the political-administrative compartmentalisation of “land administration” relates to the oft-stated aspirations of such processes to achieve equitable and pro-poor outcomes, for example national inheritance legislation and the relationship of natural resources like forests and water bodies to “land administration”.The impact of state foreign and security policy on land acquisitions.
- How the European Union’s Global Strategy and development policy relate to these issues.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the project plan included a two-day event, to be held in Dhaka on or around the 26th and 27th of February 2021. While this remains their aspiration, this is now obviously subject to change depending on how the pandemic progresses. Anyone can register their interest for further updates by sending an email to oliver.scanlan@ulab.edu.bd.
Potential participants are asked to submit abstracts of no more than 500 words to the same email address by the 31st August. On the basis of submitted abstracts, participants will be invited to join a “working group”, that will convene remotely by the first week of October. Working/background papers will be circulated among the group by early December.
These papers will form the basis of a two-day working session, in principle to be held as a physical conference in Dhaka. There is a modest budget available to support travel and accommodation expenses. In the event that continuing Covid prevalence makes this option unworkable, remote arrangements will be organised, potentially involving more flexible timings to take time differences into account.
The aim will be to have an agreed framework for the special issue by the end of the working session, as well as an agreed target journal. While all are welcome to engage with this initiative, it may be of particular interest to early career researchers. For further information please contact Dr Oliver Scanlan at the Center for Sustainable Development, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, at oliver.scanlan@ulab.edu.bd.
Last Updated: 31st July 2020 by Coordinator
Land Portal | Data Story – Pastoralists in Iran: Flexible sustainable use-rights solutions in the semi-arid area of Maymand
The Land Portal Foundation has published a new Data Story by Abolfazl Sharifian Bahraman and Dr. Hossein Barani – “Pastoralists in Iran: Flexible sustainable use-rights solutions in the semi-arid area of Maymand”.
Last Updated: 31st July 2020 by Coordinator
University of Antwerp | Doctoral Scholarship Urbanisation, Poverty and Inequality in Africa
Deadline for application: 26 August 2020
The University of Antwerp’s recently founded Antwerp Interdisciplinary Platform for Research into Inequality (AIPRIL) seeks to advance our understanding of how socioeconomic inequalities are changing, what is driving such trends and what, if anything, can be done. AIPRIL is looking for a full-time (100%) Doctoral scholarship holder to conduct research on the topic of Urbanisation, Poverty and Inequality in Africa.
This project will link large spatial datasets of processed satellite imagery on built-up areas and emitted nightlight in Africa to micro-level household panel and census data. The project aims to understand how urbanisation interacts with economic development in Africa.
Last Updated: 31st July 2020 by Coordinator
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | PhD position Biodiversity Conservation in Times of Climate Change
Deadline for application: 24 August 2020
Are you willing to contribute to the implementation of the global biodiversity targets using an interdisciplinary perspective? Please apply at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.The PhD student will perform an interdisciplinary study how biodiversity targets can be aligned to climate targets: where are synergies found and where do potential conflicts occur? How and where can resources (financial, political and natural (land/water)) be used most efficiently to optimize outcomes for climate, biodiversity and the well-being of people through NCP? What trade-offs exist between effective biodiversity and climate actions? What unintended side-effects exists and how can these be mitigated?
Last Updated: 31st July 2020 by Coordinator
Landesa | Podcast on Desertification & Drought
In a conversation to mark the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, Landesa’s Beth Roberts and Shipra Deo discuss the ways in which rural women are burdened by the effects of land degradation, and how securing their land rights can be a critical step in protecting our lands, soils, and creating a food secure future for millions.
Last Updated: 31st July 2020 by Coordinator
ITC University of Twente | Implications of Customary Land Rights Inequalities for Food Security
Newly published article by Baslyd B. Nara, Monica Lengoiboni and Jaap Zevenbergen (ITC University of Twente) – “Implications of Customary Land Rights Inequalities for Food Security: A Study of Smallholder Farmers in Northwest Ghana”.
Abstract
Inequalities in land rights exist globally, both in formal and customary settings. This is because land rights are either strong or weak, and held by various categories of people. The weaker variants of the inequalities tend to stifle tenure security, reduce land use, and threaten the food security of those dependent on the land for survival. This paper investigated the implications of customary land rights inequalities and varying tenure insecurity for food security among smallholder farmers in northwest Ghana. It identified the nature of rights inequalities, the number of rights and in whose possession. The research also assessed the kinds and nature of land rights as well as how such rights affect people’s farm sizes and subsequently farming output for ultimate food security. The data collection techniques were focus group discussions and interviews of key informants and key players in key organisations. Results revealed the existence of food insecurity among smallholder farmers (settlers/migrants) who have both fewer and weaker land rights as compared to landowners who possess numerous and stronger rights in the study area. Results also showed that weak and unequally skewed land rights lead to uncertain tenure durations and reduced farm sizes, which affects farmed area, farm output, food availability, accessibility and food security. Furthermore, farmers expressed the need to apply coping strategies to overcome the impact of unequal land rights. This research recommends further studies to design intervention strategies to better understand land rights inequalities and their implications. The outcome is expected to contribute to informing interventions to narrow these inequalities and reduce the implications that can later enhance food security.
Last Updated: 31st July 2020 by Coordinator
ILC & Global Land Programme | Securing Land and Territorial Rights for Indigenous Peoples
As indigenous peoples’ land and territorial rights are under threat, the International Land Coalition, the Global Land Programme, and partner groups that take a people-centered land governance approach are committed to their recognition and protection. This recently published brief is based on the research of CIFOR, the Center for International Forestry Research, a member of the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR), and an ILC member.
Last Updated: 31st July 2020 by Coordinator
ITC University of Twente | From Closed to Claimed Spaces for Participation: Contestation in Urban Redevelopment Induced-Displacements and Resettlement in Kigali, Rwanda
Newly published article by Alice Nikuze, Richard Sliuzas and Johannes Flacke (ITC University of Twente) – “From Closed to Claimed Spaces for Participation: Contestation in Urban Redevelopment Induced-Displacements and Resettlement in Kigali, Rwanda”
Abstract
In many cities and urban areas in Africa, land acquisition for urban redevelopment, land readjustment, and resettlement of affected urban residents are currently framed as innovative approaches to eradicating informal settlements, improving the living environments, and supporting the implementation of newly adopted city Master Plans. Nevertheless, it is not yet known how the responses of institutions and affected people shape these processes. Based on research conducted in Kigali, Rwanda, this article discusses affected residents’ responses to land expropriation and resettlement necessary for urban redevelopments. Our findings show that affected informal settlement dwellers voiced their concerns over the deviations from the Expropriation Law, compensation decision-making made behind closed doors, lack of transparency in property valuation, and compensation packages that they perceive to be unfair. Some of the consequences of these concerns are strong feelings of unfairness, exclusion, and marginalisation; distrust and increased perceptions of impoverishment risks, all of which fuel contestation and resistance attitudes among the affected landowners. The affected landowners agitate to assert their rights and stake their claims through contestations, community mobilisation, and legal recourse. We conclude that such contestations constitute claimed spaces and interactions in which affected landowners are laying claim to fair processes against the ‘’exceptionality’’ and the “decide-defend” decision-making approaches, while local authorities assert legitimacy of their decisions. Critically, informal households affected by urban redevelopments see opportunities for participation in their resettlement decision-making as fundamental to securing their future.
Posted: 30th July 2020 by Lotte van der Heijden
LAND-at-scale | 6 promising ideas selected in second round
LAND-at-scale is a government programme that contributes to improving land governance. The programme supports economic development, peace and stability in developing countries. It also contributes to sustainable incomes, social justice, and better food and nutrition security.
The second round of LAND-at-scale resulted in 24 ideas submitted by 19 Dutch embassies. The LAND-at-scale Committee selected 6 most promising ideas to develop further. The most promising ideas come from Brazil, eastern DRC, Iraq, Malaysia, South Africa and Sri Lanka. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency has contacted these embassies. The next steps to further develop the projects will be discussed as soon as capacity and resources allow it.
Please click here to read the full article or click here to visit the LAND-at-scale programme page and stay up to date.
Last Updated: 31st July 2020 by Lotte van der Heijden
Dublin City University, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh and Wageningen University | Call for Abstracts
The joint initiative by Dublin City University, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh and Wageningen University and Research on “Power and Politics in Land Administration Reform”, funded by the European Union’s Jean Monnet scheme has a call for abstracts. The objective is to convene a research cluster focusing on this crucial area, with the view to publishing a special issue in a leading peer-review journal.
Despite a number of welcome developments in recent years, including the emergence of “continuum of land rights” approaches, significant gaps remain between the findings of an increasingly critical scientific literature on land administration reform, and land administration as a public policy domain. In order to address some of these gaps, they are keen to hear from anyone who’s research relates to the broad themes listed below. Securing contributions from a diverse range of geographical settings is a high priority.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the project plan included a two-day event, to be held in Dhaka on or around the 26th and 27th of February 2021. While this remains their aspiration, this is now obviously subject to change depending on how the pandemic progresses. Anyone can register their interest for further updates by sending an email to oliver.scanlan@ulab.edu.bd.
Potential participants are asked to submit abstracts of no more than 500 words to the same email address by the 31st August. On the basis of submitted abstracts, participants will be invited to join a “working group”, that will convene remotely by the first week of October. Working/background papers will be circulated among the group by early December.
These papers will form the basis of a two-day working session, in principle to be held as a physical conference in Dhaka. There is a modest budget available to support travel and accommodation expenses. In the event that continuing Covid prevalence makes this option unworkable, remote arrangements will be organised, potentially involving more flexible timings to take time differences into account.
The aim will be to have an agreed framework for the special issue by the end of the working session, as well as an agreed target journal. While all are welcome to engage with this initiative, it may be of particular interest to early career researchers. For further information please contact Dr Oliver Scanlan at the Center for Sustainable Development, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, at oliver.scanlan@ulab.edu.bd.
Last Updated: 31st July 2020 by Coordinator
New publication | On whose land is the city to be built? Farmers, donors and the urban land question in Beira city, Mozambique
New article published by Murtah Shannon, Kei Otsuki, Annelies Zoomers (Utrecht University) and Mayke Kaag (African Studies Centre Leiden) — “On whose land is the city to be built? Farmers, donors and the urban land question in Beira city, Mozambique”
Abstract
A new era of global interventionism in African cities is emerging, the implications of which for existing claims to urban space are poorly understood. This is particularly true for the claims of farmers. Despite being a ubiquitous feature of many African cities, urban agriculture broadly exists in a conceptual limbo between rurality and urbanity, largely invisible to urban governance and substantive scholarship. Based on the case of Beira, Mozambique, in this article we make urban agriculture empirically and conceptually visible within the context of emerging debates on the urban land question in Africa. Through a historical–political analysis, we demonstrate how urban farming has constituted a distinct feature of Beira’s urbanism, which has evolved amidst successive and contradictory state-land regimes. Moving to the present day, we demonstrate how a new urban regime has emerged out of a coalition of municipal leaders and international donors with the aim of erasing all traces of urban agriculture from the city through urban ‘development’. The findings demonstrate that there is a need for a better understanding of the manifold claims to urban space, outside of slum urbanism alone, in contemporary land rights debates. We conclude by arguing that there is a need for a substantive land rights agenda that transcends the prescriptive categories of urbanism and rurality by focusing instead on the universal land question.