Document Type: Progress Reports

Integrated Land and Resource Governance (ILRG) Quarterly Report January– March 2019

March 1, 2019
Progress Reports

Introduction and Background

The Integrated Land and Resource Governance (ILRG) task order (TO) under the Strengthening Tenure and Resource Rights II (STARR II) Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract provides support to the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Land and Urban Office in the Bureau for Economic Growth, Education, and Environment (E3/LU). ILRG develops and implements targeted interventions in select USAID presence and non-presence countries, providing technical assistance to improve land and resource governance, strengthen property rights, and build resilient livelihoods as the foundation for stability, resilience, and strong economic growth. The TO has four primary objectives that assist in ending extreme poverty:

  • To increase inclusive economic growth, resilience, and food security;
  • To provide a foundation for sustainable natural resource management and biodiversity conservation;
  • To promote good governance, conflict mitigation, and disaster mitigation and relief; and,
  • To empower women and other vulnerable populations.

To achieve these objectives, the TO works collaboratively with USAID, communities, civil society, host country governments, academia, and the private sector through four inter-related components:

  • Component 1: Support the development of inclusive land and property rights laws and policies;
  • Component 2: Assist law and policy implementation, including clarifying, documenting, registering, and administering rights to land and resources;
  • Component 3: Support the capacity of local institutions to administer and secure equitable land and resource governance; and
  • Component 4: Facilitate responsible land-based investment that creates optimized outcomes for communities, investors, and the public.

The ILRG contract has two mechanisms for providing support on land and natural resource governance: 1) term activities; and 2) completion activities. Under the term portion of the contract, the project implements technical assistance in Mozambique and Zambia, with the potential to also provide support in Mexico. Work in Mozambique initially focuses on clarifying, documenting, registering, and administering rights to land and resources – including through collaboration on responsible land-based investment, while work in Zambia includes support to land policy, customary land administration and service delivery, and natural resource governance and tenure around protected areas. Under the completion portion of the contract, USAID missions, bureaus, and offices can support additional field support scopes of work in locations to be determined. Initial activities identified under this portion of the contract include: 1) support around USAID’s draft Policy on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues; 2) support to deforestation-free cocoa in Ghana through the creation of a sustainably financed farm rehabilitation and land tenure strengthening model; and 3) collaboration with PepsiCo on gender and women’s economic empowerment within the potato value chain in West Bengal, India. Additional discussions are underway regarding potential completion activities in Liberia and Burma.

ILRG was awarded July 27, 2018. The TO has a three-year base period (through July 2021) and two one-year option periods.

Executive Summary

This report covers months six to nine of the ILRG program and reflects establishment of relationships with field grantees and development of relationships with government partners. In addition, new completion activities were advanced.

ILRG Zambia and Mozambique hosted visits by ILRG’s global Gender Advisor, as well as a consultancy looking at behavioral elements of customary/community land administration. Zambia and Mozambique teams launched the grant process with four partners related to land documentation, and Zambia began partnerships on wildlife and forest management. In Zambia, significant effort focused on government engagement across multiple ministries at national and district levels.

With respect to completion activities, ILRG began follow-up on USAID’s draft Policy on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues by developing a plan to complete four sector-specific guidance documents. ILRG also continued developing an implementation plan in Ghana to work with private sector partners the Hershey Company (hereafter Hershey) and Ecom Agroindustrial Corporation (ECOM) on cocoa farm rehabilitation, land tenure documentation, and land use planning with the goal of reducing emissions from deforestation, as well as achieving a private-sector-facilitated scaling of farm rehabilitation and land tenure documentation. The implementation plan was being finalized late in the quarter.

ILRG, including consortium partner Landesa, began to implement a USAID/PepsiCo partnership by carrying out an assessment related to land rights, gender, and agriculture in the potato value chain in West Bengal, India. Due to the United States Government shutdown in December/January, this activity was not financially supported by USAID but rather fully funded by PepsiCo. An implementation plan is expected to be completed in early May 2019, following a multi-stakeholder meeting in New Delhi the same month. The work will seek to build the business case for women’s economic empowerment in potato farming communities in West Bengal, India. Completion activities in Liberia and Burma await further guidance from USAID. Term activities in Mexico remain on hold, and in the coming year ILRG will work to determine with USAID whether these activities will move forward or be reprogrammed.

 

 

Integrated Land and Resource Governance (ILRG) Quarterly Report October – December 2018

December 1, 2018
Progress Reports

Introduction and Background

The Integrated Land and Resource Governance (ILRG) task order (TO) under the Strengthening Tenure and Resource Rights II (STARR II) Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract provides support to the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Land and Urban Office in the Bureau for Economic Growth, Education, and Environment (E3/LU). ILRG develops and implements targeted interventions in select USAID presence and non-presence countries, providing technical assistance to improve land and resource governance, strengthen property rights, and build resilient livelihoods as the foundation for stability, resilience, and strong economic growth. The TO has four primary objectives that assist in ending extreme poverty:

  • To increase inclusive economic growth, resilience, and food security;
  • To provide a foundation for sustainable natural resource management and biodiversity conservation;
  • To promote good governance, conflict mitigation, and disaster mitigation and relief; and,
  • To empower women and other vulnerable populations.

To achieve these objectives, the TO works collaboratively with USAID, communities, civil society, host country governments, academia, and the private sector through four inter-related components:

  • Component 1: Support the development of inclusive land and property rights laws and policies;
  • Component 2: Assist law and policy implementation, including clarifying, documenting, registering, and administering rights to land and resources;
  • Component 3: Support the capacity of local institutions to administer and secure equitable land and resource governance; and
  • Component 4: Facilitate responsible land-based investment that creates optimized outcomes for communities, investors, and the public.

The ILRG contract has two mechanisms for providing support on land and natural resource governance: 1) term activities; and 2) completion activities. Under the term portion of the contract, the project implements technical assistance in Mozambique and Zambia, with the potential to also provide support in Mexico. Work in Mozambique initially focuses on clarifying, documenting, registering, and administering rights to land and resources through collaboration on responsible land-based investment, while work in Zambia includes support to land policy, customary land administration and service delivery, and natural resource governance and tenure around protected areas. Under the completion portion of the contract, USAID missions, bureaus, and offices can support additional field support scopes of work in locations to be determined. Initial activities identified under this portion of the contract include: 1) support to consultations around USAID’s draft Policy on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues; 2) support to deforestation-free cocoa in Ghana through the creation of a sustainably financed farm rehabilitation and land tenure strengthening model; and 3) collaboration with PepsiCo on gender and women’s empowerment within the potato value chain in West Bengal, India. Additional discussions are underway regarding potential completion activities in Liberia and Burma.

ILRG was awarded July 27, 2018. The TO has a three-year base period (through July 2021) and two one-year option periods.

Executive Summary 

This report covers months three to five of the ILRG program and reflects the early stages of establishing relationships with USAID missions and government partners in-country, and the development and revision of the: project work plan; environmental mitigation and monitoring plan; monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan; and grants management plan. In addition, potential new completion activities were identified and ILRG began the process of working with USAID to develop budgets and clarify assessments and implementation plans that will unlock longer-term engagements.

Building on E3/LU visits to Zambia and Mozambique in September 2018, ILRG teams in each country developed work plans, began staffing up, developed scopes of work for local grantee field implementation, and carried out needs assessments for data collection and management. In Zambia, ILRG supported the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources’ efforts to consolidate input on the National Land Policy process. ILRG supported a forward-looking assessment of customary land administration data collection and data management, which included insights to ensure that the ILRG systems for Mobile Applications to Secure Tenure (MAST) align with best-practice standards, use free and open-source software, and remain flexible to future legal developments.
With respect to completion activities, ILRG supported USAID in the logistics and analysis associated with a global consultation on USAID’s draft Policy on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues. This meeting in November 2018 brought together representatives of indigenous peoples’ groups and stakeholders from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Given sensitivities around indigenous peoples’ issues, this meeting required significant coordination between ILRG and USAID on the meeting facilitation and messaging. ILRG also carried out the inception phase of a complete activity in Ghana to work with private sector partners Hershey’s and Ecom Agroindustrial (ECOM) on cocoa farm rehabilitation, land tenure documentation, and land use planning with the goal of reducing emissions from deforestation, as well as achieving a private sector-facilitated scaling of farm rehabilitation and land tenure documentation. This activity requires substantial coordination to ensure that private sector partners, USAID, and ILRG implementing partners Tetra Tech and Winrock International are all aligned with respect to how the program will address ambitious goals and as a result, the ILRG team visited Ghana in November 2018 to co-design an implementation plan that will start in early 2019.

ILRG began discussions on the development of three additional completion activities, which will be submitted for approval following agreement on a scope of work (SOW), budget, and mission concurrence/buy-in. A partnership with PepsiCo is the most advanced of these activities. USAID, ILRG, and PepsiCo developed an assessment SOW, which is expected to result in an implementation plan by May 2019. The work will analyze how women currently support PepsiCo’s potato supply chain in West Bengal, India, and identify approaches to more effectively engage women to achieve increased productivity, social development goals, and improved farming practices. The assessment is expected to take place in early 2019, carried out jointly by Tetra Tech and Landesa. Another potential completion activity discussed in late 2018 was a grant in Liberia to support the completion of community land protection work carried out over recent years. Advancement on this activity awaits a SOW from USAID. Finally, opportunities to continue USAID’s engagement in Burma on land policy were discussed. While there is technical interest within Burma for assistance as the country pursues a land law based on the National Land Use Policy, ILRG awaits further feedback from USAID.

Term activities in Mexico remain on hold, and in the coming year ILRG will work to identify with USAID whether these activities will move forward or be reprogrammed.

 

 

Integrated Land and Resource Governance (ILRG) Quarterly Report July – September 2018

September 1, 2018
Progress Reports

Introduction and Background

The Integrated Land and Resource Governance (ILRG) task order (TO) under the Strengthening Tenure and Resource Rights II (STARR II) Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract provides support to the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Land and Urban Office in the Bureau for Economic Growth, Education, and Environment (E3/LU). ILRG develops and implements targeted interventions in select USAID presence and non-presence countries, providing technical assistance to improve land and resource governance, strengthen property rights, and build resilient livelihoods as the foundation for stability, resilience, and strong economic growth. The TO has four primary objectives that assist in ending extreme poverty:

  • To increase inclusive economic growth, resilience, and food security;
  • To provide a foundation for sustainable natural resource management and biodiversity conservation;
  • To promote good governance, conflict mitigation, and disaster mitigation and relief; and,
  • To empower women and other vulnerable populations.

To achieve these objectives, the TO works collaboratively with USAID, communities, civil society, host country governments, academia, and the private sector through four inter-related components:

  • Component 1: Support the development of inclusive land and property rights laws and policies;
  • Component 2: Assist law and policy implementation, including clarifying, documenting, registering, and administering rights to land and resources;
  • Component 3: Support the capacity of local institutions to administer and secure equitable land and resource governance; and
  • Component 4: Facilitate responsible land-based investment that creates optimized outcomes for communities, investors, and the public.

The ILRG contract has two mechanisms for providing support on land and natural resource governance. Under the term portion of the contract, the project implements technical assistance in Mozambique and Zambia, with the potential to also provide support in Mexico. Work in Mozambique initially focuses on policy engagement, work with customary institutions, dispute resolution, and support for communities to strengthen their land rights and be better prepared to make decisions around land use, while work in Zambia initially includes support to land policy, customary land administration and service delivery, and natural resource governance and tenure around protected areas. Under the completion portion of the contract, USAID missions, bureaus, and offices can support additional field support scopes of work in locations to be determined. Initial activities identified under this portion of the contract include support to a consultation to be held in Washington, DC on USAID’s draft Indigenous Peoples Policy, as well as support to deforestation-free cocoa in Ghana through the creation of a sustainably financed farm rehabilitation and land tenure strengthening model.

ILRG was awarded July 27, 2018. The TO has a three-year base period (through July 2021) and two one-year option periods.

Executive Summary

The ILRG TO was awarded to the Tetra Tech consortium on July 27, 2018; this report covers the period from July 27, 2018 to September 30, 2018. Activities in this period were largely focused on initial project start-up, discussions with USAID, and work planning.

In August, the ILRG team met with the E3/LU team in Washington, DC to hold initial discussions on the contract, activities in Mozambique and Zambia (work in Mexico is on hold pending internal USAID discussions), and opportunities under the completion portion of the budget. Additionally, the E3/LU team facilitated meetings with other USAID/Washington offices and bureaus to discuss potential collaboration with ILRG. In September, work planning continued with in-country meetings in Mozambique and Zambia, in which representatives from ILRG and E3/LU met with local stakeholders, including host country government, civil society organizations, and the private sector. In addition, the ILRG and E3/LU teams met with USAID mission staff in both countries to present activity options for going forward and solicit feedback on how well potential activities aligned with mission strategic priorities.

In Zambia, the only country in which it is currently anticipated that ILRG will have an office and full-time staff, the project also engaged several short-term consultants to assist with technical and administrative start-up. These consultants are expected to become full-time staff once the project is registered. Additionally, the Chief of Party (COP) mobilized to Zambia for the first two years of the project to allow more direct engagement and oversight of activities.

Two completion activities were launched in this period. The first is the organization of a consultation in Washington on USAID’s draft Policy on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues to be held in November 2018. The ILRG team worked closely with USAID to draft an agenda and identify a facilitator, and ILRG also began work on logistical components like sending invitations and organizing a venue and simultaneous interpretation services for the consultation workshop.

The second completion activity is the expansion of responsible investment pilot work originally implemented under the Tenure and Global Climate Change (TGCC) program. The activity under ILRG will work with private sector partners to address land tenure strengthening and sustainably financed farm rehabilitation in the cocoa sector in Ghana. Initial discussions were held amongst USAID, ILRG, and private sector partners Hershey’s and Ecom Agroindustrial Corp (ECOM) to identify parameters for the next phase of the activity. The team also developed a draft concept note and began organization of a planning workshop to be held in Accra, Ghana in November 2018.

 

 

LRFRP Annual Report: Year 2

June 22, 2018
Progress Reports

Agriculture is a key economic driver in Tajikistan that employs 75 percent of its labor force. Despite improvements in land legislation and reduced interference in farmer’s freedom to farm, the current system offers little tenure security and remnants of a collective agricultural system remain, leaving the land reform process and agricultural productivity geographically uneven.

The USAID Land Reform and Farm Restructuring Project (LRFRP) collaborates with the Government of Tajikistan (GoT), to introduce progressive land legislation and polices that support the development of a market in land-use rights and ensure property rights are more secure for farmers throughout the zone of influence. In addition to LRFRP’s focuses on policy and legal development, the project also works to expand awareness of land use rights among stakeholders, facilitates acquisition of land-use certificates, and builds government capacity to effectively monitor and implement the land reform process.

The 2012 land code amendments strengthen the security of land use rights and introduce the concept of alienation of land use rights (i.e., the right to buy, sell, mortgage, lease, donate, or transfer the rights to use specific land plots), providing the foundation for the development of a market in land-use rights. Future progress in land reform in Tajikistan depends upon dehkan farmers gaining the right of alienation. To support this and in cooperation with the inter-ministerial Working Group (WG) on Land Reform Management, LRFRP prepared two decrees that would automatically endow individuals and families with lifelong-inheritable use rights to their household plots and dehkan farmland with transaction rights, including mortgage.

Beyond these discreet activities, LRFRP supports the GoT in three key areas: (1) development of the land policy and legislative framework, (2) building capacity of government officials, farmers, civil society organizations (CSOs) and other rural stakeholders to capitalize on land reform, and, (3) raising awareness of the target population on land rights.

During LRFRP’s second year, the project achieved the following key results:

Land Policy and Legislative Framework Development

  • Cooperated with the inter-ministerial working group (WG) on land reform management.
  • Hosted and facilitated WG meetings on Land reform management to draft land legislation.
  • Finalized the following regulations: (i) Draft Regulation on Establishing Public (Involuntary) Easements; (ii) Draft Rules on Transacting with Land Use Rights in the Land Use Rights Market; (iii) Draft Regulation on Use Rights to Lands Located within Coastal Lines and Public Territories and submitted them to the GoT for consideration and approval.
  • Finalized and submitted the Law on Dehkan Farms, including recommendations on gender equality.
  • Finalized and submitted a 15-year land strategy for Tajikistan.
  • Finalized and submitted a five-year land policy program (implementation plan) for Tajikistan.
  • Supported the State Unitary Enterprise on Registration of Immovable Property (SUERIP) to implement new rules on registration.
  • Finalized and presented to the inner ministerial WG draft amendments to the Mortgage Law.

Capacity Development of Government Officials, farmers, CSOs, and other Stakeholders

  • Printed and distributed more than over 18,000 brochures in Tajik, Russian and Uzbek languages.
  • Conducted trainings for SUERIP representatives to introduce new rules on registering immovable property.
  • Organized a study tour to Kyrgyz Republic for GoT officials to familiarize the participants with the Kyrgyz experience in registering immovable property, especially registration of land plots.
  • Organized an internal study tour to the Sughd region for 22 SUERIP officials to exchange information and experiences.
  • Developed a brochure on “Settlement of land disputes” for attorneys to familiarize themselves with the Supreme Economic Court standards and procedures.
  • Developed textbook on “Basis of Land Law” in Russian and Tajik languages through grantee Public Organization (PO) Huquq va Rushdi Jomeai Dehot
  • Conducted a series of trainings for press secretaries of the Ministry of Agriculture, State Land Committee and a newly created state Agency for Local Development, to better inform them of the land reform process and help use new communication tools and techniques to disseminate information
  • Supported 12 legal aid centers throughout the 12 Feed the Future/Tajikistan (FTF/T) districts provide consultations, legal support services, and trainings for rural land users
  • Launched activities and work of 67 tashabuskors located across each jamoat in the FTF/T districts

Raising Public Awareness about Land Rights

  • Prepared newsletters (8), radio (14) and television programs (7), updated public informational corners with land reform information and disseminated quarterly CDs to raise awareness about land issues and land rights among LRFRP target populations.
  • In cooperation with the NGO “Hukukshinoson” prepared 24 theatrical performance in 12 FTF/T districts to increase the project’s reach.
  • Signed an agreement with the PO NANSMIT and conducted 6 trainings for journalists and conducted a contest among participants for the best Radio/TV, print and online media.
  • Conducted 24 extracurricular classes in 24 schools in the FTF/T districts to increase awareness of 467 high school students, including 227 girls on land reform issues.
  • Developed LAC website and facilitated training for 19 representatives from 12 LACs on how to use, maintain and update the website’s information.

Sustainable Public Information and Legal Assistance

  • Supported LACs to introduce sustainability business plans and fee-based services.
  • Facilitated a focus group discussion for women on their rights to land with the attendance of the U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan Susan Elliott.
  • Organized an internal study tour to the Sughd region for 24 female dehkan farmers from the Khatlon region to familiarize themselves with farm
  • restructuring process as well as on the creation of new dehkan farms.
  • Organized a one-day workshop on “Women’s Rights to Land: Increasing Potential of Women Leaders in the Khatlon Region” to increase the potential of women leaders in Khatlon and empower them to exercise and protect their land rights.
  • Supported farmers to protect their rights to land through LACs and tashabuskors.

LRFRP Quarterly Report: April – June 2016

June 22, 2018
Progress Reports

The USAID Tajikistan Land Reform and Farm Restructuring Project (LRFRP) strives to support the continuing progress of dehkan farm restructuring and recognition of property rights leading to a market in land-use rights. LRFRP activities are focused on providing assistance and support to the Government of Tajikistan (GoT) through: (1) development of the land policy and legislative framework; (2) building capacity of government officials, farmers, civil society organizations and other rural stakeholders to capitalize on land reform; and (3) raising awareness of the target population on land rights. To ensure sustainability of the project, LRFRP strengthens land-use rights and establishes conditions for land-use rights market-building. The project also works with legal aid centers (LACs), tashabuskors (local activists), and local farmers to enhance their awareness of land-related rights through technical training, legal assistance, and public outreach efforts.

This report covers the third quarter of project Year 3, April – June 2016. The report includes key LRFRP achievements during the period. During the reporting period the project accomplished the following:

Task 1. Land Policy and Legislative Drafting

  • Between April-June 2016, LRFRP involved International Land Tax Expert Gulzat Namatbekova to analyze current land tax legislation in Tajikistan. On April 26, 2016, LRFRP organized a round table called “Taxation and other required payments of dehkan farms, including agricultural lands of the RT” for 24 participants to present analyses on taxation issues in Tajikistan and recommendations.
  • On May 6, 2016, the project conducted a conference on the Law on Dehkan Farms for members of the WG, representatives from international organizations, Legal Aid Centers, farmers, and media representatives to present the details of the Law on Dehkan Farms.
  • On June 1, 2016, LRFRP organized a seminar on the Law on Dehkan Farms for more than 50 Local Government Officials to discuss main details of the Law on Dehkan Farms.
  • Between April-June 2016, LRFRP provided technical assistance and equipment (such as computers, printers, and scanners) to increase the capacity of the employees of the second Model Registration Office to implement the registration process in compliance with new registration
    rules.
  • On June 15, 2016, LRFRP and the State Unitary Enterprise on Registration of Immovable Property (SUERIP), hosted the official opening ceremony of the Model Registration Office of Immovable Property #2 in the Dusti District.
  • On April 14, 2016, LRFRP hosted and an Intergovernmental Working Group (WG) meeting on land reform management to promote land legislation.
  • On May 26, 2016, LRFRP organized an outside retreat for the members of the WG to discuss the final draft of amendments to the Civil Code.

Task 2. Build Capacity of Stakeholders to Capitalize on Land Reform

  • During the reporting period, tashabuskors and LACs conducted 405 focus group discussions, 129 roundtables, 112 trainings, and 22 seminars for 95 local officials, and provided 5,344 legal consultations to farmers.
  • On April 6-8, 2016 and June 14-16, 2016, LRFRP facilitated ToT for LAC and tashabuskors about the new Law on Dehkan Farms and Arbitrage courts.
  • On May 12, 2016 and June 13, 2016, LRFRP organized a Female Tashabuskors Exchange Forum in Shahritus and Bokhtar districts for 56 active women tashabuskors of Khatlon region to share and exchange their experiences working with women farmers.
  • On April 21, 2016 and May 20, 2016, through a grant agreement, the project conducted a training for 37 journalists and press secretaries from the State Land Committee and Ministry of Agriculture in the targeted districts of Khatlon region on using social media and other new multimedia tools for communications and reporting.
  • Between April-June 2016, LRFRP updated and printed brochures on: “Women’s right to land” (1,500 copies in Tajik and 200 copies in Russian languages); “Taxation of Dehkan farms” in Tajik language; “Inheritance of Dehkan farms” was republished with total amount of 8,000 copies in Tajik language;
  • Between April-June 2016, LRFRP developed and printed brochures on: “The main goals of the new Law on Dehkan Farms” (4,000 copies in Tajik and 1,000 copies in Russian languages); “Comments to the Law on Dehkan Farms” (2,000 copies in Tajik and 500 copies in Russian languages); and “Termination of land use rights” (4,500 in Tajik and 500 in Russian languages).
  • On May 19, 2016, LRFRP organized a training for Legal Aid Centers and practicing attorneys on “Procedure for preparation of application to the Court.”
  • On June 30, 2016, the project conducted a presentation of the textbook “Land Law of Tajikistan” for 60 representatives from Ministry of Education, universities, and state agencies. In June 2016, LRFRP updated and printed the textbook “Land Law of Tajikistan” (1,500 copies in Tajik and 500 copies in Russian languages).

Task 3. Land Rights and Farm Restructuring Public Information and Awareness

  • Between April-June, 2016, LRFRP and grantee Tajagrofond conducted trainings for 609 schoolteachers on how to incorporate land reform topics in legal studies curriculum in 12 districts. 609 trained teachers conducted classes to increase awareness of land reform and land-use rights among youth for 15,225 students in the 12 FTF districts of the Khatlon region.
  • Local media broadcasted three ten-minute TV programs and six fifteen-minute radio programs to highlight land reform in Tajikistan.
  • The project produced three editions of the Agroinform newsletter and disseminated 15,000 copies to students, farmers, state employees, and other project beneficiaries.
  • The project updated the LAC website on a monthly basis.

Task 4. Support the provision of legal advice and other assistance to promote farm restructuring and the development of a market in land-use rights

  • On April 1, 2016, LRFRP hosted a conference with the participation of 50 women leaders, farmers, and representatives of Government agencies to recognize the role of women in the process of land reform in Tajikistan.
  • On April 28, 2016 and June 17, 2016, LRFRP, through a grant to PO “Nansmit”, organized a training for 34 employees from 12 Legal Aid Centers on writing and implementing communication strategies.
  • On June 24, 2016, LRFRP organized a round table on Restructuring of Dehkan Farms in Khatlon region to discuss farm restructuring process in the Republic of Tajikistan and Khatlon region.

LRFRP Quarterly Report: October – December 2014

June 22, 2018
Progress Reports

Chemonics International initiated implementation of the three-year USAID Land Reform and Farm Restructuring Project (LRFRP) in Tajikistan on October 1, 2013. LRFRP is designed to continue the successful initiatives implemented by the USAID Land Reform Project in Tajikistan (2010-2013).

During the reporting period (October-December 2014), LRFRP continued momentum achieved in year one and rigorously began implementation of the year two work plan. Among our accomplishments are the following:

Accomplishments:

Task 1. Land Policy and Legislative Drafting

  • LRFRP hosted a working group meeting of the Development Coordination Committee (DCC) on Land attended by World Bank, EU, GIZ FFPSD, FAO UN, DFID, ADB and USAID on October 7, 2014 to discuss issues related to rights of for the land use certificates alienation rights. As the result of the meeting, the USAID submitted the official letter to the Deputy Prime Minister Murodali Alimardon on behalf of the DCC members, addressing the concerns on rights of alienation issues.
  • LRFRP’s in cooperation with the inter-ministerial working group finalized three pieces of legislation (i) Draft Regulation on Establishing Public (Involuntary) Easements; (ii) Draft Rules on Transacting with Land Use Rights in the Land Use Rights Market; (iii) Draft Regulation on Use Rights to Lands Located within Coastal Lines and Public Territories and submitted them to the GoT for consideration and approval.
  • LRFRP participated in the extended working session of the GoT and Donor Development Partners on Agrarian Reform on December 11, 2014 to discuss implementation of the Agrarian Reform in Tajikistan. Following the discussion, Deputy Prime Minister Murodali Alimardon confirmed that the issues related to the right of alienation is under GoT consideration.
  • LRFRP hosted and facilitated a working group meeting that included representatives from State Land Committee, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Agriculture, Parliament of Tajikistan, State Unitary Enterprise “State registration of immovable property and rights on it”, the Presidential Office on December 12, 2014, to develop the work plan for 2015.

Task 2. Build Capacity of Stakeholders to Capitalize on Land Reform

  • LRFRP’s grantee public organization Sabzbahor organized a focus group discussion on women’s land use rights on October 1, 2014, in the Vakhsh district for 14 leaders/heads of female dehkan farms, women activists, and female farmers who wish to create their own dehkan farms. The U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan, Susan Elliot, also participated in the event.
  • On October 20-26, 2014, LRFRP organized an internal, in-country study tour to the Sughd region for 24 female heads and shareholders of dehkan farms from the Khatlon region to exchange knowledge and experience of the successful land reform and farm restructuring process in the north of Tajikistan. During a six day trip the participants visited Khujand, Jabbor Rasulov rayon, Bobojon Gafurov rayon, Asht rayon, Kanibadam, and Spetamen.
  • Legal Aid Centers (LACs) participated in a structured training on roles and responsibilities of Water User Associations organized by the USAID Family Farming project on October 23, 2014.
  • LRFRP conducted a quarterly meeting with tashabuskors in Qurghonteppa on December 17-18, 2014.
  • LACs established by Arbitrazh, Navzamin, Ilhom, and Zanoni Dehot concluded 111 trainings, and 431 focus groups meetings in addition to individual advisory services in support of increased land use rights awareness and protection. The services were provided by the LACs with a network of tashabuskors in 9 districts. In first quarter of second project year by 991 individuals received consultations, two court representations were provided and 18 conflicts were resolved by LACs lawyers.

Task 3. Land Rights and Farm Restructuring Public Information and Awareness

  • On October 21 and 28, 2014, LRFRP produced two fifteen-minute radio programs (7th and 8th) on the farm restructuring process in Jilikul, Khuroson, and Qabodiyon rayons and women’s rights to land for local government authorities in Khuroson and A.Jomi rayons.
  • Also in October, LRFRP produced two 10-minute TV programs (7th and 8th) focused on women’s rights in dehkan farms as well as recent project activities in A.Jomi, Khuroson, and Yovon rayons.
  • In October, the project produced 6th newsletter, 3000 copies of which were distributed to farmers, local authorities, tax bodies, and land committees through the LAC and Tashabuskor network. Content included information on land taxation, results of the survey on women’s rights to land in the Khatlon region, cotton purchasing prices and cotton-related challenges that arose in Khatlon.

Task 4. Support the provision of legal advice and other assistance to promote farm restructuring and the development of a market in land-use rights

  • On December 16, 2014, LRFRP’s LAC Sustainability Expert Tiernan Mennen, conducted a sustainability training for 10 LACs (Yovon, Khuroson, Shahritus, N. Khisrav, Bokhtar, A. Jomi, Sarband, J. Rumi and Qumsangir) to discuss comments and offers regarding sustainability business plans presented by each LAC.

Challenges:

This quarter, the project faced passive NGO participation and weak applications to its grants and subcontracts competitions. The project is seeking additional opportunities to raise awareness among NGOs of solicitations and enable NGOs that are interested to better understand the competition process and meet requirements.

 

LMDA Quarterly Report: April – June 2017

June 7, 2018
Progress Reports

The Feed the Future Tajikistan Land Market Development Activity (LMDA) promotes market based principles for land tenure and aims to establish a functional agricultural land market that allows for the transferability of land use rights (such as buying, selling, or leasing land use rights), to ensure a simple and transparent land registration process, while promoting gender equality in rights and processes. The project focuses on land policy and legal development, private sector development, simplification of land registration procedures, and expansion of knowledge surrounding land use rights to rural governmental administrations and citizens, especially female landholders.

Highlights during this reporting period include the approval for establishing the IMWG on June 6, 2017, by the Head of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan (EOP), Ms. Ozoda Rahmon. The IMWG works with the project to develop draft regulations related to land policy development; and the Government of Tajikistan’s (GOTJ) approval of the draft amendment to the Law on State Registration, which was developed with project support and includes simplifications to the registration procedure for immovable property, on June 23, 2017, after which it was sent to the Parliament for final approval.

The project’s third quarter focused on engaging and collaborating with the Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Land Policy (IMWG) on promotion and facilitation passage of the legal and regulatory framework governing market transactions, LMDA conducted an analysis on current appraisal activities in Tajikistan; promoted the establishment of a Council on Appraising and an Association of Independent Appraisers; simplified land registration procedures through the establishment of single-window principles in SUERIP registration offices in A. Jomi, N. Khisrav, Shahritus, and Khuroson districts, and trained the staff in these offices on simplified procedures for registering immovable property; analyzed the roles and responsibilities of SUERIP and the SLC; and conducted activities to increase beneficiary knowledge of the land market and protection of land use rights.

Under LMDA’s objective to increase the public knowledge and protection of land use rights, the project began work with grantee PO “Network of Tashabbuskors” to provide informational services on land reform to rural populations; grantee PO “Neksigol Mushovir” to prepare and publish the monthly Agroinform TJ newspaper on land reform; and subcontractor LLC “Simoi Mustaqili Tojikiston” to prepare and broadcast television and radio programs on land reform. LMDA also updated and printed informational brochures to distribute to beneficiaries via project partners and conducted a landscape assessment of innovative public outreach approaches – including social media, the Internet, and mobile technologies – that will inform future provision of information on land issues to rural populations. With project support, seven grantee POs also began conducting trainings on the Law on “Dehkan farms” and rights and responsibilities of members of dehkan farms for farmers and local governmental officials in the 12 target districts to increase the knowledge of rural farmers on land-related issues.

LMDA Quarterly Report: November 2016 – March 2017

June 7, 2018
Progress Reports

The Feed the Future Tajikistan Land Market Development Activity began on November 1, 2016, and is a three-year, nine-month project with an estimated completion date of August 1, 2020. The purpose of the Feed the Future Tajikistan Land Market Development Activity is to promote market based principles for land tenure and to establish a functional agricultural land market that allows for the transferability of land use rights (such as buying, selling, or leasing land use rights), and that ensures a simple and transparent land registration process, while promoting gender equality in rights and processes. The project focuses on land policy and legal development, private sector development, simplification of land registration procedures, and expansion of knowledge surrounding land use rights to rural governmental administrations and citizens, especially female landholders.

The project’s first two quarters focused on administrative and technical start-up, including recruiting staff, identifying and securing office space, developing the activity’s initial work plan, writing the AMEP, creating the grants manual, and planning initial technical activities. During the reporting period, the project quickly mobilized technical staff, including the chief of party and component leaders. By the end of March 2017, 27 staff members were on-boarded, including 24 local specialists and three Third Country Nationals (TCNs). Currently, three positions are open or under recruitment, including a Gender Specialist, Training Coordinator, and Financial Product Specialist. In December 2016, staff developed critical documents for project implementation, including the Year 1 Work Plan and Activity Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, approved on December 23, 2016; and the Grants Manual, approved on January 27, 2017. In January 2017, the project team finalized the selection of the main office in Dushanbe and the regional office in Qurghonteppa, and they equipped both offices with furniture and office equipment.

The project rapidly initiated technical activities, facilitated by project staff’s familiarity with the work of the USAID Land Reform and Farm Restructuring Project (LRFRP) and their current network of contacts with project stakeholders. This allowed staff to conduct critical meetings with project partners beginning in month two, including key stakeholders from the government, NGOs, parliamentary deputies, and business community representatives. As a result, the project signed Cooperation Agreements with 12 State Subsidiary Enterprises “Registration of Immovable Property” (SSERIP) in the Khatlon region, which define responsibilities for SSERIP and the project in establishing 10 registration offices based on the “single window” principle, including trainings on registration simplification procedures for SSERIP staff. In the reporting period, the project also conducted four roundtables and workshops with tashabbuskors and legal aid providers to analyze the current situation on provision of legal and informational services on land issues. Based on these analyses, LMDA developed the new Strategy for Legal Aid and Informational Support to Farmers, which stipulates that the tashabbuskors network will provide informational consultation to farmers; legal aid will be provided by active organizations called “legal consultation”; and training will be conducted by NGOs. All of these activities will be implemented through grant support.

By end of March 2017, LMDA had issued three grants to support SSERIP offices implementing singlewindow principles for land registration in Jomi, N. Khisrav and Shahritus districts. The project coordinated three trips by international short-term technical experts in land appraisal and registration. Results of the trips are described comprehensively in the body of this report.

On February 7, 2017, the project conducted the official launch ceremony for the Feed the Future Tajikistan Land Marked Development Activity. A total of 72 representatives from the GOTJ and US Embassy participated, including Ms. Elisabeth Millard, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic Tajikistan; Mr. Rajabboy Akhmadzoda, the Chairman of the State Land Committee; Mr. Rahmon Umariyon, the Director of the SUERIP; Mr. Akram Kakhorov, Deputy Director of the SUERIP; Mr. Rustam Latifzoda, Parliament Deputy; NGO representatives; farmers, and the media.

PROSPER Annual Report: Fiscal Year 2014

May 9, 2018
Progress Reports

To build on previous United States Government investments in the forestry and agricultural sectors, particularly the Land Rights and Community Forestry Program (2007–2011) and the Liberia Forestry Support Program (2011–2012), USAID contracted Tetra Tech ARD in May 2012 to implement a new, five-year program (2012–2017) entitled People, Rules, and Organizations Supporting the Protection of Ecosystem Resources (PROSPER). The overall goal of the program is to introduce, operationalize, and refine appropriate models for community management of forest resources for local self-governance and enterprise development in targeted areas of the country. The three primary objectives of the program are:

  1. Expand educational and institutional capacity to improve environmental awareness, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and environmental compliance;
  2. Improve community-based forest management leading to more sustainable practices and reduced threats to biodiversity in target areas; and
  3. Enhance community-based livelihoods derived from sustainable forest-based and agriculture-based enterprises in target areas.

September 30, 2014, marked the conclusion of the second full year of PROSPER program implementation. The entire year brought the program many unique challenges that had not been anticipated in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Annual Work Plan. In late December 2013, two of PROSPER’s Liberian staff, the Tappita Field Office Administrator and the Monrovia Administrative Officer, unexpectedly left the program. This was followed by the departure of both Chief of Party (COP) Steve Reid and Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) Vaneska Litz in January and February, respectively. In order to assist with the transition in management, Tetra Tech ARD’s Senior Technical Advisor/Manager, Jesse Buff, arrived in early January with the new DCOP, Paul Meadows. In April 2014, Paul Cowles arrived in country as the new COP for the program. Despite less-than-favorable management re-shuffling, the program was able to continue to deliver on the USAID contractual objectives and to fully implement all three contract components.

FY 2014 HIGHLIGHTS

Component 1: Education, Outreach, and Awareness

  1. Lessons learned from the first outreach campaign were documented and submitted to USAID in fulfillment of Deliverable 5.
  2. Efforts to develop and finalize the 72 environmental education lesson plans continued and were field-tested (Deliverable 3). The deliverable was submitted to USAID for approval after initial questions by the Contracting Officer’s Representative were addressed.
  3. In November 2013, Tetra Tech’s Communication Specialist facilitated two behavior change communication (BCC) capacity-building activities for 15 members of the Community Forestry Working Group (CFWG)/Forest Development Authority (FDA) on behalf of PROSPER:
    1. A BCC workshop for the design of the Second Annual Outreach Campaign on Community Forestry; and
    2. A film editing workshop.
  4. A three-day Community Forestry Curriculum and Teacher Training Review Workshop was held at the Forestry Technical Institute (FTI) in November 2013. The workshop provided faculty with a review of participatory teaching methodologies, and attendees were oriented in the use of the FTI website and database, developed with PROSPER support (Deliverable 8, submitted to USAID). The project printed and distributed the Participatory Teaching Techniques Guide at the end of March 2014.
  5. Activities commenced in Western Liberia with a pilot program that extended throughout a number of other non-PROSPER counties. The pilot assists communities that had already submitted applications to gain Authorized Community Forest status and help them understand the Community Rights Law and application process.
  6. The Second Annual Outreach Campaign was launched in Monrovia in April.
  7. Ken Bauer, a US-based consultant, provided guidance and support to help with the improvement and re-launch of the FTI Community Forestry teaching website with all new materials online.
  8. In April, the FDA Board of Directors approved the removal of the moratorium on community forest (CF) creation.

Component 2: Forest Management and Biodiversity

  1. In Northern Nimba, negotiations continued throughout the year between ArcelorMittal (AML) and the Gba Community Forestry Management Body (CFMB). An agreement signed in September 2014 gave the CFMB $150,000. The funds will allow the group to manage and profit from the harvesting of timber from the remaining area of land that AML intends to clear for the Tailings Management Facility.
  2. Community Assembly elections and CFMB appointments proceeded in Northern Nimba for the Gba and Zor CFs as part of a restructuring process of the governing bodies.
  3. Community Forest Organizing Committees and Community Awareness Teams were organized and mobilized in all of the PROSPER proposed CF sites.
  4. At the national level, PROSPER developed three policy briefs and presented these to stakeholders at a one-day workshop (Deliverable 29).
  5. With the lifting of the CF moratorium, the Component 2 team continued to collaborate closely with the FDA and CFWG regarding the process for obtaining Community Forest Management Agreements. In April, the FDA created a committee facilitated by the nongovernmental organization (NGO) coalition and tasked it with harmonizing the Community Rights Law (CRL) and the CRL Regulations. PROSPER is working closely with the Voluntary Partnership Agreement Support Unit in supporting the process.
  6. In Southern Nimba, the 30-year land dispute between the Gblor and Kparblee communities was finally resolved with PROSPER facilitation. Tetra Tech home office Geographic Information System Specialist, Nick Thomas, assisted the Component 2 lead with a four-day meeting between the two communities and used global positioning software coordinates to explain the demarcation process.

Component 3: Livelihood and Enterprise Development

  1. In November 2013, PROSPER concluded its contract with Action for Greater Harvest (AGHRA), a local subcontractor working on Component 3 activities. The strategy for the livelihood and enterprise development component was re-worked, and in January 2014, PROSPER subcontractor ACDI/VOCA hired eight community mobilizers and two Monrovia-based staff to implement Component 3 activities.
  2. In February, the program signed a subcontract with WIENCO Liberia, Ltd. to commence the Cocoa Rehabilitation Program in Zor and Big Gio communities in Nimba. However, the submission and approval of the Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Use Action Plan (PERSUAP) took longer than expected, making it impossible for WIENCO to provide cocoa growers with necessary fertilizers and pesticides in a timely manner. Additionally, the Ebola crisis delayed activities when WIENCO pulled its staff from Liberia. It is expected that the program will resolve the issues with the contract or will find another way to implement this important activity in FY15.

During the 2014 fiscal year, the PROSPER team adjusted to many challenges. In addition to the change of key personnel, several other factors presented difficulties in delivering upon the scheduled work of the 2014 Annual Work Plan (AWP). The CF moratorium remained in place through March 2014, which precluded the FDA from assisting PROSPER with the development of proposed CFs in PROSPER’s three sites. The FDA underwent significant changes in its senior management that directly impacted PROSPER activities. Technical Manager for Community Forestry Lawrence Green died and was replaced by Gertrude Nyaley. The FDA also brought on a new Deputy Managing Director for Operations, Darlington Tuagben. To compound difficulties, the first case of Ebola was discovered in Liberia in April. The ensuing state of emergency issued by the Government of Liberia, the departure of many NGOs and other businesses with whom PROSPER works, and fear among the general population made it much more difficult to conduct many of the activities scheduled for the later part of FY 2014, particularly in August and September. As a result, a number of deliverables scheduled in the 2014 AWP were delayed. However, a number of deliverables were completed and approved by USAID.

PROSPER Quarterly Report: April – June 2015

May 9, 2018
Progress Reports

To build on previous investments in the forestry and agricultural sectors, particularly the Land Rights and Community Forestry Program (2007-2011) and the Liberia Forestry Support Program (2011-2012), USAID contracted Tetra Tech ARD in May 2012 to implement a new, five-year program (2012-2017) entitled People, Rules and Organizations Supporting the Protection of Ecosystem Resources (PROSPER). The overall goal of the program is to introduce, operationalize, and refine appropriate models for community management of forest resources for local self-governance and enterprise development in targeted areas of the country. The three primary objectives of the program are:

  1. Expand educational and institutional capacity to improve environmental awareness, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and environmental compliance;
  2. Improve community-based forest management leading to more sustainable practices and reduced threats to biodiversity in target areas;
  3. Enhance community-based livelihoods derived from sustainable forest-based and agriculture-based enterprises in target areas.

This quarterly report presents the activities undertaken and results obtained during the third quarter fiscal year 2015 (FY15Q3) which covers April 1 – June 30, 2015.

During the April – June period, the effects of Ebola were unremarkable as far as carrying out PROSPER activities in the field. In May 2015, Liberia was declared Ebola free. Several STTAs were able to travel to Liberia in order to assist with the completion of PROSPER deliverables. Considerable progress was made during the quarter through the collaborative work with FDA, PROSPER and the CFWG to begin the process for a community to gain Community Forest status with the implementation of tools developed to complete the nine-steps of the process to becoming a Community Forest.

Summary and Highlights

Component 1 activities for the quarter included: finalizing prototypes of the EE booklets and posters in easy-to-use electronic formats for submission to MoE; designing and conducting Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors (KABs) baseline on threats to Biodiversity; launching of the third annual outreach campaign with the FDA; purchasing mobile public address system unit with portable electricity generator for each of the three PROSPER areas in order to conduct outreach activities; training of the Regional Foresters from the FDA in the CRL and related CF themes; updating the Community Forestry Curriculum at FYI in fulfilment of Deliverable #8a; Supporting the implementation of the Community Forestry Curriculum and use of Digital Learning Platform at FTI.

Component 2 activities for the quarter included: supporting the communities to effectively monitor activities in their CFs; supporting the updating of the legal documents of the Blei and Zor CFMBs; supporting the Gba CFMB in the implementation of their MoU with AML; providing specific support to Community Assembly Management Activities; participating in and presenting to the Northern Nimba Biodiversity Stakeholders’ Forum; conducting a capacity assessment for business development among local institutions, including the CFMBs; consulting with CI on the potential for piloting Conservation Agreements in the Gba and Zor Communities; supporting communities to facilitate the posting of Notice and mobilizing for the Socio-economic and Reconnaissance Survey; posting Notice for demarcation in all CF pilot communities; signing of the Boundary Dispute Resolution between Doe (Gblor) and Kpablee Districts; training for FDA personnel in conducting SER Surveys for Community Forestry; supporting the FDA to update required documentation against the Checklist to acquire CFMAs; supporting STTAs in the development of Policy Briefs; supporting STTA in the Harmonization of the CRL and its regulations; collaborating with stakeholders on REDD initiatives.

Component 3 activities during the quarter included: training of CFMBs in Best Practices of NTFP harvesting; developing local NTFP Market Analysis/Trade Networks in District 4 and Barconnie; support to develop and foster wood-based enterprises in the three PROSPER sites; maintenance and operations training to the Cassava Processing Groups (CPGs) and Community Palm Oil Processors (CPOPs) in Northern Nimba; supporting Oil Palm-Based Enterprises with the continued development of Oil Palm Nurseries and processing support; improving Market Information through the development of SMS pricing availability for local products; creating bushmeat alternatives through beekeeping pilot program.

Deliverables Summary:

Significant progress was made with the submission and approval of contract deliverables. Much of this progress can be attributed to the return of STTAs to the program following the end Ebola crisis.