Harnessing a multi-stakeholder platform for improved land governance in Malawi Ivy Luhanga – Principal Secretary, Paul Jere – Land Governance Consultant, Kwame Ngwira – Controller of Lands & Davie Chunga - Chief Economist March 2014 Slide 1 Malawi Government Ministry of Lands and Housing

Land Policy and Legal Framework in Malawi land sector guided by National Land Policy of 2002 – key objective to ensure tenure security and equitable access to land But using old legal instruments (60s) –now reviewed and awaiting enactment by Parliament – to address national land policy objectives Slide 2 Malawi Government Ministry of Lands and Housing

land reforms initiatives implemented facilitation of acquisition of land by land-less and land-poor households; Capacity strengthening through introduction of land administration and management courses at tertiary level; Modernization & computerizing land registration system Slide 3 Malawi Government Ministry of Lands and Housing

Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS II) MGDS Theme 1 on Sustainable Economic Development – contains specific subtheme on land: To ensure equitable access to land & tenure security; Promote efficient management and decentralized administration system of land; and Promote ecologically balanced use of land and land- based resources. Slide 4 Malawi Government Ministry of Lands and Housing

The LGAF Process and outcomes LGAF study completed in July 2012 unique platform for diverse stakeholders - government, civil society, universities, and private sector to discuss status of land governance and identify needed reforms LGAF helped put in place structures and processes to systematically track progress in land governance Slide 5 Malawi Government Ministry of Lands and Housing

The LGAF Process and outcomes LGAF helped to establish consensus on priority actions on land policy reform issues LGAF outcomes stimulating development partners support to land sector to improve land governance LGAF tool for monitoring national land policy and MGDS II implementation and outcomes on land issues Slide 6 Malawi Government Ministry of Lands and Housing

The land governance task force in Malawi established as a multi-stakeholder platform for sustained follow-up and collective action on land governance to enhance synergies and collaboration among stakeholders on agreed policy and actions Membership voluntary – interested organizations on land issues – started with 15 now over 20 possibility of transforming into a formal Sector Working Group for land sector within MGDS structures Slide 7 Malawi Government Ministry of Lands and Housing

Roles of the National Task Force (1) Provide technical guidance to government on land policy and governance priority issues; Prepare discussion papers and policy briefs for sharing with government and development partners, parliament and general public; Provide a forum for information sharing and networking on land issues; Slide 8 Malawi Government Ministry of Lands and Housing

Roles of the National Task Force (2) Organize and facilitate regular policy dialogue & public awareness sessions on land policy and governance issues; planning and implementation of land governance assessment studies on a regular basis Support government in advocacy & resource mobilization for implementation of priority land policy reforms; towards a sector wide programme Slide 9 Malawi Government Ministry of Lands and Housing

Activities Planned by the task force 2012/13 Conduct Gender Analysis of Land related Bills; Develop Technical Messages and Communication Materials on new land laws Translate land related laws into different languages – for wider dissemination; Facilitate development of guidelines for participatory land use planning Slide 10 Malawi Government Ministry of Lands and Housing

Achievements of the task force in 2012/13 Task Force established and fully functional with agreed terms of reference and action plan; more than six meetings and new members joining Conducted sensitization meetings on new land Bills to key Parliamentary Committees - on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Legal Affairs, and Women Caucus; Slide 11 Malawi Government Ministry of Lands and Housing

Achievements of the task force in 2012/13 (1) Conducted gender analysis on new Land Bills to provide information to members of parliament; Principal Land Bill passed by parliament and awaits assent by Head of State; Continuing to lobby for passing of other land related bills by parliament – to support needed land reforms according to National Land Policy Slide 12 Malawi Government Ministry of Lands and Housing

Achievements of the task force in 2012/13 (2) Identified key indicators for monitoring land governance and engaged Ministry of Economic Planning and Development for integrating in national statistical surveys - Integrated Household Surveys (IHS) or Welfare Monitoring Surveys (WMS) Slide 13 Malawi Government Ministry of Lands and Housing

Major challenges faced by the task force Building consensus among members on key issues takes time Vested interests in membership groups – leading to uncoordinated response Lack of Funding for task force activities – relying on member contributions Political challenges and sensitivities on land Slide 14 Malawi Government Ministry of Lands and Housing

Future prospects and required support (1) Options for national recognition and growth Task Force to become a formal Sector Working Group (SWG) with technical working groups (TWGs) under MGDS framework - to facilitate implementation of land policy priorities establishment of district level task forces in line with the decentralization framework Slide 15 Malawi Government Ministry of Lands and Housing

Future prospects and required support (2) Funding options and sustainability Sustainability rooted in broad stakeholder participation & legal establishment as SWG development partners to provide technical and financial support as directed by priority issues Civil society groups (e.g. Landnet) to coordinate civil society participation and raise funding Slide 16 Malawi Government Ministry of Lands and Housing

Future prospects and required support (30 Monitoring land governance and update of LGAF initially to focus monitoring process on selected indicators to demonstrate outcomes of land reforms Comprehensive land governance assessment after 5 years -full picture of changes in land governance. some land indicators to be built in periodic national surveys to ensure data and information on land Slide 17 Malawi Government Ministry of Lands and Housing

Conclusion Together we can improve land governance and steer needed land reforms in Malawi Support (technical and financial) is needed if we are to improve land governance and sustain multi- stakeholder platforms Thank you!!!!!! Slide 18 Malawi Government Ministry of Lands and Housing