1. New ‘weapons’ of the weak: Information, networking and knowledge
New ‘weapons’ of the weak: Information, networking and knowledge. Tools for improving land rights of local people
Presentation by Khamla Phoutharath
Project Manager
Rights-LINK Lao (Land Information Networking and Knowledge)

2. Contents Overview of VFI Overview of land issues in Laos
General Laos and land management
Key issues related to land
Improving information and awareness on legal rights
Land use planning-land-titling
Communication and networking to influence policy
Through legal channels
Lessons for consideration/Challenges

3. VFI BACKGROUND Began working in Laos in January 2001
In partnership with the Global Association for
people and the Environment (GAPE)
In 2003 MOU with the Salavan Provincial Office of
Agriculture and Forestry
In 2005 MOU with Non-Formal Education of
Ministry of Education
In 2009 began receiving support for Rights-
LINK Lao project which focus on Land Rights and
Natural Resource Management.

4. The integrated “VILLAGE FOCUS” development concept
VFI Laos
Protection and Empowerment for Women and Children Program
Health, Education and Leadership (HEAL)
Land and Livelihoods
(L&L)
Training Centers

5. STAFF
In 2000 VFI Laos had only employees. Since then we have grown to 47 full time staff, a youth group with 8 members, Rights-LINK project with 15 members and more than 20 farmer trainers and a number of adult literacy and health volunteers engaged on short term contracts.

6. Target Areas

7. China (505 km in the north)
Vietnam (2,069 km in the east)
Myanmar (236 km in the north-west)
Cambodia (435 km in the south)
Thailand (1,835 km in the west)
Greater mekong sub region Laos: from land locked to land linked From Economically isolated to the ‘battery of asia’

8. Land and Forest Cover 23 million ha in total
9.8 million hectares of forest area including plantation forests
Around 5 million ha of agriculture land
70% mountainous country
High biodiversity spots and potential for “green-development” (tourism, REDD, etc)

9. Socio Economic Overview
Population: 5.6 million
Population density: 24 km2
Religion: 80% Buddhism
More than 41 ethnic groups, no ‘indigenous people’ as such. Everyone has same rights on paper
GDP: 500 USD (2006)
Poverty high in upland areas

10. Policy and legal aspects of land and natural resource management
Overlapping laws in relation to land and natural resource management, which creates confusion and competition between ministries.
Inflexible policies and laws on land management that do not take into account the local level realities and place local populations in a disadvantaged position.
The interest of policy and law makers in more precise and nuanced information to understand the costs and benefits of different options and make more informed decisions

11. Key issues and gaps related community rights to land/ land on tenure
Farmers and communities have no legal rights to land
Land use planning has yet to be done
Land titling still to be carried in rural areas
Uncertain how communal land will be dealt with
Increasing land use conflicts.
Lack of local staff and leader capacity.
Lack of coordination amongst all
stakeholders
Farmers and communities lack mechanisms
to seek recourse to problems

12. Three strategies for improving communities access and control over land
Improving legal rights of communities
Land use planning/ CBNRM
Information, Communication & networking
Legal support

13. Land use planning, titling and communal land titling
Working with government and NGOs to implement new land use planning process in target provinces
Trying to act as bridge between MAF and NLMA along with other NGOs
PLUP/LA to lead to individual and communal titling
This would be followed up with community based NRM (Forestry, etc) to ensure communities are empowered to protect and manage their resources
Testing out approaches to land management at the sub-district level to create local networks

14. Networking Land Issues Working Group (LIWG)
Working with and through a number of national networks:
Land Issues Working Group (LIWG)
Working with and through LIWG – consortium of NGOs committed to
improving land rights of local people.
LIWG acts as a platform for NGOs to work collectively with the
Government on different areas
Carried out studies and workshops related to land issues
Currently working with Gov. to implement new PLUP/La Regulations
MIC-MAC, Gender Development Working Group
and Mak Phet (Chili Group) which are working on
land related issues
Rights-LINK supporting establishment of
network for 5 southern provinces where land
issues are most pressing

15. Information and Knowledge
Rights LINK is establishing the LINK Centre which will be a space for :
accessing information (Digital and physical) on land and natural resource management
Seeking advice and consultation (Lao Bar to set up consultation area)
Dialogue on land related issues, particularly workshops, debates and activities
Center will open up before December – welcome all from region to visit!
Carrying out collaborative research to gain better understanding of land related issues with NAFRI, NUOL and other research agencies (and foreign researchers).

16. Communication and dissemination
Producing materials on land and legal rights
Supporting the production of best practices from other NGOs and agencies to be disseminated widely
Production of the Legal guidebook on Village rights and responsibilities to manage land and forest resources
Developing case study series on land conflicts and issues
Working with CIDSE to translate key documents from different countries to provide to Lao policy markers.
Developing “Law Calendar” with CIDSE, JVC and VFI
Communication
Policy group to be established to link more directly with policy makers in key ministries
Establishing partnership with Lao Radio and LNTV to have show on land rights and responsibilities
Will establish Lao Land Information discussion group

17. Legal Support beginning in Lao– many different organizations
Accessing recourse through legal channels is just
beginning in Lao– many different organizations
now partnering up with Faculty of Law and Lao
Bar Association to improve legal understanding at
the local level through ‘barefoot’ lawyers
VFI is currently focusing on:
Supporting law students to carry out paralegal courses at
the village level
Developing conflict management materials and training
Access to justice survey with Lao Bar association
Developing understanding about legal ways to support
communal land titling

18. Challenges
Developing policy makers awareness and understanding of local issues and concerns and how they can be solved
Empowering local people to protect their rights in terms of land issues and natural resource management.
Capacity of government to manage land in fast changing environment
Overlap of performance among the government partners at all levels
Transparent procedures are in place and staff have capacity to implement
Staff have ability to enforce and monitor (legally and empowered to do so)

19. Thank you !
Thank You