1. Helping to meet the software needs for low-cost land administration
Natural Resources Management and Environment Department
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Helping to meet the software needs
for low-cost land administration
Mika Törhönen, Land Tenure Officer, Climate Energy and Tenure Division
26 April 2010, The World Bank, USA

2. Why are we interested?
Land administration is a key for security of tenure, food security and poverty reduction
But systems commonly fail services not affordable incentives skewed staff capacity low systems serve capable to pay and not poor, marginal and vulnerable

3. IT Systems Improve Governance
Standardization lessens corruption and discrimination
Electronic access to records reduces corruption
Efficiency increases staff motivation, performance and affordability
IT - informed decision making
IT also creates problems

4. Experiences; IT and Land Administration
Common in rich countries, transitional countries progress and developing countries struggle
Commonly Lack of capacity to manage and maintain IT Poor business models - Lack of incremental approaches Weak use of partnerships

5. FAO Response Affordable systems for land tenure security
Low cost land registration
Work on FLOSS Cadastre Research and tests Expert meetings Conceptualization of software
Dissemination – Booklet

6. Land Tenure Journal
CALL for articles on innovative Information Technology in Land Systems!

7. FLOSS; Among the Ways Forward?
Adaptability - diversity Laws, languages, alphabets
Community - linkages
Affordability Lower HW requirements - License costs
Incremental - local

8. From Theory to Practice
FAO with the Government of Finland
Development of an initial cadastre software shell
Piloting in three developing countries: Ghana Nepal Samoa

9. Conclusions
IT systems essential for Land Administration systems today – everywhere
Initiation in developing and transitional countries needs support

10. Conclusions
FLOSS can be among the ways forward; perfect for the incremental beginning
Champions needed

11. Call for Collaboration
FAO calls for interested countries, private/public/ academic institutions, professionals ... to join the development of Land Administration solutions in an OSS community.
Work starts in late 2010

12. THANK YOU! Mika.Torhonen@fao.org
Natural Resources Management and Environment Department
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Nutrition and Consumer Protection Division
THANK YOU!