Advanced International Training Programme, Rural and Peri-Urban Land Administration in the SADC Region

The overall objective of the programme was to contribute to development and change processes within rural and peri-urban land administration and build capacities in land administration and improved land governance. The programme aimed at enhancing the managerial and technical skills of land administration professionals involved inrural-and peri-urban land administration issues in Africa and covered subjects of strategic importance to economic and social development. The programme was designed to contribute to institutional strengthening and capacity development in the cooperating countries supporting improved land governance. The beneficaries were decision makers, experienced executives in middle and top management positions and otherwise influential persons that work with rural and peri-urban land related issues in the Southern African Development Community countries.

The capacity building components aimed at introducing pro-poor land administration policies and practices in the SADC countries and which are characterised by gender equity, and are supported by the population at large. Capacity was built in the understanding of the current international developments in land governance, land tenure, land rights, land administration and ongoing research in this field within the SADC region. A clear understanding of the link between secure land tenure and human rights, land and poverty reduction, transparency in land administration and good governance was sought. The importance of continuous monitoring and evaluation of current land policy and legislation was promoted and an exposure to methods for policy formulation processes ensured. The capacity building programme also included facilitation of change processes that enhanced pro-poor and non-discriminatory land policies, environmental protection, sustainable economic development and more effective land administration institutions. Participants in the programme benefitted from the creation of a network for exchange of experience and knowledge within the field of land administration. In total 6 training programmes were carried out under this assignment targeting almost 150 rural and land administration professionals from rural and peri-urban land agencies, NGOs, private companies.