LAND-at-scale Rwanda: Towards a fair and robust land use management and governance system connecting people for sustainable livelihoods in Rwanda

The Rwanda Land Tenure Reform programme, launched in 2009, gained international attention by regularising land tenure at an unparalleled scale. Over 11 million land parcels were demarcated, and eight million land titles were issued to their rightful owners. Despite this, the land tenure system still faces challenges. The land administration and information system (LAIS) does not yet sufficiently address social aspects, such as incorporating informal transactions and safeguards for women, or reducing high costs of participating. Land disputes remain common, and pressure on the courts to resolve these conflicts need to be decreased. These challenges undermine the legitimacy and proper functioning of land governance. This situation is further hampered by the effects of climate change on the country.

The objective of this LAND-at-scale project is to improve and ensure sustainability of land registration and management systems and their implementing institutions for enhanced perceived and actual tenure security for the people of Rwanda. This will be done through the following project strategies:

1. Institutionalise a (financially) sustainable land administration information and management system.
2. Implement sustainable, climate-resilient land use planning at national level.
3. Implement a more just decision-making process by local mediators.
4. Strengthen academic capacity to assist in the further development of a fair and just land governance system.

Kadaster International is coordinator of the project and is responsible to implement strategies 1, 2 and 4. The International Development Law Organization (IDLO) is responsible for implementing strategy 3.

This project is being managed by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, on behalf of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.