Pro-poor land administration: Principles for recording the land rights of the underrepresented

The global land community has accepted that individual land titling on its own cannot deliver security of tenure in a complete or timely fashion, and that a continuum of land rights approach needs to be used. This approach needs to be accompanied by new and innovative pro-poor forms of land recordation to cater for these new forms of tenure. The proposed design draws on conventional land administration systems and the experiences of professionals, civil society and researchers regarding the land tenure systems of the poor and how they work in customary, informal, and post crisis areas. It is based on eight general design requirements, including delivery of preventive justice and co-management arrangements. The design is made up of ten interlinked elements, with an emphasis on a continuum of land recording. The design is only a first step toward a coherent robust framework. Some first experiences are reported, however, further suggested work includes: dissemination and awareness raising; further piloting; incorporation of institutional and political economy analysis; tailoring methods of implementation; and investigating approaches for funding, training, and material resources. Ultimately the pro-poor land recordation system should bring tenure security to the poor at faster rates and lower costs, and should thus enable a foothold on the lower rungs of the property ladder.

► Ten (10) principles can be identified for recording the land interests of the poor. ► The continuum of land rights and land management paradigm inspire the design. ► An expert group panel and field study results validated the principles. ► Dissemination, further prototyping, and refinement are required.