Early this year, the Arab region saw a series of webinars and meetings about the status of land-related information and data.
From February 22-24th 2021, the Second Arab Land Conference took place both virtually and in Cairo, Egypt. We took some time to speak with conference attendee Azubike Nwachukwu to hear more about his impressions of attending the Conference.
Land Portal: What do you feel are the aims of the Conference and what do you hope to achieve?
It is widely understood that effective use of land, the sustainable production of food and development are linked. Yet, creating effective policy, which takes into account broader notions such as economic prosperity and social justice, especially in the context of competing claims to land use and title, still presents significant challenges. The difficulties are compounded by the fragmented nature of information resources about land.
Prindex Researcher Joseph Feyertag sets out some key findings from his latest paper 'How perceived tenure security differs between men and women in the MENA region'
It is for good reason that gender is a major theme at this week’s Arab Land Conference. Around just 5% of women own land or property in the region – one of the lowest rates in the world.
From revolution and conflict to shifting demographics and women’s empowerment – big change is underway in the Arab world, much of it linked to questions of land. Perceptions data is a quick and effective way to understand the impact this change is having and map a smart way forward that meets the needs of people today.
ترتبط إدارة الأراضي ارتباطًا وثيقًا بالسلام ، فهي مرتبطة بسبل العيش والهوية والسلطة. الإدارة الفعالة للأراضي ، بما في ذلك الجوانب الرئيسية للوساطة وحل النزاعات المتعلقة بالأراضي وحماية حقوق الإسكان والأراضي والممتلكات للجميع ، بدون استثناء تعد حجر الزاوية لتحقيق السلام.
تُعرَّف تنمية القدرات بأنها "العملية التي يحصل من خلالها الأفراد والمنظمات والمجتمعات على القدرات و العمل على تقويتها والحفاظ عليها لوضع أهداف التنمية الخاصة بهم وتحقيقها بمرور الوقت" منظمة التعاون الاقتصادي والتنمية (2006).
تعد تنمية القدرات أمرًا مهمًا للغاية في المنطقة العربية لنضمن أن إدارة الأراضي و مواردها تتماشى مع تحديات العصر الحالي،
تعاني المنطقة العربية من العديد من التحديات في قطاع حوكمة الأراضي وإدارتها . والأهم من ذلك ، أن انعدام أمن الحيازة في
المنطقة العربية هو الأعلى بين المناطق الأخرى في العالم ، كذلك في مؤشر البنك الدولي لممارسة الأعمال التجارية ، تحتل المنطقة
المرتبة الأدنى بين المناطق الاخرى ، باستثناء بعض دول مجلس التعاون الخليجي. يؤثر انعدام أمن الحيازة سلبيًا على العديد من
جوانب الاقتصاد بما في ذلك العمران ، والتنمية الزراعية ، والقطاع الخاص ، وتمكين المرأة ، على سبيل المثال لا الحصر. وفوق
Land governance is strongly related to peace , it is linked to livelihood, identity and power. Good land governance, including the key aspects of mediating and resolving land-related disputes and the protection of the housing, land and property rights of all, leaving no-one behind, and are cornerstones for peace. In the Arab region, competition and conflict over land and land-based resources has been dramatically intensifying under the growing pressures of climate change, population growth and movements, increased food insecurity, and changing land use.
Capacity development is defined as ‘‘The process through which individuals, organizations and societies obtain, strengthen and maintain the capabilities to set and achieve their own development objectives over time” OECD (2006). Capacity development is very important in the Arab region to ensure that the management of land and land-based resources matches the challenges of current times. It is also an important aspect for establishing a well-functioning land sector. Despite this, capacity development alone cannot enhance land governance .
The Arab region suffers from many challenges in the land governance and land management sector. Most importantly, tenure insecurity in the Arab region is the highest in the world. In the Worldbank’s Registering Property- Doing Business indicator, the region ranks lower than any other region, with the exception of some Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Tenure insecurity negatively affects many aspects of the economy including urbanization, agricultural development, the private sector and women's empowerment, just to name of a few.