As seen on the GLTN

The Global Land Indicator Initiative (GLII) was established in 2012 with the aim to support efforts to harmonize monitoring efforts around land tenure and governance. The GLII seeks to derive a list of globally comparable harmonized land indicators” using existing monitoring mechanisms and data collection methods as a foundation. The Initiative is supporting global and regional frameworks such as the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance on Tenure of Land” Fisheries and Forests (VGGTs)” agreed by 193 Member States and supported by civil society on the one hand” and the Framework and Guidelines (F&G) on land policy in Africa” a joint initiative of the African Union Commission” the African Development Bank and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa on the other. The Initative intends to foster partnership” inclusiveness” consultation” evidence-based indicators” people–centered approach and sustainability.

Context

Secure access to land for a range of land users has increasingly come to be seen as a critical aspect in the attainment of various development goals” from poverty reduction and food security” through women's empowerment and social equity” to the sustainable management of natural resources. For farmers” urban dwellers and all kinds of commercial ventures – small and large – secure tenure over land assets is part of an enabling environment for investment that raises productivity” creates income and helps to overcome poverty and food insecurity. For women” having secure tenure rights over land and associated natural resources” as well as housing and business assets” can be critical to attaining effective equal rights and power within the household” community and society. The respect and protection of legitimate tenure rights can be important to the realization of a range of human rights” include rights to adequate housing and food” and the territorial rights of indigenous peoples.

Understandings of tenure rights have also advanced in recent years. It is widely agreed that legitimate tenure rights should be seen as going beyond narrow categories of ownership and formally registered rights to include a continuum of tenure rights. Particularly in many post-colonial contexts” a high proportion of legitimate land users rely on customary or informal forms of tenure that do not enjoy legal recognition. This has always been an issue of concern” but is becoming more pressing in the context of intense investor interest in land in developing countries. Recognition of a continuum of tenure implies recognizing such rights as legitimate and taking measures to enhance their protection” including through different forms of recording” as well as through legal reform.

However” a large gap exists between the recognized policy importance of land governance and our ability to measure progress on this issue. Very many indicators have been proposed by different stakeholders” piloted and used in different contexts. Nonetheless” globally comparable datasets on key land governance issues” such as measures of tenure security and the distribution of access to land” do not exist. Where data is collected” indicator definitions and methodologies vary greatly” while geographical and temporal coverage is usually limited.

This is an obstacle to the proper tracking of policy processes” particularly at city” national and global levels. At the same time the need for land policy monitoring mechanisms has increased. The VGGTs” agreed by 193 Member States and supported by civil society” and the Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy in Africa provide benchmarks and create an opportunity for governments and other actors to track and monitor progress. The possible inclusion of land-related targets in the Post-2015 Development Agenda/Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also creates a need for globally comparable datasets on key land issues. In particular” the UN High Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda has suggested the following targets: (1b) “Increase by xx% share of women and men” communities and businesses with secure rights to land” property” and other assets”; and (2c) “Ensure equal right of women to own and inherit property” sign a contract” register a business and open a bank account”.

Identifying feasible land indicators and monitoring mechanisms for the Post-2015 Agenda/SDGs is particularly urgent. A land tenure indicator planned as an identifier for slums within the MDG monitoring framework was never operationalized because of feasibility obstacles. This time round” the inclusion of land issues is possibly much more significant (i.e. at the target level)” but is likely to depend on outlining a feasible measurement approach well ahead of time. The critical remaining window of opportunity for influencing the process is really within 2014.

Work done so far

In September 2012″ UN-Habitat” the World Bank and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)” met in Naples” Italy” to discuss how to advance the harmonization of global land indicators through a multi-stakeholder consultative process. In April 2013″ MCC” UN-Habitat and the World Bank jointly convened an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) in Washington DC. This meeting was hosted by GLTN. It discussed a draft land indicator framework and ways in which a road map on land indicators could be developed” particularly in the context of the Post-2015 Development Agenda and the need for monitoring/tracking mechanisms for the VGGT and F&G. The EGM was attended by the AU-Land Policy Initiative (LPI)” the Earth Security Initiative” Habitat for Humanity” the Huairou Commission” the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD)” Landesa” the Omidyar Network and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)” among others. Participants agreed on key messages” a road map for action leading up to this EGM” and requested the conveners to implement the road map.

Implementing the recommendations of the April 2013 EGM” background research was conducted by GLTN to produce a database on land indicators and monitoring processes and a draft Issue Paper. E-consultations took place in October 2013 and produced additional inputs into this Initiative. The draft indicators framework produced for the April 2013 meeting is also available.

GLTN also facilitated an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on land indicators from 8-9 November 2013 in The Hague” The Netherlands” as a pre-event to the GLTN Partners' Meeting. The EGM brought together a diverse range of participants with a common interest in developing and collecting common land indicators” and in leveraging resources to deliver on indicator recommendations for the Post-2015 process. Participants included UN agencies” international finance institutions” bilateral donors” civil society networks” government technical specialists and independent experts. Some of the outcomes of the EGM include the proceedings” a Communiqué and the One Pager for advocacy purpose.

Other global efforts are underway to steer the Global Land Indicator Initiative forward” especially in the discussion around the Post 2015 Development Agenda.

Read the Land rights indicators for the Post-2015 Development Agenda/Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): One pager