On Decentralized Structure Of MAP Liberia
Monrovia, Liberia – The Multi-Actors Platform on Land Governance and Responsible Agricultural Investment in Liberia (MAP Liberia Land Platform) concluded a one-day regional forum of the Western region comprising Gbarpolu, Bomi, and Grand Cape Mount Counties in an effort to strengthen the decentralized structure of the MAP initiative.
The forum was meant to perform a comprehensive review of the regional MAP Liberia Land Platform in terms of the current structure, processes, and redesign the operational models for a more inclusive platform, according to the MAP Liberia announcement of August 30, 2024.
Together with identifying the main capacity gaps and creating a plan for their seamless implementation, it also drew up a role map to improve the operational capability of the regional actors and increased their awareness and comprehension of one another.
The Community Land Development Management Committee (CLDMC), the Liberia Land Authority, the commercial sector, the media, and civil society organizations were among the prominent participants and players in the land sector present at the session.
Mr. John Kelvin, National initiative Coordinator, gave a brief summary of the MAP initiative in Liberia and said the government, business sector, and CSOs involved in land reform in Liberia created the MAP Liberia Land Platform. He mentioned that land and prudent agricultural investment are the focal points of the MAP program.
“In 2018, we present the MAP platform. It is based on the Guidelines for the Voluntary Management of Land Fisheries Tenure in the Context of National Food Security, which have proven successful.”
In order to ensure that land governance and responsible agriculture are achieved, he further stated that the MAP platform brings together a wide range of actors from across governments, CSOs, communities, academia and research institutions, the private sector, media, and national and international development.
Mr. Francise Cooper, Registrar for Deed & Title in Grand Cape Mount County, spoke on behalf of the Liberia Land Authority and praised the MAP initiative for its provision of capacity-building support to communities regarding land governance and responsible agricultural investment.
Madam Lydia Ballah, the CSO Coordinator in Gbarpolu County, also urged the LLA to maintain their support for the MAP initiative, which will grant communities the right to their land. She also stated that the county’s chief security officer (CSO) is collaborating with the company to secure the mineral development agreement.
The MAP initiative is decentralized in two regions. The initial region is situated in the Western region of Liberia and encompasses the counties of Gbarpolu, Bomi, and Grand Cape Mount. The second region is comprised of the counties of Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, and Grand Kru. The rationale for the establishment of these regions is that the Land Rights Act and the Local Government Act (LGA) both establish a legal framework for decentralization, which mandates the decentralized administration of services, including land.
The decentralization process provides the majority of the beneficiaries of the MAP Platform (customary land residents) with the opportunity to actively participate in the policy and practice of land reform and transformation in Liberia. This is of paramount importance.
Nevertheless, the Regional Forum has pledged to implement collective measures that are designed to enhance sustainability and ownership by ensuring a more comprehensive and decentralized MAP process and increasing private sector involvement.
The Liberia Land Authority (LLA) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) spearheaded by the Rights and Rice Foundation (RRF) initiated the MAP Liberia Land Platform in February 2018, a nationally owned process.
The platform that unites a diverse array of actors and stakeholders, such as government agencies responsible for land, environment, and agriculture, private sector institutions, civil society organizations, community-based organizations, academia, and research institutions, as well as international development partners.
Reported by: Prince Saah
Contact: +231778239813
Email: saahprince119@gmail.com
