Land in Peace project in Colombia
Up to 60% of the rural population in Colombia does not have legal proof of ownership over their land. At the current pace it will take centuries to realise tender security for all. This project aims at speeding up the process by applying the Fit-for-Purpose methodology: the farmers themselves walk along the borders of their land with a GPS to demarcate their plot.
The role of the land register in the project
Three years ago, the armed conflicted ended between the Colombian government and the rebellion group FARC. The detriment on – mainly – the countryside of Colombia is immense. A good land administration is essential for building a civil state, because peasants without title are in vulnerable position, sensitive to become victim of land grabbing and not in the possibility to invest in their land or equipment, as only a land title gives access to bank credits.
Intended results
It is estimated that up to 60% of the rural population does not have legal proof of ownership over their land, which corresponds to roughly 10 million rural parcels. With our innovative, transparent and participatory Fit-for-Purpose methodology, rural land regularization can be speeded up considerably, fulfilling an important goal in the Colombian peace agreement: securing land rights and rural development.
Envisaged outcomes
- Demonstrate alternative (rapid and effective) methods for land administration in pilot areas
- Formulate a national rollout plan for rapid and effective land administration
- A relevant contribution to improve the effectiveness of the cooperation
- Development of capacity for the maintenance of the cadastre and registry at the municipal level
Results so far
We are doing pilots in various communities in three regions in the country. This has led to data collection and public inspections of several hundreds of parcels. The first 17 land titles were handed out by the Colombian Minister of Agriculture and the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in November 2018. Beside from the technical tests, we are working on diplomatic scale to make political impact that could lead to methodology change in the current land administration policy. High level politicians and various Ministries have shown their great interest for the Land In Peace project.
Duration of the project
2017-2020
More info and contact
For more information about the project visit the website Land in peace.
If you want to contact us, please fill in the contact form.