In a significant move to strengthen the decentralized structure of the MAP initiative, the Multi-Actors Platform on Land Governance and Responsible Agricultural Investment in Liberia (MAP Liberia Land Platform) completed a one-day regional forum of the Western region comprising (Gbarpolu, Bomi and Grand Cape Mount Counties).
According to the MAP Liberia release dated August 30, 2024, the forum was intended to conduct a holistic overview of the regional MAP Liberia Land Platform in terms of the established structure, processes and redesign the operational models for a more inclusive platform.
It also identified the major capacity gaps and designed a strategy for the smooth implementation of those gaps in order to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the actors as well as drawing-up a role map that will strengthen the operational capacity of the regional actors.
The session brought together major actors and stakeholders in the land sector including Civil Society Organizations, Community-based organizations, the Community Land Development Management Committee (CLDMC), the Liberia Land Authority, private sector and the media.
In a brief overview of the MAP program in Liberia, Mr. John Kelvin, National Program Coordinator, explained that the MAP Liberia Land Platform was established by CSOs, the government of Liberia, the private sector working on land reform in Liberia.
He said the MAP initiative focuses on land and responsible agricultural investment. “We launch the MAP platform in 2018. It is built upon the success of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land Fisheries in the Context of National Food Security.”
He also added that the MAP platform brings together a wide range of actors from across governments, CSOs, communities, academia and research institutions, the private sector, media as well as national and international development working to ensure that land governance and responsible agriculture is achieved.
Speaking on behalf of the Liberia Land Authority, Mr. Francise Cooper, Registrar for Deed & Title in Grand Cape Mount County, lauded the MAP initiative for providing capacity building support to communities on land governance and responsible agricultural investment.
Also speaking, Madam Lydia Ballah, CSO Coordinator in Gbarpolu County called on the LLA to continue their support to the MAP initiative that communities will have rights to their land. She added that the CSO is working closely with the company to secure the mineral development agreement. The significant of decentralizing the MAP initiative
The MAP initiative is decentralized in two regions. The first region is established in the Western part of Liberia which covers (Gbarpolu, Bomi and Grand Cape Mount Counties) while the second region covers (Grand Gedeh, Sinoe and Grand Kru Counties). The idea to establish these regions is based on the fact that the legal framework for decentralization enshrined within the Land Rights Act and the Local Government Act (LGA), call for decentralized administration of services including land.
Most importantly, the majority of the beneficiaries of the MAP Platform (customary land residents) are rural residents and a decentralization process affords them the means to actively participate in determining the policy and practice of land reform and transformation in Liberia.
However, the Regional Forum has committed to taking collective actions aimed at improving private sector involvement and ensuring a more holistic and decentralized MAP process for enhancing ownership and sustainability.
