Land and Corruption II Project

Objectives: corruption practices in land administration and land deals are addressed, contributing to improved livelihoods of men and women in Africa.

Outcomes

1. Networks of women, men and youth in Africa are better equipped and mobilized to demand transparency and accountability in the land sector
2. Diverse and inclusive set of stakeholders from civil society to private sector advance anti-corruption initiatives to promote fair and transparent land governance
3. National and local decision makers adopt anti-corruption laws, policies and measures to prevent and redress corruption in land distribution, acquisition, dispute management and sanctions infractions

Background

The project builds on a long-standing strategic partnership between Transparency International (TI) and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). “Land and Corruption in Africa Phase II”, which is currently implemented in 8 countries, among which Zambia, builds on the experiences and achievements of a first phase of the project, piloted between 2015 – 2019 in 7 Sub-Saharan countries. It is the first time that this project is implemented in Zambia.

Land in Zambia is a subject of widespread interest in the country due to competing needs for housing, investment, mining, forests and agriculture. Additionally, rural areas have vast natural resources, which results in competing interests over land between incoming investors and the rural communities.

This brings forth challenges bordering on the security of tenure including customary land, displacements of local communities by urban elite or foreign investors, inequalities to land access and the lack of transparency and accountability among other issues.

Corruption in the land sector has mainly been due to bureaucracy in the land acquisition processes and procedures which comes as a result of a highly centralized system of land administration. The Commissioner of Lands has given agency to local authorities to deal in state land at local level. However, the local authorities still face numerous challenges on account of:

• lack of transparent systems
• lack of sensitisation of the public to the procedures and processes
• challenges in accessing information, especially for marginalized groups
• limited professional staff to dispense the required services.

Many people do not have access to information on land administration to enable them make informed decisions and choices, nor awareness of their land right, nor knowledge on how to claim such rights.

Due to political patronage, politically connected persons (PCP) often use their political power to influence duty bearers to favour them in land acquisitions. Sometime these PCBs disregard the law, rules and regulations in accessing land after which they illegally dispose of the land to unsuspecting citizens.

The project envisions three interconnected desired changes in order to achieve this objective:

• Change in behavior: By creating awareness so that stakeholders and communities become more informed and knowledgeable to contribute to advancing solutions and debates to demand transparency and accountability in land governance

Activities include spreading awareness of land rights among community groups most at risk of corruption, developing knowledge tools on land and corruption for youth, students and practitioners, and support victims and witnesses who report land corruption.

• Change in practice: To effectively reduce corrupt practices and monitor progress towards a more accountable and transparent land management systems, CSOs, Private sector and government need to change the way of administering land so that challenges are minimized and land rights for the vulnerable people are secured.

Activities include joint national-level CSO advocacy initiatives that mainstream corruption considerations to improve land management systems, south-south intra-chapter collaboration to enhance engagement and expertise on land thematic issues, and increased engagement with the private sector in the implementation of anti-corruption practices in the land sector.

• Change in policy: Systemic change to prevent and address corruption in the land sector requires more transparent, accountable, and equitable laws, mandates, standards, and mechanisms to allow right holders to hold duty bearers to account for corrupt practices and behaviors in land distribution, land acquisition and land dispute management.

Activities include advocacy campaigns targeting decision- and policy-makers for improved land policies, anti-corruption enforcement, reforms of land laws and procedures to close corruption gaps and loopholes, and whistleblowing mechanisms.