IALTAInternational Alliance on Land Tenure and Administration

1 Background

The International Alliance on Land Tenure and Administration (IALTA) is a newly-created international network of researchers and experts with common interests in the study of the linkages between land tenure, administration and development especially in developing countries. It is one of the few international initiatives that brings scholars of different backgrounds together to exchange and share experiences and collaborate in land-related research and practice on a global scale. It was first initiated by the Faculty of Law, University of Groningen, The Netherlands, in collaboration with the major Dutch and international partners in 2008. It has gathered strong support of many international organizations and research institutions. It is in the process of preparation of its official launch for the members.

2 Challenges of land administration

Land administration to ensure land tenure security and equitable land access has been taken a renewed investigation by both researchers and practitioners in recent years due to the insufficiency and inappropriateness of the conventional approaches used especially by policy-makers. These approaches sometimes add complicity to the problems instead of rendering more inclusive solutions to the social, economic, cultural and political relations between state and non-state actors especially the poor people in many developing countries and countries in transition. Facing the challenges of urbanization, poor people and disadvantaged groups are struggling for more secured land and property rights for their livelihoods, which are undermined or threatened by land expropriation. In most cases, these groups are marginalized in the development process and have little say over land use and management. The issues of land tenure, administration and development linkages are far from being clear to the stakeholders. How to develop more appropriate land institutions for the poor remains a critical challenge.

Land access and land tenure security for the poor and the disadvantaged, especially women and indigenous peoples relying on land resources for their livelihoods, are widely emphasized in research and development programmes. Yet, the question how to balance the conflicting interests between these people and commercial interests by companies and governments is insufficiently addressed. Land tenure is not only about who owns and uses what, but also about who decides on what and when. Moreover, it is not the only parameter for development. A certain type of land tenure hinges upon many other embedded factors. One needs to understand the dynamics and conditions of land tenure systems and underlying factors in order to propose more appropriate alternatives in the interests of the whole society, including the poor.

Even in the so-called ‘developed’ countries, land tenure and administration practices are constantly making progress. In Europe, for example, there are tremendous land registration systems, which are further facilitated by exchange of information within a federal country and even between countries. New technical developments improve the processing and facilitate the accessibility of vast quantities of land-related data and ensure their quality (three- and four-dimensional Cadastre) as well as speed up the process of registration at low costs. Questions regarding the unification of land administration systems as well as whether these new techniques should be introduced in developing countries are constantly being raised.

3 An innovative research agenda

Many scholars conduct research related to land and people in a broad field and from different disciplinary angles such as political, agricultural and technical sciences, law, sociology, anthropology and economics. However, much could be gained by collaborating and using the synergies among these fields. An integrated approach may help solve this problem. This approach starts with building a network of researchers and practitioners from these disciplines and forming a platform on which they can share knowledge and experiences, scientific data and papers. These exercises will make an important contribution to cross-country comparative analysis of theories and practices concerning land tenure and administration.

I N T E R N A T I O N A L A L L I A N C E O N L A N D T E N U R E A N D A D M I N I S T R A T I O N I N T E R N A T I O N A L A L L I A N C E O N L A N D T E N U R E A N D A D M I N I S T R A T I O N

International Alliance on Land Tenure and Administration

Though countries differ in a great number of aspects, a sustainable land tenure system should include the following characteristics:

• providing a technical, institutional and legal framework that offers:

• up to date, complete and correct administration of land tenure;

• security of tenure to the people;

• information that is accessible to government and people;

• against the lowest cost possible;

• being trusted by the people and the government;

• and - last but not the least - contributing to sustainable land management in the interest of society, the environment and economy.

Given the differences in social-economic circumstances, historical backgrounds and the ways people and governments live up to the rule of law, each country has to be evaluated in accordance with its specific situation. And the cross-fertilization of these country experiences will be of significance for the improvement to the situations related to land tenure in a given country.

Recognizing well-functioning local practices in which the people participate and to which they live up, and at the same time helping them to develop their systems because of changing technical, economical and societal circumstances in a globalizing world, are two important approaches that have to be combined. Harmonizing local, national and international concepts with regard to land tenure is one of the big challenges researchers, practitioners and policy-makers are facing. Comprehensive and in-depth studies are needed to understand the problems and explore tailor-made solutions.

4 Overarching goal and mission

IALTA’s overarching goal is contributing to sustainable land administration in a globalized context through research collaboration that brings together academics from different disciplines and knowledge-based organizations to share knowledge and data, develop and discuss research, and help practitioners and policy-makers improve their understanding and practices concerning land tenure and administration.

IALTA’s mission is fostering closer and more systematic research collaboration among interested parties to synchronize and publish research data, in order to improve the accessibility of papers, articles, books and other relevant research data on the subject of land tenure and land administration for the participants. And possibly enhanced interaction of experts will foster global innovative ideas. By doing so, the members can benefit in various ways:

• participating in a world forum of specialists;

• having access to a discussion platform;

• having increased access to information and research data;

• having a platform to publish research and policy data and information on activities;

• cooperating in developing and implementing research projects.

This interactive multidisciplinary platform will also be made available to the users beyond the membership especially grass-root institutions and policy-makers, who are expected to use it to engage one another on issues of common concern. Thus, IALTA provides this platform for North-North, North-South and South-South lesson-learning in best practices in sustainable land governance, where grass-root experiences are vital to all the partici-pants.

5 Means

The most important means by which the goal and mission can be achieved are:

a. outreaching to diverse stakeholders, who can collaborate in strategic research activities and share their knowledge on land tenure and land administration;b. forming a web-based multidisciplinary scientific and practical repository and publishing and disseminating information on land tenure and administration; c. developing an interactive, accessible, easy-to-use electronic platform for the sharing of land governance related information, to provide greater access to information for all stakeholders;d. publishing working papers of the members which will lead to an internationally peer reviewed electronic journal on land tenure and land administration – a journal that will be free of charge and globally accessible;e. organizing international events on land tenure and administration;

I N T E R N A T I O N A L A L L I A N C E O N L A N D T E N U R E A N D A D M I N I S T R A T I O NI N T E R N A T I O N A L A L L I A N C E O N L A N D T E N U R E A N D A D M I N I S T R A T I O N

f. facilitating the creation of a platform for the engagement of policy-makers and local communities through developing appropriate land governance indicators and tools for both to use, working closely with grass-root institutions;g. promoting regional cooperation and lesson-learning in best practices regarding land tenure and land administration by developing tailor-made training courses for land policy makers, practitioners and researchers in land tenure, land governance and other related sustainable development topics.

IALTA contributes to the ongoing initiatives that aim to stockpile, analyze and translate different land tenure systems and practices into a benchmark system in which country experiences and lessons can be compared, critically assessed and synchronized. A well- established benchmark system will be useful to the development of pro-poor indicators and tools for both researchers and policy-makers who lack a holistic approach to tackling the complex issues of land tenure and governance.

These means are to be realized i.e. by the following action:

• a, b, c, d and f: participating in Land Portal Partnership with the International Land Coalition (ILC): an initiative of various IGO’s and NGOs around the world.

• d: realizing a Journal of International Land Tenure and Administration, possibly in cooperation with FAO, who already launched their revitalized Journal of Land Reform, Land Settlement and Cooperatives.

• e:

• Hosting two expert meetings Spring 2010 and Autumn 2010 regarding, among other subjects, the launch of the Land Portal.

• International conference in November 2011, to be held in Groningen, on land related issues and launching the Land Portal.

• g: exploring collaboration with (among others) ITC, Kadaster International and overseas institutions.

6 Involved institutions

A database of 800+ world land experts is put in place with the support of major inter-national and national partners. Selected representatives of the following institutions have agreed to participating in this initiative or cooperating with this initiative:

• Centre or Development Studies (CDS), University of Groningen, The Netherlands • China Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Centre, Chinese Ministry of Land and Resources, Beijing, China� • Chinese Academy of Social Science, Beijing, China • Faculty of Law, University of Groningen, The Netherlands • Faculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia • Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Madah, Yogyakarta, Indonesia • Faculty of Law, Universitas Katolik Parahyangan, Bandung, Indonesia� • Faculty of Law, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia • Faculty of Law, Can Tho University, Can Tho, Vietnam� • Faculty of Law, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), Mexico-City, Mexico • Faculty of Law, Universidade de Sao Paulo (USP), Sao Paulo, Brazil� • Faculty of Law, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA), Buenos Aires, Argentina • Faculty of Law, Universidad Austral, Buenos Aires, Argentina • Faculty of Law, Universidad Buenos Aires (UBA) Buenos Aires, Argentina • Faculty of Law, University of Sevilla, Spain • Instituto de Investigaciones Juridicas, Universidat Nacional Autonomous Mexico (UNAM), Mexico-City, Mexico� • International Land Coalition (ILC), Rome, Italy� • Kadaster International, Netherlands’ Cadastre, Land Registry and Mapping Agency, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands • Land Tenure Unit, FAO, Rome, Italy • Michigan State University, United States • OTB Research Institute, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands • Oxfam Novib, The Netherlands • PLAAS, University of the Western Cape, South Africa • Research Group Property Law Research School Ius Commune, The Netherlands • Rural Development Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington United States • Technische Universität München, Institute of Geodesy, GIS and Land Management, Centre of Land, Water and Environmental Risk Management.� • Terre des Hommes, The Hague, The Netherlands • UNDP • International Union of Notaries, Rome, Italy • University of Twente, Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), The Netherlands� • Van Vollenhoven Institute, Leiden University, The Netherlands • World Bank

I N T E R N A T I O N A L A L L I A N C E O N L A N D T E N U R E A N D A D M I N I S T R A T I O NI N T E R N A T I O N A L A L L I A N C E O N L A N D T E N U R E A N D A D M I N I S T R A T I O N

7 Initiators

The initiators of this alliance are (in alphabetical order):

• Prof. dr. Sjef van Erp, Maastricht University� • Dipl.-Ing. Jorge Espinoza (MSc, PhDc), Technische Universität München, Institute of Geodesy, GIS and Land Management, Centre of Land, Water and Environmental Risk Management� • Prof. dr. André Hoekema, University of Amsterdam • Ir. Louisa J.M. Jansen, Netherlands’ Cadastre, Land Registry and Mapping Agency, Apeldoorn� • Prof. dr. Wilbert Kolkman, University of Groningen • Prof. Dr. Holger Magel, Technische Universität München, Institute of Geodesy, GIS and Land Management, Centre of Land, Water and Environmental Risk Management • Prof. dr. Paul van der Molen, Netherlands’ Cadastre, Land Registry and Mapping Agency, Apeldoorn • Prof. dr. Jan Michiel Otto, Van Vollenhoven Institute, Leiden University • Prof. dr. Hendrik Ploeger, Delft University of Technology and VU University Amsterdam • Prof. dr. Gerhard Schultink, Michigan State University • Dr. Janine Ubink, Van Vollenhoven Institute, Leiden University • Prof. dr. Leon Verstappen, University of Groningen • Prof. dr. Jaap Zevenbergen, ITC University of Twente • Dr. Yongjun Zhao, University of Groningen

IALTA is hosted by the Groningen Centre for Law and Governance of the Faculty of Law at the University of Groningen. It is not owned by any members, as it belongs to all.

Contact:Prof. dr. Leon VerstappenDean, Faculty of Law, University of GroningenOude Kijk in ‘t Jatstraat 269712 EK GroningenP.O. Box 7169700 AS GroningenThe Netherlands

I N T E R N A T I O N A L A L L I A N C E O N L A N D T E N U R E A N D A D M I N I S T R A T I O N

faculty of economicsand business

university ofgroningen

faculty of economicsand business

university ofgroningen

Tel. +31(0)50 363 5762Fax. +31(0)50 363 7334email: l.c.a.verstappen@rug.nl