Context
At the time of Namibia’s independence in 1990, nearly all commercial farmland was in the ownership of the white minority, with only 2.7 per cent belonging to the disadvantaged black farmers. The ownership structures of the commercial farms are established in written deeds in accordance with modern legislation. Meanwhile, arrangements for using communal land and the frequently overlapping land use rights are generally the subject of verbal agreements and are covered by traditional law. At the same time, the country is currently experiencing rapid urbanisation and an increase in informal settlements where land rights are not protected. The Namibian Government faces the challenge of implementing a comprehensive land reform that distributes land fairly whilst also protecting land rights. Besides improving access to land, it is equally important to ensure the sustainable utilisation of natural resources to prevent their overexploitation.
Objective
Namibia has a comprehensive land reform strategy that takes all the relevant interests into account. It is implementing this strategy together with governmental authorities, agricultural unions, civil society organisations and others. This coordinated approach supports the implementation of the land reform agenda in accordance with the rule of law, the improved protection of property rights and land tenure, and the effective and sustainable planning and management of the land. This creates a better environment in which to establish equitable and needs-based access to land.
Approach
With this project, GIZ is assisting the Namibian Ministry of Lands and Resettlement with the implementation of a comprehensive land reform strategy that aims to ensure fair and equitable access to land in Namibia. On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GIZ is providing policy and legal advice on land reform and land governance, as well as capacity building measures for decision makers and functionaries, organisational development for the ministry and other relevant actors, and technical assistance in a wide range of land-related areas.
While the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement is the main beneficiary, the GIZ project also supports other important institutions, such as the Polytechnic of Namibia, the Legal Assistance Centre and a number of non-governmental organisations.
The project is involved in the following specific activities.
• Coordination, dialogue and strategy development for land reform and integrated land use planning
• Participatory development of integrated regional land use plans (IRLUPs) to provide a foundation for planning rural investments by the ministries involved
• The Farmers’ Support Project – supporting new farmers on commercial and communal land in the productive, profitable and sustainable management of that land
• Technical assistance for land management activities such as mapping, surveying, titling, valuation and taxation, as well as monitoring and evaluation
• Advising the Namibian Ministry of Lands and Resettlement and other relevant stakeholders on the development and implementation of guidelines for the granting of land rights in urban and peri-urban areas and the integration of informal settlements into urban planning
Results achieved so far
A team of Namibian and international land rights experts have developed a comprehensive strategy for land reform. Appropriate legal and political frameworks for land registration in communal areas and for equitable access to commercial land have been established. As a result, 160,000 plots of land have already been surveyed and 82,000 land use rights registered in communal areas. The communal land boards work with the traditional hierarchical structures to arbitrate land disputes. Women and marginalised groups have benefited in particular from improved legal rights and guarantees of access to land.
In commercial areas, around 8 million hectares of land had been peacefully distributed to landless and previously disadvantaged persons by 2014. The Namibian Government is therefore more than half way to achieving its goal of redistributing a total of 15 million hectares of land by 2020. All in all, some 25 per cent of commercial farmland has so far changed ownership. In addition, up to 5 million hectares of land in communal areas is to be farmed by newly created commercial farming enterprises. In a mentoring programme, experienced commercial farmers have passed on their knowledge to 3,000 new farmers on commercial land, as well as 1,600 communal farmers, who can now gradually improve their productivity.
The first integrated regional land use plans have been developed for the Karas and Hardap regions. The Ministry of Lands and Resettlement is currently finalising similar plans for the Kavango and Zambezi regions. These plans have triggered a wide-ranging dialogue, while stronger cooperation between citizens and the government is helping to minimise future land use conflicts. The legal and planning basis for granting land rights in urban and peri-urban areas is being established. The project is supporting municipalities in integrating informal settlements into urban plans and planning basic infrastructure.