Assessing the Practice and Challenges of Local Land Governance in Raya Kobo Woreda of Amhara Region, Ethiopia
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Date
2019-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This is a thesis on local land governance conducted in Raya Kobo Woreda which is found in
North Wollo Zone of Amhara Region, Ethiopia. The study has tried to investigate to what extent
Woreda level land administration system meets good governance principles, assess how Woreda
land office implements the existing land laws, and explore dispute settlement mechanisms
employed thereof. The study has deployed descriptive and explanatory case study research types;
the exploratory one helps to examine in detail the unique features of the study area’s land
governance system while the descriptive research enables to describe the existing condition as it
is in its natural setting. A qualitative research approach, particularly, case study approach has
been employed. Secondary data was collected from governance and land governance related
literature and previous empirical studies, and primary data from local land holders, land
officers, judges, local employees, and managers of two local institutions using data collection
tools such as open ended and a semi structured questionnaire, semi structured interview, and
FGD. The collected data is analyzed and presented using tables, figures, and narration.
Thus, the findings reveal land administration system of local institutions fails to meet good
governance objectives or principles. Land measurement, accession, registration, and recording
lacks transparency, involves bias, and violation of statutory land laws. Widespread displacement
with no or little compensation for lost land, illegal land market or informal land selling, illegal
construction, bribery, weak judiciary, and unlawful involvement of local politicians in the sector,
cause land tenure insecurity in the area. Furthermore, there is limited knowledge and
enforcement of land laws; land laws are less accessible to land holders, no significant training is
given on such laws, land authorities and officers failed to execute such laws fairly, consistently,
objectively, impartially, and in accountable manner. Court dispute settlement involves many
defects; biased judgments favoving one side, unclear judgments, judgments not duly supported by
evidence, corruption, workload, lack of capacity, intentional violation of procedural and
substantive laws, lack of judicial independence, not following service standards stringently, are
all common phenomenon in the area. Some intervention mechanisms are also highlighted in line
with the gaps identified.
Key Words: Land, Governance, land administration, Land tenure and, land laws and policies
Description
Keywords
Land, Governance, land administration, Land tenure and, land laws and policies