WASHINGTON, September 28, 2017 – The World Bank approved today an International Development Association (IDA)* grant of $7 million for the Liberia Land Administration Project. This project will strengthen the institutional capacity of Liberia Land Authority and establish a land administration system.
This project will help establish processes and infrastructure required to implement land policies and laws focusing on identification, ownership, use and valuation of land. This will lead to the development of requisite land laws and regulations, and conducting awareness raising campaigns on land rights and usage, and establish an inventory of tribal land certificates.
“The World Bank is pleased to support the Liberia Land Administration project because it will create a secure land tenure environment for citizens and communities and investors’ land rights in critical sectors such as agriculture, mining and forestry,” said Larisa Leshchenko, World Bank Country Manager in Liberia. “As Liberia transitions democratically, it is essential that the Bank helps in addressing potential triggers of conflict in land tenure systems to sustain peace and stability for economic transformation.”
This project will be implemented by the Liberia Land Authority. It will further develop the inventory and analysis of tribal land certificates, and the land administration system and support project coordination, monitoring and evaluation. Under the project, government’s entities will benefit from the establishment of a geodetic control network, which will serve as a basic geo-positioning reference for surveying. The project will develop key land regulations and plans which will benefit customary and private land rights holders in Liberia, including individuals and communities, as well as the public and private sectors.
“The World Bank is looking forward to support the implementation of this project as land is at the center of development challenges. The project will in the long-term help to resolve land conflicts, enhance own-source local revenues, and contribute to accelerated growth and poverty reduction impacting land holders and communities, including vulnerable groups and women,” said Victoria Stanley and Linus Pott, World Bank Co-Task Team Leaders of the Project.
* The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 75 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to the 1.5 billion people who live in IDA countries. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 113 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $18 billion over the last three years, with about 54 percent going to Africa.
