Empowering Local Actors to Strengthen Customary Land Governance
Land for Life, through its partner, Partners Initiative for Conflict Transformation (PICOT), with support from Welthungerhilfe through the Land for Life Secretariat in Freetown, conducted a capacity-building activity for the Chiefdom Land Committee in Makpele Chiefdom, Pujehun District. The activity brought together members of the Chiefdom Land Committee and Chiefdom Authorities to strengthen their knowledge and capacity to effectively contribute to transparent, inclusive and accountable customary land governance.
The capacity-building activity is part of a broader initiative through which PICOT has formed four Chiefdom Land Committees in accordance with the provisions of the Customary Land Rights Act, 2022. The establishment of these committees is intended to strengthen land governance at the chiefdom level by ensuring that land-related matters are addressed by locally constituted representatives who understand the customary land context and can support communities in managing land issues.
The training focused on enhancing participants’ understanding of the Customary Land Rights Act, 2022, with particular emphasis on the roles and responsibilities of Chiefdom Land Committees in customary land governance. Participants were guided on key principles and procedures for effective land governance, community participation and consultation, documentation of land-related information, prevention and management of land disputes, and the importance of ensuring the meaningful participation of women and other vulnerable groups in land-related decision-making.
The session also provided an opportunity for participants to reflect on land governance challenges within their communities and identify practical approaches to addressing them. Discussions emphasized the importance of collaboration between the Chiefdom Land Committee, traditional authorities, community members and other relevant stakeholders in promoting transparent and accountable decision-making on land matters.
Particular attention was given to the need for Chiefdom Land Committees to maintain effective linkages with the District Land Commission and other relevant statutory institutions. This coordination is important to ensure that customary land governance processes at the local level are aligned with the broader land governance framework established under the Customary Land Rights Act, 2022.
The data and information relating to the four Chiefdom Land Committees formed by PICOT will be submitted to the District Land Commission in Bo District for further verification and validation. The formation and capacity strengthening of these committees represents an important step towards building functional, inclusive and accountable customary land governance structures and ensuring that communities are better equipped to manage land-related issues in a fair and participatory manner