LOCALIZING INCLUSIVE PEOPLE-CENTERED LAND GOVERNANCE PROCESSES IN SIERRA LEONE
Annually since 2020, when five District Multi-Stakeholder Platforms (DMSP) were formed, Land for Life Initiative Sierra Leone has been conducting a shared learning session for all DMSPs nationwide and the General Assembly of Members.
The intent of the shared learning sessions has always been for each District’s Multi-Stakeholder Platform to present a record of activities for years under review. The records presented are normally used by the other DMSPs for learning purposes. This, according to many who have attended the shared learning sessions has helped shape the approaches and processes of the DMSPs across the country.
On the 13th of December, 2024, Eight (8) DMSPs from Kono, Kenema, Pujehun, Bo, Tonkolili, Bombali, Port Loko and Kambia were in Bo District for the 2024 shared learning session. This year, as opposed to the previous years, four (4) new DMSPs (Kambia, Bombali, Bo and Kono) were added to the already existing four (4) DMSPs.
The Master of Ceremony for the occasion who also doubles as the National Chairman for the DMSP, Hon. Mohamed Albert Tarawally in his opening statement said that the DMSP process in Sierra Leone is growing exponentially across the country. He thanked all those who have been supporting the processes for the establishment of the DMSP across the country. He highlighted some of the challenges that the DMSPs have been going through since their formation. The Chairman further encouraged the new DSMPs to learn from the older DMSPs about how they have been settling conflicts and managing the DMSP processes generally.
Giving the background about the DMSP, Berns Komba Lebbie, the National Coordinator said that the DMSP process started in 2020 when Land for Life with support from Welthungerhilfe (WHH) established 5 DMSP ( Kailahun, Kenema, Pujehun, Port Loko and Tonkolili). Berns further mentioned that the DMSP in Kailahun was dissolved after the organization ceased to work with the host organisation in the district. Berns further mentioned that Land for Life has been solely supporting these DMSPs in settling land conflicts in their respective districts. Early this year, according to Berns, FAO supported in the setting up of the governance structure of the DMSP. The Governance structure included the Steering Committee, Secretariat and the General Membership. He also mentioned that the organization and Green Scenery are about to sign a Level of Agreement (LoA) with UN-FAO for the continued support of the DMSP processes in districts where they have already been established.
Jobo Samba, the Land Tenure Expert Advisor attached to the Sierra Leone Land Administrative Project at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning spoke via google link about the collaboration between the Ministry of Land and other CSOs across the country that are working on land governance. Mr. Samba said that the Ministry of Lands between 2021 and 2022 worked with CSOs and other agencies for the enactment of the Customary Land Rights and National Land Commission Act. He further said that the two acts have helped to create sanity in the land governance sector of the country.
Speaking as a guest of Honor, The Deputy Commissioner General of the National Land Commission, Madam Susan Rogers spoke on the preparedness of the National Land Commission for the new land sector governance trajectory. Madam Susan said that the commission is currently focused on ensuring that everyone in the customary setting understands The Customary Land Right Act and The National Land Commission Act of 2022. The Commissioner said that the commission is also currently working with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning to enact three new laws that will support the implementation of the Customary Land Rights and National Land Commission Acts.
All eight (8) of the DMSPs were allowed to present some of their successes, challenges and plans for the following year. In Port Loko District for example, during the DMSP community monitoring visit it was discovered that a new company called Oko Company had leased land from the people without paying any lease rent to the landowners for so many years now. The DMSP further engaged the company and district authorities on the authenticity of the company. In Malen Chiefdom in Pujehun District, the DMSP participated in mapping of the entire chiefdom. Malen is one of the most land governance controversial chiefdoms in Sierra Leone, where the Socfin Agricultural Company had acquired vast land for agricultural purposes.
During the Annual General Meeting, members elected a few people to serve in the National DMSP Executive. Whilst the substantive Chairman, Hon Mohamed Albert Tarawally was reelected chairman, of National DMSP, more women were also elected into critical executive positions such as Vice-Chairperson and Secretary Generalship.
