Collaboration with local-level administrators in Nepal key to people-centred land governance

To extend and strengthen this collaboration, CSRC organised a week-long joint field visit back in August to four districts in far and midwestern Nepal.

During this field visit, basic orientation on preparation of 'Land Use Vision Paper', 'Land Use Baseline' and 'Land Use Plan' was provided to the four local governments i.e Gadhawa Rural Municipality, Gurbhakot Municipality, Gauriganga Municipality, and Bedkot Municipality of Dang, Surkhet, Kailali and Kanchanpur districts respectively, where each of the local administration was co-organising the visit. Meanwhile, discussions with multi-stakeholders were also conducted to learn the progress of data collection on the landless population, including landless Dalits and informal settlers. They also checked in on the data entry process and the land survey in the context of the sudden and hasty dissolution of the Land Issues Resolving Commission (LIRC) in early August by the new coalition government.

CSRC members also met representatives of the four aforementioned district-level governments, who had been supporting them with the plan for local advocacy and mobilisation.

Key Achievements of the Field Visit

• Local level representatives received basic orientation on formulating the Land Use Vision Paper, Land Use Baseline, and local land use plans
• Representatives of local governments gained a deeper understanding of fit-for-purpose land administration strategies enhanced in the above mentioned four districts
• All four local administrations realised the importance of land use plan at the local level and agreed to form the Land Use Council, Land Use Plan Implementation Committee, and Land Use Plan Formulation Team
• Draft of campaign & advocacy plans at the local level with a special focus on tenancy land separation
• Formal submission of the Agriculture Promotion and Farmers' Empowerment Act, 2021 to Gadhawa Rural Municipality
• Gadhawa, Gurvakot, Gauriganga and Bedkot Municipalities agreed to collaborate on preparing a land use vision paper, sustainable land use plans and to formulate land-related local level laws. They expect both financial and technical support from CSRC and its funding partners, particularly in documenting issues related to landless and informal settlement management at the local level