News - Access to Land Reforms: MCA-Benin launches support programs for vulnerable groups

Technical assistance initiated by MCA-Benin in March 2009 to help communes with implementing social projects related to land reforms has entered its last stage. The official launch of these programs in the 2 benefiting communes is to take place at Hôtel La Madeleine in Lokossa on February 22nd, 2010.

The implementation of the social programs (initiated in March 2009 for 20 months) under MCA-Benin's "Access to Land" Project aims to anticipate social risks and likely advert effects while carrying out land reforms in 54 communes in Benin. Actually, rural land plans (PFR) are being developed 34 communes and certificates of occupancy (Permis d'habiter) are being converted to land titles (Titres fonciers) in 14 communes; both kinds of reforms involve simultaneously 6 communes.

The workshop in Lokossa is the start-off for field activities intended to back vulnerable groups as for access to land. It will provide participants from various target communes with updated information and raise awareness on the implementation of MCA-Benin's social programs in their respective areas. Attendants will have the opportunity to be intocuded the service providers selected for the assignments and to learn about MCA-Benin methodology and expectations regards these field activities. A briefing session is also planned to service providers and local authorities around the work in the field.

However, it is worth mentioning that challenging reactions were noticed in spite of the huge endeavors wide to raise awareness and support for rural land plans as a land security tool and a relevant alternative to unreliable traditional way of land management. Such reactions are, unfortunately, serious threats to the rights of vulnerable groups. Hence, the need is to find out measures that stand for the interest of those men, women, youth, migrants or not, with hard access to land.

Awareness raising campaigns at department and commune levels, micro region scope diagnoses and village land within MCA-Benin PFR's process,  as well, pointed out the misinformation and interest clash between stakeholders as far as land issues are concerned. Some (migrants for instance) claim more rights to land access, for them to invest sustainably in agriculture. Landlords, on the other hand, want their "custom" land tenure to be formalized, in order for them to better enjoy their land heritage. Other social groups, less favored in land issue, are the landless, stockbreeders, women and youth. 

These are the end beneficiaries MCA Benin has targeted through these social programs, which should help cast out misinterpretations related to PFR development and the conversion of certificates of occupancy into land titles. The programs also intend to watch and strive for improved land rights for vulnerable groups.

List of communes selected for MCA-Benin support for development and implementation of social programs  intended to land accees vulnerable groups