The Feed the Future Ethiopia Land Governance Activity (LGA) is a five-year, $10.9 million Task Order under the Strengthening Tenure and Resource Rights II Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contract implemented by Tetra Tech. This Third Annual Report summarizes progress made to implement the Activity and the results achieved during the 2022 Fiscal Year (October 1, 2021– September 30, 2022). LGA’s purpose is to provide support to the Government of Ethiopia (GOE), its regions, and citizens to strengthen land governance, increase incomes, reduce conflict, and support well- planned urbanization, thereby contributing to the country’s socio-economic development plans.
LGA faced several external challenges that impacted and delayed program implementation. Although the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflicts in different parts of the country that began in 2020 continued into this year, they primarily affected LGA operations in Afar National Regional State (NRS) where it was not possible to resume field activities. LGA focused its support to strengthen communal land tenure in pastoral areas in the East Bale Zone of Oromia NRS. Drought conditions experienced in the east of Ethiopia delayed implementation of this support during the beginning of this year. Fuel shortages also delayed LGA’s assessment of customary land governance in four zones of Somali NRS. The GOE has yet to issue its National Integrated Land Use Policy that has delayed LGA’s support for its roll out. Draft amendments to the federal Land Administration and Use Proclamation No. 456/2005 have yet to be approved by the Council of Ministers. Although there has been some movement in revising the amendments to accommodate recent developments on the ground, including land consolidation and cluster farming, final passage of the amendments in the Ethiopian Parliament will be a slow process and will delay LGA’s support to NRSs to amend their respective proclamations in compliance with the federal proclamation during the coming year. Despite these challenges, LGA supported 22 pastoral communities in East Bale Zone to register rights to their landholdings, form their Customary Land Governance Entities (CLGEs) and adopt by-laws to govern their functions. LGA’s support for GOE land bureau staff to earn M.Sc. degrees at Ethiopian universities and build their capacity to implement policy, legal and institutional reforms and deliver improved land administration services was conducted on schedule. LGA also supported internship opportunities at zonal and woreda land bureau offices for 38 first degree and 89 Technical Vocational Education and Training students studying land administration and land use to gain practical work experience. LGA’s assistance to pilot and test appropriate, “fit-for-purpose” technologies and streamline and improve urban land rights adjudication and registration processes progressed well, with field implementation in Dukem town, Oromia NRS scheduled to commence in November 2022.