Tanzania, FAO launch Kiswahili guidelines on governance of land tenure
October 2, 2019 Dodoma - Tanzania - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlement Development have launched a Kiswahili version of the Voluntary Guidelines on Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGT) aimed to popularize the understanding and interpretation of key global frameworks on land tenure governance issues in the country.
FAO developed VGGT in the Context of national food security, as endorsed by the Committee on World Food Security in 2012 with the aim to promote secure tenure rights and equitable access to land, fisheries and forests as a means of eradicating hunger and poverty, supporting sustainable development and enhancing the environment.
A big step
Speaking at the launch in Dodoma, FAO Representative to Tanzania, Fred Kafeero, noted that the translation of the VGGT into Kiswahili was a great mileage as far as governance of land tenure issues were concerned in the country.
“This is a big step in ensuring common understanding and interpretation of key global frameworks by a wider audience. It will also strengthen the capacities and operations of public bodies, private sector enterprises, civil society organizations and communities around tenure issues,” he said. According to him, this will ultimately contribute to the progressive realization of the right to adequate food, poverty eradication, environmental protection and sustainable social and economic development.
Mr. Kafeero explained that FAO was now working with the Government through the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development to implement the VGGT in three main areas including development of a manual for providing support and training in alternative dispute resolution methods. “This will help address natural resource-based disputes and conflicts,” he noted. He also mentioned the establishment of a multi-stakeholder platform for coordinating the main national actors working in land, fisheries and forests; and a study for identifying the best practices in the area of land-based investments in Tanzania as the other areas of collaboration.
The Kiswahili VGGT are part of a project by FAO and the Government of Tanzania for strengthening governance of land tenure through the VGGT in the country which also aims to provide support in policy and sector coordination, address land conflicts and improve information on land-based investments in Tanzania.
More stakeholders to be reached
On his side, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Nicholas Mkapa, appreciated the efforts to have the VGGT translated into Kiswahili saying that this will enable many stakeholders to meaningfully engage in governance of tenure issues.
“The translation into Kiswahili will allow more stakeholders to understand and be able to use these guidelines in addressing land tenure challenges that they are facing and therefore boost the food security drive in the country,” he said adding: The Kiswahili VGGT are an important tool that besides raising awareness of land, fisheries and forests issues among Tanzanians, will also support efforts to address various challenges including land use conflicts especially between farmers and pastoralists, settlements, environmental degradation, deforestation, among others.”
The launch was attended by officials from central and local governments including MLHHSD; President Office – Regional Administration and Local Government; Dodoma region and National Land Use Plan Commission. Others came from Land Tenure Support Program, Tanzania Land Alliance, community members, and officials from FAO Tanzania Office.
The meeting also witnessed the launch of the first ever Multi-Stakeholder Platform for supporting the implementation of the VGGTS in the context of national food security in the country.