Improving sustainability of land administration through decentralized service provision: Evidence from Rwanda
This study was prepared by a team from the World Bank in collaboration with the Rwanda Natural Resources Authority
Abstract
Recognizing that the impressive gains from comprehensive land tenure regularization may be short-lived if subsequent transactions are not registered, Rwanda has deployed close to 400 Sector Land Managers (SLMs) throughout the country. Regressions using Land Administration Information System (LAIS) data highlight that posting of SLMs increased levels of registered sales but not inheritance transactions and that, for agricultural land, having an SLM taken refresher training almost doubled this effect.
A survey of all SLMs in April 2016 suggests that they are fully functional and in close contact with District Land Offices. More training (possibly via new channels), access to LAIS, and some office equipment (locking cabinets) could enhance performance. Time spent by SLMs on land administration, levels of transactions handled, and reasons for them to reject applications provide pointers for improvement.
This case study was prepared by a team from the Development Economics Research of the World Bank in collaboration with the Rwanda Natural Resources Authority, and supported by the UK Department for International Development. It is part of “The Role of Agriculture and Rural Development in Ending Poverty and Boosting Shared Prosperity” project.
Citation
Ali, Daniel, Klaus Deininger, and Marguerite Duponchel, 2016, Improving sustainability of land administration through decentralized service provision: Evidence from Rwanda, World Bank Case Study