An Innovative, Affordable, and Decentralized Model for Land Registration and Administration at a National Scale in Tanzania

Research
Published in: Annual World Bank Land and Poverty Conference

By Tressan Sullivan, Alex Solovov, Gilead Mushaija, Malaki Msigwa and Mustapha Issa

This paper addresses issues related to scaling up a successful, innovative land registration pilot program using digital technology. Following the successful development of a process for a decentralised land administration system—driven by local land administration authorities using digital land data capture and management tools in Tanzania. This paper explores the potential for and challenges of implementing the system nationally. The paper proposes a low-cost, participatory, digital land use planning, registration, and management process. It examines the potential for a self-sustaining, decentralized, digital land management system for large-scale first land registration and ongoing administration of post-registration transactions. It is proposed that contributions by beneficiaries in conjunction with the involvement of the private and nongovernment organization (NGO) sectors can potentially deliver a self-sustaining system. The paper further examines challenges related to secure data storage and limiting opportunities for corruption.

Key Words: Community engagement; digital land information systems; land data capture; systematic land registration; Tanzania