Land Rights EducationLand Rights Education

Rights-LINK ProjectRights-LINK Project

Hongthong SirivathHongthong SirivathVillage Focus InternationalVillage Focus International

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2008-2016

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The story of Pajutai The story of Pajutai VillageVillage

VFI conducted Land Use Planning and Law VFI conducted Land Use Planning and Law dissemination in 2004dissemination in 2004

A Vietnamese logging company wanted to cut A Vietnamese logging company wanted to cut trees inside village conservation areatrees inside village conservation area

Villagers led by Village LUP committee Villagers led by Village LUP committee rejectedrejected

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Development of Legal GuidebookDevelopment of Legal Guidebook

Based on lessons from Pajutai Based on lessons from Pajutai VillageVillage

Summarized a set of articles in Summarized a set of articles in different laws that define different laws that define rights and responsibilities of rights and responsibilities of villagers to use and manage land villagers to use and manage land and NR and NR

Approved by DOF and applied Approved by DOF and applied across the countryacross the country

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Rights-LINK ProjectRights-LINK ProjectLand, Information, Networking, Knowledge Land, Information, Networking, Knowledge

11stst phase: 2009 to 2012 phase: 2009 to 2012 22ndnd Phase: 2012 to 2016 Phase: 2012 to 2016 Funding: SDCFunding: SDC Project Areas for 2Project Areas for 2ndnd phase: 3 provinces: LuangNamtha, phase: 3 provinces: LuangNamtha,

Xekong and BolikhamxayXekong and Bolikhamxay Objectives:Objectives:

To Improve informed and transparent decision-making processes.

To educate and empower local communities to exercise their land and NR rights.

To build capacity of stakeholders so they can provide support to local communities to solve land issues.

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Rights-LINK ApproachesRights-LINK Approaches Challenges to work with various stakeholders: government, Challenges to work with various stakeholders: government,

CSOs and private sector on land issues,CSOs and private sector on land issues, Government have limited resources and capacity, we see Government have limited resources and capacity, we see

opportunity to build capacity of government officials and opportunity to build capacity of government officials and provide resources for them to work on land issues,provide resources for them to work on land issues,

Private sector has a different priority but we believe that Private sector has a different priority but we believe that their priority can be enhanced if they understand how to their priority can be enhanced if they understand how to support local people,support local people,

Need to build relationship and trust among the stakeholders,Need to build relationship and trust among the stakeholders, Need innovation that enable space for the stakeholders to Need innovation that enable space for the stakeholders to

work together in a meaningful way,work together in a meaningful way,

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Rights-LINK ApproachRights-LINK Approach

2. Identify gaps in knowledge andgovernance

Government stakeholders

Rural farming communities

1. Listen to concerns of the communities 4. Pilot solutions

Inputs from RL:•Knowledge•Tools•Coordination•Rights-based approach

Principles:•Network and partnerships•Participatory•Locally-lead

3. Create tools and curricula

Carrying out gap analysis to Identify Carrying out gap analysis to Identify issues and solutionsissues and solutions

7Village levelVillage level District levelDistrict level Provincial levelProvincial level

Solutions to bridge priority gaps in Solutions to bridge priority gaps in knowledge with innovative practicesknowledge with innovative practices

Land rights

Land use planning with land right education program as a strategy to enhance tenure security

Contract farming

Access to Justice: Clarify the petition/grievance processes for key issues through a review of policies, participation of stakeholders

Establishing paralegal and strengthening Village Mediation Units

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment

Case Studies: gather and confirm additional information about specific situations identified in the gap analysis8

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Land rights calendar developed with multi stakeholdersLand rights calendar developed with multi stakeholders

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Land rights videos developed with multi stakeholdersLand rights videos developed with multi stakeholders

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Land Rights Education in rural Land Rights Education in rural communities by government communities by government officialsofficials

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Land Rights Radio ProgramLand Rights Radio Program

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Provide legal advice and Provide legal advice and counselling on land rights to counselling on land rights to communities by local justice communities by local justice officialsofficials

Partnerships and AlliancesPartnerships and Alliances RL partners with other organizations to integrate Land Rights into

their ongoing work Network with INGOs: WWF, WCS, GAA, Cooperate with development partners: FAO, World Bank, GIZ

LIFE project: Create master trainers to provide training to local staff of partner

organizations so that they pass on to communities in their own areas: GIZ, CCL, Hevetas, CARE, World Renew

VFI is the host of the project Overseen by members of Land Issues Working Group Funded by Mekong Regional Land Governance (MRLG)

To work more with private sectors Stora Enso Olam

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ConclusionConclusion

Land governance is a challenging issue but very important for the livelihoods of rural communities in Laos and needs an innovative approach to address

Need to involve multiple stakeholders in order to achieve necessary impacts

Despite being an INGO, VFI is a local Lao organization and needs financial support to move forward

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Thank YouThank You

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