Press statement for immediate release
Duarzon, Margibi County/09/12/2024: The Civil Society Working Group on Land Rights (CSOWGLR) in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) and community leaders is pleased to announce that it will officially establish the Southeastern Regional Community Land Development Management Committee (SRCLDMC) on Monday, September 16 -17, 2024. The process will begin with the revision and adoption of two key documents, including the CLDMCs directory and bylaws, intended to guide the network establishment. Elections and induction of the SRCLDMC leadership will take place on September 17 in Yarpah town, Rivercess County. The County Land Administrator of Rivercess, Mr. Borbor Boeyon, and the Local Authority from the Ministry of Internal Affairs are expected to speak at the opening ceremonies of the gathering and perform induction of the leadership. A total of 71 CLDMC chairpersons including women, youth, and men from Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Maryland, Rivercess and Rivergee, and Sinoe counties will be participating in the two-day event.
The membership and technical team of the Civil Society Working Group facilitated a series of consultative and planning meetings for the formation of the SRCLDMC for over three months. A legal consultant was hired to develop a directory of existing Community Land Development and Management committees in the 15 counties of the country. In addition to the directory, a draft bylaw was developed as a legal tool for the establishment of the Regional Network of CLDMC. These documents were reviewed by the membership and technical committee of the Working Group.
Before this, the CLDMCs and CSOWG shared ideas on how to structure the network and ensure it can be a voice of customary communities across the country/region. In addition, strategies were developed to make it visible, acquire legal registration documents and launch the network, and ensure its sustainability. A legal Consultant was hired and filed relevant legal registration documents with the government and developed a Constitution for the group.
In a release, the Working Group says the initiative is a significant step towards promoting sustainable land use and management practices, fostering community land development, and ensuring equitable access to land resources in the Southeastern region of Liberia.
The release says the SRCLDMC will be tasked with overseeing and coordinating land development activities in the region, with a focus on promoting environmentally responsible practices, enhancing socio-economic opportunities for customary land communities, and protecting the rights of all stakeholders involved.
As a key platform for community engagement and collaboration, the SRCLDMC will work closely with government authorities, nongovernmental organizations, civil society groups, and other relevant stakeholders to address land-related challenges, promote best practices in land management, and facilitate inclusive and participatory decision-making processes in the southeastern. Part of Liberia.
Through a concerted and consultative approach, the SRCLDMC will be committed to promoting sustainable land development practices that prioritize the well-being of customary land-owning communities, protect the environment, and support the long-term prosperity of the Southeastern region.
By fostering dialogue, transparency, and accountability, the SRCLDMC aims to build a more robust and inclusive land management system that empowers communities and promotes sustainable development.
The establishment of the (SRCLDMC) is part of the project implemented by the CSOWGLR with funding support from the Rights & Resources Initiative (RRI) under the project titled: “Addressing the challenges in issuance of deeds and building the governance capacity of customary land community institutions, including adequate representation of women and youth.”
The project was designed from that the backdrop of the 2018 Land Rights Act Articles 32 to 37 which outline conditions for identification, governance, and demarcation of community or customary land.
The release quotes the Working Group as saying “As a working group on land reforms in Liberia, we want to let you know that the establishment of the Southeastern Regional Community Land Development Management Committee reflects our collective commitment to promoting responsible land governance, fostering community participation, and advancing sustainable development goals in Liberia. We look forward to working closely with all stakeholders to realize our shared vision of a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future for the Southeastern region.”
The CSO Working Group is a conglomeration of about thirty (30) to thirty-one (31) civil society organizations and international organizations working in the land and natural resource sector in Liberia. It was established in 2014 and advocated for the passage of the progressive 2018 Land Rights Act (LRA). Our focus is to ensure holistic and gender-sensitive implementation of the law to ensure communities serve as drivers in managing the land and its benefits. The SDI is serving one of the co-conveners.