Lessons from the Field: Holding Leaders Accountable in Land Transactions

Namati and the Sustainable Development Institute in Liberia (SDI), have worked with the community of Duah for over 3 years to document the community’s land and establish an inclusive local governance system for land and natural resources. In the spring of 2013, Duah faced a serious challenge: Clan elders agreed to a large land deal with a local palm oil investor without the involvement of the community or its new Land Governance Council. This Lesson from the Field describes how, with support from SDI, Duah community members held their leaders accountable to their newly adopted community by-laws and successfully reversed the land deal. The case of Duah highlights some of the challenges faced when promoting inclusive, participatory, and accountable community land management in rural Liberia.

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Uploaded on: Aug 23, 2014
Last Updated: Nov 30, 2017
Issues: Community / Customary Land Rights, Community Paralegals, Environmental Justice, Governance, Accountability & Transparency, Indigenous Peoples' Rights Tool Type: Policy Papers / Briefs, Training Resources & Popular Education Target Population: Rural Method: Improving Governance, Accountability and Transparency, Promoting Citizens' Participation in Governance Regions: Sub-Saharan Africa