Land Rights Education

1. Land Rights EducationLand Rights Education
Rights-LINK ProjectRights-LINK Project
Hongthong SirivathHongthong Sirivath
Village Focus InternationalVillage Focus International
1
2008-2016

2. 2
The story of Pajutai VillageThe story of Pajutai Village
 VFI conducted Land Use Planning and LawVFI conducted Land Use Planning and Law
dissemination in 2004dissemination in 2004
 A Vietnamese logging company wanted to cut treesA Vietnamese logging company wanted to cut trees
inside village conservation areainside village conservation area
 Villagers led by Village LUP committee rejectedVillagers led by Village LUP committee rejected

3. 3
Development of Legal GuidebookDevelopment of Legal Guidebook
 Based on lessons from Pajutai VillageBased on lessons from Pajutai Village
 Summarized a set of articles in differentSummarized a set of articles in different
laws that define rights andlaws that define rights and
responsibilities of villagers to use andresponsibilities of villagers to use and
manage land and NRmanage land and NR
 Approved by DOF and applied acrossApproved by DOF and applied across
the countrythe country

4. 4
Rights-LINK ProjectRights-LINK Project
Land, Information, Networking, KnowledgeLand, Information, Networking, Knowledge
 11stst
phase: 2009 to 2012phase: 2009 to 2012
 22ndnd
Phase: 2012 to 2016Phase: 2012 to 2016
 Funding: SDCFunding: SDC
 Project Areas for 2Project Areas for 2ndnd
phase: 3 provinces: LuangNamtha, Xekong andphase: 3 provinces: LuangNamtha, Xekong and
BolikhamxayBolikhamxay
 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.

5. 5
Rights-LINK ApproachesRights-LINK Approaches
 Challenges to work with various stakeholders: government, CSOs andChallenges to work with various stakeholders: government, CSOs and
private sector on land issues,private sector on land issues,
 Government have limited resources and capacity, we seeGovernment have limited resources and capacity, we see
opportunity to build capacity of government officials and provideopportunity to build capacity of government officials and provide
resources for them to work on land issues,resources for them to work on land issues,
 Private sector has a different priority but we believe that their priorityPrivate sector has a different priority but we believe that their priority
can be enhanced if they understand how to support local people,can be enhanced if they understand how to 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 workNeed innovation that enable space for the stakeholders to work
together in a meaningful way,together in a meaningful way,

6. 6
Rights-LINK ApproachRights-LINK Approach
2. Identify gaps in
knowledge and
governance
2. Identify gaps in
knowledge and
governance
Government stakeholdersGovernment stakeholders
Rural farming communitiesRural farming communities
1. Listen to concerns
of the communities
1. Listen to concerns
of the communities
4. Pilot solutions4. Pilot solutions
Inputs from RL:
•Knowledge
•Tools
•Coordination
•Rights-based
approach
Principles:
•Network and
partnerships
•Participatory
•Locally-lead
3. Create tools
and curricula
3. Create tools
and curricula

7. Carrying out gap analysis to IdentifyCarrying out gap analysis to Identify
issues and solutionsissues and solutions
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Village levelVillage level District levelDistrict level Provincial levelProvincial level

8. Solutions to bridge priority gaps inSolutions 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

9. 9
Land rights calendar developed with multi stakeholdersLand rights calendar developed with multi stakeholders

10. 10
Land rights videos developed with multi stakeholdersLand rights videos developed with multi stakeholders

11. 11
Land Rights Education in ruralLand Rights Education in rural
communities by governmentcommunities by government
officialsofficials

12. 12
Land Rights Radio ProgramLand Rights Radio Program

13. 13
Provide legal advice andProvide legal advice and
counselling on land rights tocounselling on land rights to
communities by local justicecommunities by local justice
officialsofficials

14. 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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15. 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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16. Thank YouThank You
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