Rwanda Initiative for
Sustainable Development

Kigali, 22.10.2012 The Rwanda Initiative for Sustainable Development (RISD) leads the development of an international main government support tool ( scorecard) for implementation of land policy framework guidelines (LPFG). The phase of implementation of the scorecard started on 08 October 2012 in three pilot countries namely Rwanda, Benin and Kenya. The African Union Land Policy Framework and Guidelines (AU LPFG) is the result of a Land Policy Initiative (LPI) which was launched in 2006 by the African Union Commission (AUC) in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Development Bank. Main tool to support government initiatives in the implementation of the AU LPFG is the new scorecard which was initiated by the International Land Coalition (ILC) and developed by the Rwandan nongovernmental organization RISD. The Scorecard presents a good strategy for strengthening the partnership between government and non-state actors, which is critically important towards the success of the ALPFG. To that end, RISD and its partners placed emphasis on promoting and facilitating dialogue between governments and non-state actors, using a multi-stakeholder approach in the scorecards design. The Scorecard process seeks to give voice to different viewpoints leading to effective advocacy through stimulating constructive dialogue and policy debate. Participation and engagement of local land-related organizations such as the Rwandan nongovernmental organization RISD will reduce subjectivity, as well as broaden the debate, as a contribution to sustainable land policy processes. Information generated through the ILC Africa Scorecard will be shared through a website, which will be accessible to other stakeholders. However the objective is not to compare the participating countries, but to share the knowledge for a better development of land policies that are pro-poor and promote economic growth, while protecting the land rights of the vulnerable especially women and children. Thematic focus of the scorecard are the following land related areas: • The Land Policy Development Process; • The Land Policy implementation Process; • Appropriate institutional framework; • Adequate resource allocation (financial, human, technical); • Legal framework; • Strengthening the tenure security of women; • Centrality of land in the development process The implementation of the AU LPFG is done currently in three pilot countries by a team of expert in each country, composed by ILC members and different government officials from offices that deal with land and statistics. The team of expert is led by a focal point who gathers information that the team validates before it is uploaded to the website that hosts the scorecard.