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The Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) contributes to the
implementation of pro poor land policies to achieve
secure land rights for all.
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Improving Slum Conditions through Innovative Financing

plenary_1_enemark_1_300.jpgGlobal Land Tool Network contributed to the FIG Working Week in Stockholm, 17-18 June 2008

During a two-day seminar on Improving Slum Conditions through Innovative Financing
GLTN/UN-HABITAT and FIG (information see About the Co-sponsors at end) raised participant awareness on gender and land issues by co-hosting a series of country-presentations, regional ‘Dialogues’ and other activities. Women-headed households represent a high proportion of the poorest living in informal settlements worldwide. Despite the general progress on women’s rights in recent decades, their access to property and land tenure security has declined. A main reason for this decline, which land professionals and others point to, is the lack of effective and scalable gendered land tools.

A special ‘Dialogue on Land Management Practices and Tools and their Links to Efficient Finance’ was organized, during which a prolonged and many-sided discussion took place on gender, highlighting several country examples. Six country-level panel presentations provided insights on gender issues within existing land tenure systems in Africa (Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and Zambia) and Asia (Sri Lanka, Indonesia).

A roadmap for future collaboration, including implementation of the Gender Mechanism of the GLTN, was developed during a lunch-meeting on 18 June. A final day, wrap-up meeting provided a forum for all participants to reflect on the effectiveness of the overall strategy to raise awareness on gender, and how their own contributions helped achieve the goal.

At the close of the meeting ideas were put forward on future collaboration and next steps, including;
  • Gender information/training campaigns as a joint Lantmäteriet-Swedesurvey- UN-HABITAT initiative. These should focus on advocacy and make use of existing training modules (e.g. those already developed by Lantmäteriet)
  • Identify and transfer local needs and expertise, being careful to include NGOs with strong community-level links.
  • Encourage further research, especially on the gender and HIV/AIDS nexus in Africa.

About the co-sponsors

GLTN/UN-HABITAT
The Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) works to develop pro-poor, gendered and large-scale land tools which do not exist at country and global level and which will also help achieve the Millennium Development Goals. See www.gltn.net

FIG (International Federation of Surveyors)
The International Federation of Surveyors is an international, non-government organisation whose purpose is to support international collaboration for the progress of surveying in all
fields and applications. See www.fig.net

Lantmäteriet (National Land Survey/Swedesurvey)
Swedesurvey has a long experience in working with gender issues. With support from Sida, the organisation is developing a methodology for appropriate cadastral methods for urban areas in developing countries, with the aim of contributing to secure land rights for urban populations. See www.swedesurvey.se