Presentation to the International Forum on Partnerships for Sustainable Development

4-16 March 2004
Rosalud Jing de la Rosa, LAND Partnerships Coordinator

PowerPoint Presentation

On behalf of the International Land Coalition, we would like to congratulate and thank the organisers of this event, especially for facilitating the Secretariat participation to this Panel, and more particularly the participation of our partner from Indonesia , Mrs. Maria Sumardjono. 

[ SLIDE 1 ] The International Land Coalition was formed in 1995, as an outcome of the Conference of Hunger and Poverty convened by IFAD, [ SLIDE 2 ]  with the aim of improving the secure access by resource poor rural households to land and other key assets.  The reasons for improving access to land are compelling.  Poverty reduction, food security,  sustainable natural resource management, conflict prevention, combating desertification,  and urban growth and migration are all closely related to land. 

[ SLIDE 3 ] As mentioned in the report we prepared and made available to this Forum, entitled Strengthening Partnerships for Secure Access to Land, available at this meeting, the comparative advantage of the International Land Coalition is its diverse membership.  This provides opportunity, influence and synergy with intergovernmental, civil society and governmental organisations. The Coalition has become known for its impartial convening capacity. This is central to the search for appropriate strategies within countries and at the international level.  It is actually the lessons that the Coalition accumulated over the years, since its founding in 1995, that we are using to implement LAND Partnerships.  This is our added value to the land and resource work of our members and partners in the areas of knowledge, networking, innovation and policy dialogue. [ SLIDE 4 ]  These advantages are also rooted in practical activities.   At present, the ILC is involved in 45 community-based projects, 5 women's resource access projects, 4 Land Alliances for National Development, advocacy and policy development. 

A frequently asked question is how has the Coalition built a strong alliance of diverse actors around an issue as sensitive as land. [ SLIDE 5 ]   Effective alliances depend on building common purpose.  The ILC invests ongoing efforts in building and evolving common understandings on land issues among its members.  Second, the ILC works to achieve complementarity by merging the interests and participation of its diverse membership into each activity - demonstrating that working together works.  Third, there is an ongoing need to strengthen the ILC's coordination capacity, governance and cross-institutional relationships. 

Another learning [ SLIDE 6 ] is the need to foster dialogue. Coalition members and powerful vested interests have different perspectives, philosophies and, in some cases, entrenched resistance to the changes needed to foster improved access to land.  Progress is directly attributable to creating opportunities for dialogue and fostering joint actions among stakeholders.  This naturally depends on effective representation by those affecting and those affected by decisions on land policy and programmes.  This is fostered by exchanging best practises. 

These lessons frame [ SLIDE 7 ] the approach taken by the International Land Coalition .  Land, like all development issues, must be tailored to the context of each country and community.  Most often, it is the specific social and political opportunities and obstacles that make progress possible or impossible.   This brings me back to the key lesson learned - the need for an impartial and trusted convenor. [ SLIDE 8 ]   This was the thinking that established the International Land Coalition . This is the optic through which our members from civil society, intergovernmental organisations and governments have come to see the value added by the work of the Coalition .

Thank you