An Overview of Frontier Technologies for Land Tenure: How to Avoid the Hype and Focus on What Matters

Simon Hull (), Harold Liversage, Maria Paola Rizzo and Vladimir Evtimov
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Simon Hull: Division of Geomatics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
Harold Liversage: International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), 00142 Rome, Italy
Maria Paola Rizzo: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 00153 Rome, Italy
Vladimir Evtimov: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 00153 Rome, Italy

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: Secure land and natural resource rights are key ingredients for rural transformation, social inclusion, and the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals. In many cases, these rights are not formally recorded, and statutory land administration systems are inaccessible to rural communities. The rapid development of geospatial technologies and systems, combined with participatory methods for social empowerment, have contributed significantly to addressing these challenges and in developing fit-for-purpose land administration/land recordation systems that promote land tenure security, but with the plethora of options currently available, it is challenging to know which technologies are appropriate for what circumstances and purposes. This paper reports on the findings from a joint FAO/IFAD project that addresses this problem. Thirteen one-hour interviews were conducted with knowledgeable experts to showcase which technologies are being used for what purposes and by whom, the associated benefits and challenges, and what the future may hold. We conclude that technologies are best used in partnership with communities and as integrated solutions, that successful implementations must incorporate maintenance plans, and that the real challenge is not the technology–it is the social, legal, and political context. These findings are useful for governments, NGOs, academia, donors, and others involved in land-related projects aimed at benefitting small-scale farmers.

Keywords: frontier technology; land tenure security; land rights; land administration; fit-for-purpose (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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