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Dept for International Development

Answer

Ms Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the extent to which Rwanda's new land policy safeguards the livelihoods of the rural poor; what assessment he has made of its likely impact on security in the country; and if he will make a statement on how the UK will engage with Rwanda on the issue of land reform. [223852] Hilary Benn: Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa with 90 per cent. of a population of over 8 million people earning their livelihoods from the land. Most families operate at the level of subsistence agriculture, producing almost entirely for their own consumption. Tenure of some 90 per cent. of the arable land in Rwanda is currently based upon customary rights, with no formal written title. Rwanda faces the challenge of trying to promote economic growth and reduce poverty in an economy largely dependent upon unsustainable, low productivity subsistence agriculture, while at the same time addressing a historical legacy of land disputes in the interests of national reconciliation. Rwanda's Draft National Land Policy (June 2004) has the overall objective "to establish a land tenure system that guarantees tenure security for all Rwandans and give guidance to the necessary land reforms with a view to good management and rational use of national land resources" Safeguards for the Livelihoods of the Rural Poor The draft policy and land law include provisions that contribute to safeguarding the livelihoods of the poor in the following areas: Prohibition of any discrimination in land ownership or rights Preservation of existing land rights Limiting to an absence of 10 years on the right of refugees to claim back previously owned land now occupied by others Assertion that water is a public good to which everybody has access Provision of a land reserve, for allocation to landless people Local consultation for all proposed schemes for plot consolidation and compensation either financially or in kind where appropriate Administration of land belonging to genocide orphans under 18 years of age on their behalf until they come of age, and assistance to vulnerable orphans above 18 and widows in developing their land. However, the draft land law gives the government and its officials considerable administrative powers in order to achieve its policy objectives. Protecting the livelihoods of the rural poor will depend upon the way in which these powers are exercised. Likely impact upon security in Rwanda A lack of consistent policy and an absence of procedure for dealing with land was a contributory factor in the conflict in Rwanda that culminated in the genocide in 1994. The land reforms seek to remedy this and hopefully make an important contribution to achieving long-term peace and security in Rwanda. How the UK will engage with Rwanda on the issue of land reform DFID has been providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Land in Rwanda since August 2002 and supported the development of the "Strategic Plan for Agricultural Transformation in Rwanda". From this engagement we judge that the Government of Rwanda are sincere in their intentions of taking forward land reform in the best interests of all Rwandan people. The Government have noted that the land reform process will take at least 10 years and that the procedures envisaged in the policy and law will need to be carefully tested before they are implemented across the country. DFID's Rwanda programme is planning to provide support to produce a "road map" for the implementation of the land reform proposals. The support will focus on consultation with those affected by the land reform proposals; will test approaches to land reform based upon local priorities and provide the required, structured training for the Ministry of Land and other key Government of Rwanda staff involved in land reform.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

432 c1204-6W; 223852

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Agriculture Land Ownership Property law Tenure Security Reform Rural areas Rwanda

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk