Policy Brief – Benefits of a more sustainable approach to land administration transitions

This Policy Brief, written by Dr Richard Baldwin and commissioned by the Land Facility Decision Support Unit, outlines the benefits of adopting a sustainable finance approach to land administration systems. It examines why countries may move towards financing models that mobilise domestic revenue, leverage land-based assets, ensure cost-effective operations, and deliver tangible benefits for governments and landholders.

Despite decades of investment by governments and development partners, very few developing countries have established nationwide, functional land administration systems capable of providing secure tenure, supporting land markets, and generating land-based revenues. The traditional model – heavy upfront donor funding, limited cost recovery, and under-resourced institutions – has consistently proven inadequate.

Evidence shows that, by adopting a sustainable finance approach, well-designed land administration systems can pay for themselves and generate broader economic benefits that far exceed their costs. The transition to this approach requires political commitment, strategic planning, and systemic thinking – but the potential gains are transformative.

Download the Brief to find out more about developing the approach, the benefits and recommendations for action.

Click here to read the research report.