Property Rights & Land Titling Project, Lao PDR Update

Since our last newsletter, AusAID has approved the restructure of the technical assistance team, which will see all our national adviser positions extended up to the official end of AusAID’s Phase 2, in November 2008. It also permits some additional international cadastral inputs, to help the TA team to finalise its capacity-building program. AusAID has also approved the proposal for an extension of technical assistance to June 2009, to correspond with the official end of the World Bank Phase 2. This will permit in additional infusion of TA resources to help NLMA and the Department of Lands continue the expansion of land titling into the final three provinces and to plan for the expanded use of computer applications in systematic adjudication teams and land offices. In this regard, a significant recent development is the establishment of a Land Records Management Technical Working Group, which will review the 10- year computerisation plan and ensure a rational computerisation strategy across the departments of NLMA.

October will see several personnel changes on the Lao project. Steve McFadzean will be finishing up as team leader, and the qualities and energy he brought to the position will be missed by all. Steve will remain on the project to assist the NLMA in the preparation of two key reports which will assist the donors in determining if there is to be support for a project extension beyond June 2009. The new team leader will be Andre Hernandez, who has had extensive experience in land administration projects, including approximately three years on Phase 1 of this project. We will welcome the return of Kate Dalrymple for a short- term input in CES, and the new Australian Youth Ambassador Mark Williams, who will be bringing his GIS skills to assist the NLMA in its computerisation strategy. George Collett recently completed a short-term assignment on M&E, and his reports have provided valuable direction for future M&E activities. Daniel Carter and David McDowell will continue in their respective positions of Cadastral Survey Adviser and Land Registration Adviser.

Provided by David McDowell