Review and Update of the Strategic Plan for Implementation of Land Laws (SPILL)

Project Narrative

In 2005, the MLHHSD finished preparing a Strategic Plan for Implementation of Land Laws (SPILL). It was prepared to provide a broad framework for the implementation of Land Act No.4 of 1999, Village Land Act No. 5 of 1999 and Land Disputes Courts Act No. 2 of 2002. A Land Reform Program was designed to support key activities of SPILL to facilitate development of a competitive domestic private sector. Support was provided to more urgent activities identified for implementation in the first five years of the 10-year term of the SPILL.

Objectives included:

• Developing efficient land registration and administration services by re-engineering and computerising land registration processes and workflows
• Strengthening dispute resolution mechanisms
• Improving the infrastructure for surveying, mapping, and registration, and
• Decentralising land administration services at the district and village levels in about 15 districts.

Key services provided

Our team undertook extensive research, review and consultation to provide a review of the SPILL (2005) and, identified priority areas for implementation during a 10-year period. More details were provided in the initial five years to enable the completion of on-going initiatives, scale up recent pilot projects, and take advantage of the newly-established geodetic network and the coming Integrated Land Information Management System (ILMIS). A key part of the review was an assessment of the SPILL (2005), documentation of experiences gained during its implementation, changes that had taken place, and proposed improvements in the underlying land-related laws.

We worked closely with MLHHSD. As a roadmap for the development of the Land Sector in mainland Tanzania, SPILL (2013) was developed with wide consultation as a comprehensive vision and action plan. It also provided information on prioritisation and sequencing of activities (considering known constraints and resource challenges). It considered various costings and financing arrangements for sustainable implementation and identified priority areas and activities to assist the Government of Tanzania achieve its broader development goals of poverty reduction, agricultural transformation, and good governance.