Access to land is a necessary part of housing development. However, certain tenure systems don’t support the emergence of formal land markets, and ineffective land administration can also hamper efforts to make land available. Only an estimated 10% of land in Sub-Saharan Africa is formally registered, and land that is not registered is difficult to secure for housing development. Governments, then, need to play a key role in the recording and enforcing of ownership claims.
Aiming to streamline land ownership registration procedures, Lesotho formed a Land Administration Authority in 2012. The formation of this authority has resulted in significantly reduced wait times and improved timelines for application turnaround. The administration has also received support from land-holding communities.
Source:
World Bank Group. (2015) Stocktaking of the Housing Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and Opportunities. World Bank, Washington, DC.