Context
Land-use practices in the Republic of Congo have long lacked strategic coordination and cross-sectoral harmonisation, particularly with regard to securing usage rights. These shortcomings are one of the indirect causes of deforestation and forest degradation. The implementation of a multi-sectoral spatial planning process is a priority social and environmental issue.
In light of these issues, the Congolese government adopted Law n°43-2014 on land use planning and development , which sets out "the legal framework for land use planning policy in the Congo", "in line with the objectives and principles of sustainable development". In particular, it aims to "provide the country with a balanced spatial organisation and networks of infrastructure and structuring facilities", and should make it possible to articulate "all orientations, strategies and actions on the territory".
US$ approved as of December 2022
US$ transferred as of December 2022
US$ spent as of September 2023
National Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) methodology approved
Database for HCV & HCS forests
Departmental land-use plans (SDAT) created
Objectives
The overall objective of the Sustainable Land Use Programme is to define an inclusive and concerted process for planning the use and utilisation of rural land on a national scale. It aims to enable the Republic of Congo with strategic planning across the territory which will notably promote achieving national food self-sufficiency. It will also support the implementation of the country's economic diversification policy, as expressed in the National Development Plan 2022-2026.
The land use planning process to be developed aims to promote the development of zero-deforestation agriculture and sustainable land management methods, particularly for forests and peatlands. It should guarantee a balance between their various uses, minimising the risk of conflicts arising from incompatible overlaps, while taking into account, in a forward-looking manner, the major development projects impacting rural areas (mining, oil, agroforestry).
The programme's activities are aimed at structuring the approach to national land use planning, by supporting the development of:
- the National Land Use Plan (PNAT)
- the National Land Use and Development Plan (SNAT)
- two pilot departmental plans (SDAT)
These priority projects include activities to structure and harmonize sectoral policies affecting rural land, and to strengthen the protection of sensitive ecosystems (forests and peatlands).
They also require the building of a dialogue between key sector ministries, sector players (civil society and private sector) and representatives of local communities and indigenous populations.
The 5-year programme (2022-2027) will start by setting up a Land Management Coordination Group and implementing a capacity-building plan tailored to each stakeholder.
Results
The Sustainable Land Use Planning project will be carried out in two phases:
Phase 1 (2 years - 2022-2024): Construction of the regional planning process
In 2022, the main actions carried out as part of the start-up phase of the programme were:
- Mobilisation of the members of the implementation units, in particular the National Coordination Unit anchored at the Ministry of Land Use Planning, Infrastructure and Roadworks (MATIER) level and the programme's three Management Units (with each of three ministries: MAEP, MEF and MEDDBC --see partners above)
- Preparation and signature of two AFD-Congo financing agreements: Finance agreement CCG 1157 01F [AFD] and Finance agreement CCG 1179 01K [CAFI], signed on December 19, 2022 in the presence of the French Secretary of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships
- Launch of the recruitment process for the project management technical assistants (ATMO) and technical partners (CIRAD, WWF, WCS, WRI, HCV and WWF --see partners above)
- Holding the 1st technical monitoring committee meeting in December 2022
Phase 2 (3 years - 2025-2027): Application of the land use planning process
Decisions on national guidelines for the planning and development of rural land and implementation in two pilot departments