Mekong Region Land Governance Project

2nd Regional Stakeholder Consultation Workshop

Mercure Hotel, Vientiane, Lao PDR23-24th February 2016

Implemented by Supported by

Funded by

Expected Workshop Outcomes

Intention

• Strengthening and enlarging alliances along the key MRLG thematic priorities.

• Commitment to participate in an action agenda toward policy and practice influencing through regional and country level actions.

Expected Workshop Outcomes

Outcome

• Maturing our common understanding of the thematic areas

• Consolidating our alliances and commitment to network and work together.

Unanswered questions …

• Can MRLG assist the government to provide land titling?– If government can convince MRLG that within 6 months they would

provide land title to secure the rights of communities where there access to land is under threat, MRLG would react through a QDF.

– MRLG are not equipped or designed to undertake bilateral agreement with government to undertake land titling which is the mandate of government.

• L&A amount should be increased?– Yes – it has been and MRLG are commited to ensure activities you

undertake with us are well funded, but that partners also show clear levels of commitment to work together for the same principles and goals.

Unanswered questions …• Timeliness of fund release?

– Funding is for quality projects, we will endeavour to be faster, but we have quality control prior to funding.

• Linking with other regional initiatives on land/policies– MRLG are open to this, and will look to define more synergies

• Increasing engagement with government agencies on concerned with land– This is ongoing. It takes 2 to tango. – Yes MRLG will / does provide direct support to Governments, and can do so in

an Innovation Fund project. • How did MRLG secure fund support form other donors?

– It was part of the project design from the beginning. Development partner agreements.

Next Steps

• Customary Tenure:– widen scope and identify of regional examples.– Formulating a communication strategy for the network.– Strengthen linkages with national level activities and

engagement with government actors.

Next Steps

• LSLA:– Continuing the research policy dialogue– Produce final literature review of FDI large scale land

acquisition in CLMV • Then produce policy brief with policy relevant

questions (Now – July 2016)– Ongoing discussion for scaling up the research and policy

dialogue interaction.

Next Steps

• Private Sector Engagement:– Finalise our plan of activities and information crowd

sourcing.– Expanding our exchange opportunities to some wider

groups– Share the idea with relevant government agencies– Set up a wiki space for our group to work virtually and

then identify moments for joint action.

MRLG Next Steps

• Finalise and share the action agenda for each of the Regional Learning and Alliance Activities

• National L&A activities will be continued and facilitated by our National Facilitators, completing the first round and expanding the new activities. – National Stakeholder Workshop in Myanmar still to happen.

MRLG Next Steps

• MRLG will share updates via our Newsletter and website• Innovation Fund activities and results will be communicated• QDF remains open … • Innovation Fund Call opens 14th March … Closes 13th May

– Assistance to Government to prepare proposals starting next week. • M-LIKE will commence implementation from April 2016

MRLG L&A Next Steps

• Finalise and share the action agenda for each of the L&A Regional Activities

• National L&A activities will be continued and facilitated by our National Facilitators– National Stakeholder Workshop in Myanmar still to happen.

• Open working groups

When can I get the presentations? !

• Sending out Workshop presentations and report.• Disseminate Participant List and also list of thematic

working group members.

Today 1.30 – 5pm

Saravan Room (where LSLA group met)

Mekong Land Research Forum (continues Thursday 25th morning)

Houaxay Room (where Customary Group met)

NGO Collaboration Discussion

See you at the Regional Land Forum

www.mrlg.org

2nd Innovation Fund CallCall opens … 14th March 2016

Preference towards proposals from government institutions, private sector organizations or other organizations jointly implementing with

government and/or private sector organizations.Innovative project proposals must: • pursue multi-stakeholder collaborations • improve the tenure security of family farmers • Thematic focus on: land rights and customary tenure

recognition; regulation of large scale land acquisition; and responsible land-based investments; and land conflict transformation