OVERVIEW

USAID’s Land for Prosperity Activity works with the Government of Colombia (GOC) to foster rural economic development. Rural economic development in Colombia has been hindered by a lack of citizen and government clarity about land tenure and property rights.  The perpetuation of informal land rights also inhibits economic growth, encourages illicit economies and activities, and facilitates illegal land appropriation. Land for Prosperity seeks to address challenges stemming from informal land rights through land titling programs, strengthening government capacities to manage land, and creating legal economic opportunities for rural community members. Land for Prosperity is being implemented in over 70 municipalities and runs from September 2019 – August 2024.

COMPONENTS

Facilitating Land titling and Restutition

Land for Prosperity works with GOC agencies, communities, academia and the private sector to consolidate a national land formalization model. This model will help establish clear property rights, thus promoting legal economic development and improving citizens’ quality of life.

Strenghtening Local Capacities

Land for Prosperity strengthens GOC and municipal administrations’ capacities to oversee and enforce legal land sales and the transference of land titles. LPA also helps create digital land management oversight tools and databases to manage land ownership records and ensure property rights.

Encouraging Public-Private Partnerships

Land for Prosperity supports the formation of public-private partnerships to strengthen local value chains, create new job opportunities, and spur rural economic development. Simultaneously, Land for Prosperity works with local government administrations to mobilize resources needed for investment projects and improved service provision, like water and electricity.

RESULTS

• Help the GOC develop massive land formalization processes;
• Provide legal land titles to 20,000 rural landowners, including 10,000 women landowners;
• Strengthen 23 municipal administrations’ capacities to create and sustain municipal land offices;
• Create 25 public-private partnerships, mobilizing USD $170 million in public and private funds, that contribute to legal economic development.

Related Links

USAID/Colombia