(Ecofin Agency) - The Union des Associations et des Coordinations d’Associations pour le Développement et la Défense des Droits des Démunis (UACDDDD) of Mali has organized on August 1, 2016, as part of pilot phase of its project for a sensitization campaign on land securing issue (supported by German NGO Bread for the World), a workshop to present national authorities harmonized syntheses of usages and customs in land management.

During an assembly that regrouped representatives of ministerial departments, elected officials, teachers and members of the civic society, Chantal Jagouvete, the representative of Mali’s convergence against land grabbing (CMAT), explained that “the syntheses are presented to authorities in an effort to sensitize regarding the need to secure lands in Mali by relying on customary rights which must be respected in the rule of law”.

The UACDDDD decided to put the emphasis on customary right for a more efficient way to secure land because 80% of Malian land owners hold only these rights that are not taken into account by the land regulation which rather considers formal land titles, occupancy permits and letters of assist as proofs of ownership of a land. “Populations in rural areas that rely on customary land right are theoretically threatened to lose their access to land. Finding a solution to the current situation is most urgent, especially for women and the youth,” said the organization.

The UACDDDD campaign which focuses mainly on three of Mali’s localities, namely Mandé Badougou (Kati Circle), the Sansanding and Sibila Sana municipalities (Ségou Circle) and the N’goa and Djéguena municipalities (San Circle), should extend to other villages in the various municipalities covered by the project. The workshop suggested that authorities grant women access rights to larger lands, identify and document land-related usages and customs, develop local conventions for land management, and insert the project in town halls’ Plan for social, economic and cultural development (PDSEC).

Souha Touré