Assessing good governance in rural land administration in eastern zone of Tigray National Regional State, Ethiopia: Challenges and policy frameworks

Abstract

This study assessed the challenges and policy frameworks of good governance practices in rural land administration. The design adopted was the cross sectional descriptive research design, with mixed approach and primary and secondary sources. Primary data was obtained through questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions, whereas secondary data involved reviewing literature from journals and legal frameworks. The study also adopted the purposive and systematic sampling techniques. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, whereas the qualitative were analyzed using thematic analysis. This study found that corruption and rent seeking behavior, absence of implementing the given code of conduct, ineffective complaint hearing mechanisms, and lack of qualified personnel, were the challenges in rural land administration. Moreover, unsuitable land laws, lack of clarity of land allocation, lack of committed land administration officials, lack of motivation to the land administration committees and land tribunals at the tabia and kushet level, were also other challenges in rural land administration. Strengthening the woreda complaint hearing offices through delivering ‘on job training’ and ‘off job training’, and revising the land law that dictates age based land allocation to the farmers, to family number based allocation that assures the need of the farmers, were stated as recommendations.