Abstract
Humanitarian and development organizations working in conflict-affected settings have a particular responsibility to do no harm and contribute to the wellbeing of the population without bias. The highly complex, politicized realities of work in conflict- and post-conflict settings often require quick, pragmatic and results-oriented decisions, the foundations of which remain frequently implicit. Such decisions might follow an intrinsic logic or situational pragmatism rather than intensive deliberation. This paper reflects on the realities of working on land governance in post-conflict settings shaped by migration, ethnic division, power struggles and limited statehood. Using case examples from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi, this paper reflects on the drivers of decisions around land governance in such contexts in a structured, theoretically informed way. Drawing on the author’s own experience with supporting land rights work and utilizing Giddens’ concept of the Duality of Structure, this article provides an analysis of actors and structures that sheds light on the factors that affect the decision-making of practitioners relating to land rights in post-conflict areas of limited statehood.
Highlights
In the African Great Lakes Region, land, conflict and displacement are connected in a multi-faceted relationship
NGOs operating in these complex environments often take operative decisions with far-reaching consequences. Such decisions relate to questions regarding if and how to engage with land governance, how to address land conflicts, in what way to deal with tensions between statutory and customary land management systems, as well as how to engage with opposing actors
Knowing that land governance is a crucial factor for peaceful and sustainable development but one that is not receiving sufficient attention in post-conflict settings places a heavy burden on the actors engaged in this field of work
Summary
In the African Great Lakes Region, land, conflict and displacement are connected in a multi-faceted relationship. Questions of identity and belonging add an additional layer of complexity [1,2]. Violent conflict causes displacement, while displacement constitutes a driver of conflict. This is the case where displaced people migrate to areas where resources are scarce and tenure rights are insecure. NGOs operating in these complex environments often take operative decisions with far-reaching consequences. Such decisions relate to questions regarding if and how to engage with land governance, how to address land conflicts, in what way to deal with tensions between statutory and customary land management systems, as well as how to engage with opposing actors
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