General

The Economic Growth Hubs Project is a Cooperative Agreement with the Asia Foundation. The project has three objectives: Better Provision of Infrastructure, Better Performing Economic Growth Hubs, and Promoting a political economy approach to economic policy reform process. One of the activities under Better Performing Economic Growth Hubs was the provision of technical support for the passage and effective implementation of the Residential Free Patent law in the Philippines. The Residential Free Patent Act (RA 10023), passed in March 2010, creates a low-cost, administrative procedure to more efficiently title the estimated 8,000,000 untitled residential parcels in the country and unlock “dead capital” to drive economic development. Objectives Better Provision of Infrastructure: a) Through improved public-private partnerships (PPP) – This activity will seek to establish an enduring policy and institutional environment that promotes competitively bid and properly implemented PPP infrastructure projects; b) Through increasing transparency and accountability in budget and spending – The goal is to broaden participation in the allocation and implementation of infrastructure investments. The project will provide technical assistance to civil society, business associations and/or government institutions to increase understanding and participation in the decision-making and implementation processes of infrastructure projects in the Philippines; c) To expand Philippine Roll On, Roll Off (RoRo) network both domestically and regionally Better improving growth hubs: a) Improve the institutional capacity of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA); b) Develop the Subic-Clark as a major tourism and logistics hub; c) Assist in the effective implementation of the Residential Free Patent law Promoting a political economy approach to economic policy reform process – to develop material to increase understanding of the political economy of reform, to develop policy entrepreneurs, inform the design of donor project activities, and support new reform initiatives (with AusAID and World Bank) Outcomes To improve the security of property rights in the Philippines, USAID supported the implementation of the Residential Free Patent Act (RA 10023), passed in March 2010, that creates a low-cost, administrative procedure to more efficiently title the estimated eight million untitled residential parcels in the country and unlock “dead capital” to drive economic development. To further institutionalize reform, the project help established robust partnerships between national Department of Environment and Resources (DENR) and local governments. These partnerships leverage the authority of DENR to issue titles and the resources and interests of LGUs in land titling. Since the pilot was launched in Cebu in January 2011, over 100 local governments have established “land offices”. Based on lessons from the field and working with the DENR’s Land Management Bureau, the project also developed a manual to guide DENR and LGU personnel on establishing and operating land offices.

General

The Indonesia Marine and Climate Support (IMACS) is a four-year project that is aimed to improve marine resources management in Indonesia. IMACS is working to strengthen the management capacity of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) and local government, enhance local communities and the private sector engagement through open and transparent governance, and provide technical support for key activities that support marine resources management and communities’ empowerment. The project aims to improve coastal communities’ responses to near-term disasters and long-term impact created by climate change. Partnering with the government of Indonesia, the project addresses risks affecting its coastal inhabitants by building the capacity of the MMAF. The project is improving biodiversity resilience for food and economic security and increasing the resilience of natural ecosystems and coastal communities to adapt to climate change and reduce risks from disasters. The program is being implemented through a partnership with the Government of Indonesia (GOI) through MMAF, coordination with other USAID marine implementing partners, and other relevant stakeholders in Indonesia both at national and local levels. Objectives Enhance Institutional Development of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Improve Sustainable Fisheries Management Strengthen Coastal Community Resilience and Climate Change Adaptation

General

Land Policy and Institutional Support in Liberia The Land Policy and Institutional Support (LPIS) Project, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), is collaborating with the Liberian Land Commission, the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy (MLME) and the Center for National Document and Records Agency (CNDRA) to improve the policy and legal frameworks for land management and thereby increase security of tenure, investment in land, and land market activity. LPIS provided recommendations for addressing sources of tenure insecurity faced by rural communities in Liberia based on land and natural resource tenure field research. The Land Commission has already incorporated these recommendations in drafting a land rights policy that recognizes customary tenure and stipulates that the tenure category has the same rights as private tenure and should be protected accordingly. The draft policy paper is a result of lengthy deliberations of a Real Property Task Force, one of many task forces within the Land Commission. USAID and MCC are supporting other task forces, land conflict resolution, land use and management, and land administration, through technical assistance. LPIS collaborated with the Department of Lands, Surveys and Cartography within MLME, as well as the Survey Licensing and Registration Board and the Cartographic and Surveyors Association of Liberia, to improve the survey infrastructure through the acquisition and subsequent training in the use of modern survey equipment, as well as reviews of existing spatial data, and development of geodetic control standards. LPIS conducted a thorough baseline study of existing processes within CNDRA, followed by developing numerous recommendations for modernizing the institution. CNDRA has undergone ambitious reform over the last year, highlighted by the opening of the Customer Service Center. LPIS supported the physical reconstruction of the center as well as the provision of hardware and software to digitize and register land deeds. The center allows CNDRA staff to quickly scan land deeds and accompanying maps and return the original documents to the landowners. In the two months following the opening of the Customer Service Center, over 400 transactions took place, of which 76 were deeds, and 10 enquiries. The Land Policy and Institutional Support (LPIS) project seeks to 1) increase clarity and public understanding of property rights issues in order to inform reforms of land policies and laws; 2) rebuild management and public and private surveying capacity to improve future land administration, and 3) increase efficiency in deed registration, restore and improve deed records and procedures. Objectives Provide information needed for reforms in land policy and law to promote equitable access to land and increased land tenure security. Rebuild technical capacity in land administration and surveying in the Department of Land, Surveys and Cartography (DLSC) of the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy (MLME), and the private sector. Rehabilitate the Deed Registry system within the Center for National Documents and Records/Archives (CNDA), including minor physical repairs, provision of office equipment, and funding for the preservation and digitization of records of land rights. Outcomes Enrolled six Liberian youth in a scholarship program to obtain a Master’s degree in Land Administration/Surveying. After completing their degree in 2013, the students will develop a university curriculum and work for the government to rebuild services and capacity. Completed a pilot project in Lofa County’s Zorzor District and Maryland County’s Pleebo District to inventory tribal certificates. Rehabilitated the CNDA customer service center, with the facility scheduled to open in August 2012.