Prevalence of Land Disputes

Indicator Phrasing

Percentage of population who have been involved in land disputes in the past X years.
See indicator in other languages

Indicator Phrasing

English: Percentage of population who have been involved in land disputes in the past X years.

French: Pourcentage de la population ayant été impliquée dans des litiges fonciers au cours des X dernières années.

What is its purpose?

Measuring the prevalence of land disputes before an intervention will show the scale and severity of land disputes. Measuring the prevalence of land disputes during the intervention will show how the intervention is affecting this prevalence compared to the initial measurement. Measuring the prevalence of land disputes after the intervention will show the effect of the intervention on the prevalence of land disputes and how this has changed over the course of the intervention period.

How to Collect and Analyse the Required Data

Data to be collected through a survey with a sample size representative for the (targeted) population

The number of past years can be decided during the project design, depending on the (conflict) context and the duration of the intervention

Example question for the survey: "Have you been involved in a land dispute in the past X years?" [Yes / No]

This is sufficient to aliment the indicator by calculating the percentage of the respondents (of the rpresentative sample size) who answered "Yes" to this question. 

However, there are a few optional follow-up questions that will provide more information and better understanding of the situation: 

Optional follow-up questions when the respondent has been involved in a land dispute in the past X years: 

"Has the land dispute been resolved?" [Yes / No]

  • If yes: "How has the land dispute been resolved?" 
  • If no: "Have you addressed the land dispute to a third party for conflict resolution?" [Yes / No]
    • If yes: Which third party? [Family member / Local traditional leader / Formal administration / Peace committee / Court / Other]

"What was the nature of the land dispute?" [Boundaries / Occupancy / Population displacement / Selling and buying / Rental / Contested land use / Inheritance / Other]

Disaggregate by

Sex

Age

Important Comments

Be aware that the prevalence of land disputes can increase during the first phase of the intervention as "sleeping" disputes might be awakened by the intervention. This is often logic and should not shock us too much, as long as a decent dispute resolution strategy is in place. If land dispute reduction is an aim of the intervention, then the prevalence of land disputes should eventually decrease and result in a lower prevalence than at the start of the intervention. 

This guidance was prepared by ZOA ©

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