We have Evolved: Know more about our Revised Theory of Change
As COLANDEF celebrates 20 years of impactful work, we also look forward with a renewed focus and a refined Theory of Change (ToC) that outlines our path to securing agricultural land rights and transforming Ghana’s land sector.
The Problem We Seek to Solve
Ghana’s agricultural lands, which comprise 55.39% of the country’s land and contribute significantly to its Gross domestic product (GDP), remain vulnerable due to unclear, undocumented, and unprotected land tenure systems. Customary land rights holders, particularly smallholder farmers who form the backbone of Ghana’s agricultural labor force, face limited access to secure land rights. This issue threatens food security, livelihoods, and the broader national economy.
At the core of the problem are systemic gaps:
Customary land management practices often fail to prioritize farmers’ land rights.
State and customary land institutions lack the capacity and systems to safeguard agricultural land tenure.
Smallholder farmers are not sufficiently empowered to advocate for or protect their land rights.
Our Vision
An end to agricultural land tenure insecurity under a unified land sector.
Our Mission
We are a non-governmental organization that spearheads the creation of inclusive land policies and robust land governance systems for increased access to, and security of tenure for smallholder agricultural land users in Ghana.
Our Pathways for Change
To achieve this vision, our ToC outlines three key intervention areas:
Transform Service Delivery of Land Sector Institutions:
Partnering with state agencies, traditional authorities, and local governments to improve land governance practices.
Training and equipping Customary Land Secretariats (CLSs) to adopt land rights documentation services.
Establishing partnerships with community-based organizations (CBOs) to amplify service delivery at the local level.
Educate on Land Rights:
Conducting public education campaigns to empower customary land users with knowledge about their rights.
Producing accessible materials to reach diverse audiences, particularly smallholder farmers and women.
Engaging farmer-based cooperatives to enhance their capacity to secure land rights.
Advocate for Inclusive Land Governance:
Promoting policies that prioritize agricultural land rights protection.
Strengthening the representation of customary land actors, including women and Queen Mothers, in national and local decision-making spaces.
Collaborating with key stakeholders to design and implement inclusive governance frameworks.
Our Forward-Looking Goals
By 2033, COLANDEF aims to achieve:
Awareness and Reach: Educate half a million agricultural land users on their rights.
Empowered Institutions: Support 70% of customary land institutions to provide land rights documentation services.
Inclusive Governance: Ensure 60% inclusion and representation of customary land actors in both state and customary governance systems.
COLANDEF’s approach is rooted in partnerships, innovation, and community engagement. By integrating traditional practices with modern governance principles, we bridge the gap between customary systems and state mechanisms, ensuring sustainability and inclusivity.
The next decade represents an opportunity to scale up our efforts, leveraging lessons from the past 20 years to create a future where agricultural land tenure is secure, sustainable, and equitable for all. Through collaboration, education, and advocacy, COLANDEF remains committed to transforming Ghana’s land sector and empowering the communities that depend on it.
Together, we can achieve lasting change!