On 13 September 2022, with support from Christain aid through the Irish aid Programme Grant(IAPG11), Green Scenery provided capacity-building training for the District Multi Stakeholders Platform(DMSP) in Makeni Bombali district, the northern province of sierra leone on the Customary Land Rights Act and the National Land Commission Act 2022. The training serves as an eye-opener on the new land laws recently enacted by the legislative and executive arms of Sierra Leone’s government. The capacity and skills acquired will serve as a foundation and relevant tools in carrying out the mandates of the platform.
In 2020, Following the persistent increases in land rights abuses, tensions and sporadic conflicts over land-related issues in Sierra Leone, Green Scenery, a rights-based civil Society Organisation on natural Resources Governance, through the implementation of Pro-poor land governance project supported by Christian aid through Irish aid Program Grant (IAPG11), established the district Multi-stakeholder platform(DMSPs) in the Portloko and Bombli districts respectively.
As a result of the growing number of impacts and achievements made by the DMSP in Portloko and Bombali districts, In 2021, the organisation went further to establish the district Multi stakeholders Platform in Pujehun district. The initiative for the establishment of the DMSPs in the three districts came as a result of the growing number of sporadic land conflicts, human rights abuses, and lack of transparency and accountability in land-related issues in the rural setting in which women and children are disadvantaged most.
The DMSP have the following mandates: To Serve as an intermediary between land owners and Multinational companies resolving land conflict-related issues both at community and district levels, Serve as a hub for a conflict Redress Mechanism platform that receives complaints and feedback and addresses land conflict-related cases, Engage Multinational companies and other actors to uphold and demonstrates transparency and accountability on land rights issues at district levels, Work with stakeholders including traditional authorities and community members popularising the National Land Policy, VGGT and the twelve community entry protocols developed by Green Scenery , Work with other stakeholders at the district advocating for the repeal of cap 122 and push for the enactment of the National Policy into law, hold regular meetings and discuss issues around land rights protection, Serves as a point of contacts between land owners and agaric Company on land-related issues, Work with Green Scenery and give updates on land related issues and develop policy actions,work with other established structures at community and district making aim at bringing peace and national security that enhances the welding of rural citizens.
The establishment of District Multi-stakeholder platforms (DMSPs) has brought together representatives from different interest groups including CSOs, Media, government representatives, religious groups, land owners, women groups, persons with disability and other interest groups to discuss opportunities, shared challenges and develop policy action aiming at advocating and as well addressing issues around policy reforms on natural resources governance, social injustice, rights abuses, lack of accountable land governance and land conflict mediation in Port Loko, Bombali and Pujehun districts. Since the establishment of the DMSP by Green Scenery, the platform has made remarkable progress in land conflict mediation, land rights advocacy and accountable land governance in Portloko, Bomabli and to some extent Pujehun districts,
In November 2021, The District Multi-stakeholder platform on land rights, Port Loko district, after receiving capacity training from Green scenery in conflict mediation and land rights through the IAPG11 program implementation, for the first time dialogue with security (police) and other authorities, hence secured the release of five community members accused of buying the palm fruits of Sierra organic palm (SOP) Portlloko district. Sierra Organic Palm(SOP) is a large-scale agric company that took over part of the concession areas of Sierra Leone Agriculture company (SLA), after the high court defaults judgement against Sierra leone Agriculture Company(SLA) in 2018.
The action is relevant because, for the first time since the establishment of the District Multi Stakeholders Platform on land governance in Port Loko district, members on their own advocated and secured the release of community members accused of stealing the company palm fruits signified a great impact on the working mandates of the DMSP on rights issues.
Similarly, In July 2021, the District Multi stakeholders Platform on land rights Porloko district (DMSP,) took the case of conflict between cattle rearers and crop farmers and got the Paramount Chief to pay compensation to landowners ($ 100)for the damage coursed. The action demonstrated a big change in the behaviour of district stakeholders(Paramount Chiefs) ensuring conflict mediation and maximum protection of tenure security for landowners. The action also demonstrated a big change in the behaviour of stakeholders, especially duty-bearers on accountable land governance and respect for the rule of law.
As a result of the overwhelming impacts of the District Multi stakeholder’s platforms in recent years especially in settling land conflicts and advocating for a rights-based approach to land governance, Green Scenery see the need for capacity enhancement supports aiming at improving the knowledge-based and capacity of the Platform in the newly enacted land laws. The knowledge acquired will help the platform execute its mandates by ensuring the land laws are well cascaded at district and community levels, hoping to address a number of rights abuse and conflict-related issues. Participants applauded the work of Green Scenery and promised to utilise the knowledge acquired to reach our many targeted audiences,s, especially disadvantaged groups.
The issues around land conflict and rights abuses have become so topical and sensitive in enhancing sustainable peace and human security in sierra leone. There have been sporadic and systemic human rights abuses perpetrated by Multinational companies against land owners and land users in rural settings. The activities of the Multinational Companies have posed severe threats to both national security and the economic welding of rural citizens. To a larger extent, the actions of Multi-National companies in the land sector have put the socio-economic well-being of rural citizens especially women and children in a precarious situation, see Report on Malen Land Conflict.
