The Sustainable Development Institute (SDI), through the National Land Coalition Liberia (MAP Liberia Land Platform) and the CSO Working Group on Land Rights Reform in Liberia, with support from the International Land Coalition (ILC), is pleased to publish a new policy brief titled "Defending Land, Protecting Rights: Civil Society Mobilization to Safeguard Liberia's Land Rights Act (2018)." The publication highlights the importance of protecting and fully implementing the Land Rights Act (LRA), which legally recognizes customary land ownership, strengthens community participation in land governance, and requires Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) for land-based investments.
The policy brief emphasizes that while the Land Rights Act provides a strong legal framework for securing customary land rights, its implementation continues to face challenges, including limited institutional capacity, overlapping mandates, and political resistance. Rather than weakening the law, the brief calls for stronger political commitment, improved coordination among institutions, and accelerated customary land formalization to promote peace, responsible investment, climate resilience, and inclusive rural development. It also outlines key recommendations for government, development partners, civil society, and communities to safeguard the Act and ensure its effective implementation nationwide.