Implementing Integrated Land Use Planning: A step-by-step guide for rural areas
PRACTITIONER’S GUIDE: STEP 3
PART 2
3.2. KEY QUESTIONS
Is the institution managing the multidisciplinary Task Force appropriate for the land use planning assignment?
At any decision-making level—national, sub-national, or local—the institution responsible for managing a multidisciplinary Task Force must be well-suited to the land use planning assignment. It should possess adequate multidisciplinary expertise and practical experience, demonstrated through successful handling of similar assignments in the past.
In many low- and middle-income countries, limited technical capacity poses a common constraint. At local and district levels, this issue can often be addressed by seconding specialized personnel from other institutions or engaging private service providers through competitive bidding.
At the national level, however, a frequent risk is that the institution with the legal mandate for land use planning is overstretched—lacking the human or financial resources to fully discharge its responsibilities (see example in Box 8). To mitigate this risk, it is essential that the governance structure for land use planning adheres to the principle of subsidiarity*, with the national level focusing on core responsibilities such as developing land use legislation and ensuring horizontal and vertical coordination of land use planning actors.
Box 8. Legal Mandate of the National Land Use Planning Commission, Tanzania
The National Land Use Planning Commission (NLUPC) was established under the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development by Act of Parliament No. 3 of 1984 as the principal advisory organ of the Tanzanian government on all matters related to land use.The commission’s establishment was seen as necessary to coordinate programs that affect land use, undertaken by different sectoral ministries.
In the Land Use Planning Act, Chapter 116, Section 7 of 2007 the functions of the NLUPC are stipulated as follows:
- To co-ordinate, advice and inspect all sectors on collective standards and to advice the Minister to make the agreed standards;
- To provide assistance to all land use planning authorities and prepare land use plans, monitor their implementation and, from time to time, evaluate them;
- To co-ordinate the activities of all bodies concerned with land use planning matters and serve as a channel of communication between such institutions and the Government;
- To design and disseminate programs that will effectively protect and enhance the quality of land and better land use planning;
- To stimulate public and private participation in activities related to land use planning for rational and beneficial use of land
- To foster co-operation between the Government, local government authorities and other institutions engaged in land use planning;
- To promote the advancement of scientific knowledge in land use matters and encourage the development of technology directed at the prevention or reduction of adverse effects on land;
- To specify standards, norms and criteria for the protection of beneficial uses and the maintenance of the quality of land;
- To undertake and co-ordinate research, investigation and surveys relating to land use planning and collect, collate and create a national data bank to disseminate information about the findings of such research, investigation or survey;
- To establish and operate a system of documentation and dissemination of information relating to land use planning;
- In consultation with any sector Ministries, examine existing laws and advise the Government on legislative and other measures for the management of land use planning and recommend their implementation;
- To establish and maintain liaison with other countries and international organizations, with respect to issues and matters relating to land use planning;
- To undertake, in co-operation with relevant agencies, programmes intended to enhance land use planning education, and public awareness about the need for sound land management and for enlisting public support and encouraging the effort made by other entities in that regard;
- To undertake and promote educational programmes in land use planning for the purpose of educating the public on proper land use planning and the role of the public in its protection, use and improvement;
- To ensure compliance with the approved land use plan, and
- To perform such any other functions as may be assigned to it under this Act
Is the Task Force fully informed of its purpose, terms of reference, and powers, and does it have access to all relevant information?
All background information compiled by the Coordinating Unit—on the area, the land use problem, and the relevant stakeholders—must be handed over to the Task Force upon its formation. The investment in information gathering during Step 1 and Step 2 ensures that the Task Force can commence its work without delay.
The Coordinating Unit must also ensure that the terms of reference and powers of the Task Force are clearly documented, fully understood, and agreed upon by all members. At the national level, the responsibilities, powers, and composition of the Task Force are often defined by law**.
3.2.3. Are stakeholders adequately represented in the Task Force and able to participate in collective decision-making?
Representatives from the stakeholder categories identified in Step 2 must be included in the Task Force, along with a representative from the Coordinating Unit. Effective collective decision-making requires not only balanced representation of stakeholder interests and technical expertise, but also clearly defined decision-making procedures.
As always, good meeting management is critical—especially in large Task Forces—requiring thorough preparation, a clear meeting purpose, and a strong focus on achieving tangible outcomes.
NOTES
* Subsidiarity holds that such functions of government should be performed at the lowest level possible, as long as they can be performed adequately. When they cannot, higher levels of government must intervene. This principle goes hand-in-hand with Participation, the principle that all peoples have a right to participate in the economic, political and cultural life of society, and in the decisions that affect their community (Caritas Canada, https://www.devp.org/en/resource/catholic-social-teaching/subsidiarity-and-the-role-of-government/).
** For example, in Tanzania the Land Use Planning Act of 2007 (http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/tan164483.pdf ) is very specific about these issues.
3.3. ACTIVITIES
Upon the launch of the Task Force, the documentation provided by the Coordinating Unit serves as the starting point for developing a workplan. The content and structure of this workplan will depend on whether the focus is on project-level planning (typically at the community or sub-national level) or on national-level strategic planning.
For project-based land use planning, the workplan should include:
• A checklist of major planning tasks;
• Identification of the individuals or organizations responsible for each task;
• Time estimates, milestones, and deadlines for each task, along with a bar chart indicating task dependencies;
• Budget estimates for each activity and a list of required resources.
As previously mentioned, the role of a National Task Force is generally oriented towards coordination and oversight of land use planning activities rather than direct implementation. In this context, the Task Force’s workplan should focus on:
• Maintaining and updating a database of ongoing land use planning projects and the organizations involved;
• Monitoring project implementation through the submission and review of mandatory progress reports;
• Scheduling regular meetings with representatives from lower levels of governance;
• Recommending updates to land use legislation and policy frameworks in response to evolving conditions or new knowledge;
• Publishing periodic “State of the Land” reports to inform stakeholders and decision-makers;
• Collaborating with international organizations to develop country action plans addressing cross-boundary land use and environmental challenges with regional or global significance—such as those driven by climate change or population pressure.
3.4. DELIVERABLES
- At all levels: a multidisciplinary Task Force is established and operational;
- For project-level land use planning: A workplan outlining tasks, timelines, budgets, and responsible individuals or organizations;
- For strategic planning: documentation of activities, including databases, websites, meeting minutes, workshop reports, progress reports, and publications.
3.5. TOOLS
The following tools from the Step 3 Checklist provide principles and examples for organizing multi-layered, multidisciplinary Task Forces:
FUTURE_LAND: Offers guidance on the foundational principles and practical steps for establishing multidisciplinary Task Forces at the community, sub-national, and national levels.
PTP_PHI: Presents a case study from the Philippines, showcasing a layered development planning process from the municipal to the national level. Planning teams at each level assess development plans for technical feasibility, social acceptability, financial viability, and environmental soundness.
| CHECKLIST | |
| Step 3 Establish a multidisciplinary task force that includes stakeholder representatives | |
| Responsibility | Coordinating entity => Land use planning task force |
| Key Questions | Is the institution in charge of managing the Task Force the most appropriate for the land use planning assignment? |
| Is the Task Force fully informed of its purpose, terms of reference, and powers, and does it have access to all relevant information? | |
| Are stakeholders sufficiently represented in the Task Force and able to participate in collective decision-making? | |
| Activities | Establish a Task Force that provides both the necessary technical expertise and a sound understanding of stakeholder needs to guide the land use planning process. |
| Prepare and communicate the Task Force’s terms of reference and powers to relevant institutions. | |
| Ensure the Task Force has access to all necessary information and a clear understanding of how to address the land use issue. | |
| Support the development of a workplan appropriate to the Task Force’s level—project or strategic. | |
| Deliverables | • Multidisciplinary Land Use Planning Task Force established and operational. • Workplan developed (for project-level planning). • Documentation of activities, meetings, and outputs available (for strategic-level planning). |
| Tools | FUTURE_LAND, PTP_PHI |