It is key to carefully identify the constraints to growth and ensure project design is sufficiently detailed and scoped accordingly to addresses those specific constraints. If not, the program may focus on other sector aspects not originally envisioned. Access to land was identified as a key constraint to investment. Although Land Tenure Facilitation (LTF) did open and strengthen a couple land offices, its focus turned to mapping and issuance of land leases for the pilot district. This was supposed to improve tenure and related willingness to invest on farmland with the expectation of higher agricultural production. The mapping and leasing process did formalize existing informal land arrangements and allow for future business transactions to occur legally. However, LTF did not address the more complex land administration issues around land management and accessibility which would improve the ability for investors to access and develop agriculture land. Part of the issue stems from an incomplete understanding of the rural institutions and their management of land prior to compact implementation. This weakened MCC’s ability to design a project that fully addressed the constraints around land access.
Lesson Learned