When land offices are established at the end of a compact, it is hard to ensure sustainability and effective operations. Land offices would benefit from operationalization earlier in the compact to allow a period of learning or MCC or clear agreements in place with other donors to support these institutions once the compact ends. For Land Tenure Facilitation, the District Land Commission was established towards the end of the compact. Although the evaluation did not focus on sustainability of the land office, the understanding was the World Bank would continue strengthening and using the offices as part of its Land Administration Project (LAP). Similarly, in Mozambique, the Dutch took over the land information system and related capacity building of the provincial and national land offices. The dependence on donors is riskier but allows more time for these offices to improve their operations with support. Alternatively, MCC can establish offices early in the compact and work together through any potential operational issues prior to compact end.
Lesson Learned