Unlocking Land for Return: Comprehensive Land Certification in Burundi

Editorial — As the global development landscape evolves in response to overlapping crises, fiscal constraints, and an urgent call for localisation, the issue of land governance has never been more pressing. Land is far more than a physical space; it is the foundation of shelter, livelihoods, dignity, and citizenship. For displaced populations seeking to return home, land is not only a symbol of belonging — it is the very mechanism through which reintegration becomes sustainable.

Burundian refugee returnees, are seen huddled outside one their modest yet durable homes built on land they purchased using UNHCR cash assistance. Equipped with new skills in farming, soap-making, tailoring, masonry, and carpentry, they are determined to rebuild their lives and livelihoods after years of displacement.

At LPN Global, we are advancing a new approach to land governance that focuses on connecting local innovation to global opportunity. Our programme implementation model is grounded in three interlinked pillars: global visibility, resource mobilisation, and capacity development. We are now exploring a pilot initiative in Burundi — a country where need, opportunity, and political will align in powerful ways.

The Burundian Context: Risk and Opportunity

Burundi’s long history of conflict and displacement has created complex land tenure challenges. For decades, successive waves of refugees have sought asylum in neighbouring countries. In recent years, a growing number of these refugees have voluntarily returned. Their return, while hopeful, is fraught with challenges, particularly around land access and security of tenure.

Returnees often arrive to find their former land occupied, disputed, or undocumented. Nonetheless, many have pooled modest return grants — provided by UNHCR — to purchase land, construct basic homes, and resume agricultural activities. These efforts are unfolding without formal land titles, leaving returnees exposed to disputes, eviction, and renewed vulnerability.

Yet amidst these risks lies significant opportunity. Burundi is home to a proven model of comprehensive land certification, implemented by local actors such as ZOA and their civil society partners. These initiatives have shown that it is possible to deliver low-cost, participatory, and legally recognised land documentation through a combination of community engagement, technical surveying, and institutional partnership. Where implemented, these models have contributed to increased security, reduced conflict, and stronger community cohesion.

Closing the Visibility and Financing Gap

Despite its promise, the comprehensive land certification model in Burundi remains largely unknown to the international community. It is underrepresented in global dialogues on humanitarian response, durable solutions, and sustainable development. At the same time, funding remains limited and sporadic, unable to meet the scale of need.

This lack of visibility and resourcing is precisely the gap LPN Global seeks to address. Through our platform and partnerships, we aim to elevate Burundi’s model onto the global stage — not simply as a humanitarian success story, but as a blueprint for what works in post-conflict land governance.

Our forthcoming work in Burundi will focus on building global traction around these proven models. We will document best practices, develop compelling narratives, and engage a wide range of stakeholders — from donors and development agencies to climate finance institutions and ESG-focused investors. By linking land certification to broader agendas such as food security, women’s empowerment, and climate resilience, we aim to unlock new and diverse streams of capital.

Strengthening Institutional Capacity from the Ground Up

Resource mobilisation alone is not enough. Ensuring sustainable, scalable land certification requires strong, decentralised institutions. National land agencies often face resource constraints and limited geographic reach. In response, our model emphasises the importance of provincial and communal land offices, as well as grassroots organisations that already play a critical role in mediation, documentation, and service delivery.

Our work in Burundi will explore how to strengthen these institutions in practical and context-specific ways. This includes assessing the equipment, training, systems, and human resources needed to enable provincial registries and local authorities to respond effectively to the growing demand for tenure security. By investing in the people and systems closest to the communities they serve, we can help ensure that land governance is not only effective but inclusive.

Partnership with Government: A Cornerstone of Sustainability

No durable solution can succeed without the engagement and leadership of the state. Fortunately, the Government of Burundi has shown a clear and public commitment to land governance. Its pledge at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum — focused on improving land tenure in areas of return — signals strong political will and alignment with the priorities of displaced populations.

LPN Global is eager to build a respectful and results-oriented relationship with the Ministry of Water, Environment, Land Management and Urban Planning. We aim to better understand the Government’s evolving land policy agenda, explore areas of mutual interest, and support national systems where needed and welcomed. Our approach is not one of parallel implementation but of strategic alignment — working alongside, not outside, the public sector.

We also recognise the vital roles played by provincial governments and local authorities, especially in administering land registries and managing disputes. These actors will be central to the pilot’s success, and we intend to engage them as full partners in design, implementation, and learning.

From Local Success to Global Relevance

Burundi is not unique in its challenges, but it is uniquely placed to lead. With a functioning model of land certification, demonstrated political commitment, and a clear demand from communities, the conditions are ripe for scale. The missing ingredients are visibility, financing, and strengthened institutional capacity — all areas where LPN Global is positioned to contribute.

By piloting our implementation model in Burundi, we aim to demonstrate that land certification can be integrated into broader recovery efforts in a way that is inclusive, scalable, and financially sustainable. This is about more than issuing certificates — it is about creating the legal, social, and institutional foundations for communities to rebuild after conflict.

Our hope is that the lessons learned in Burundi will resonate far beyond its borders, informing approaches in other countries grappling with displacement, reintegration, and fragile land systems. We believe the time is right, the model is sound, and the partnerships are within reach.

Looking Ahead

At LPN Global, we see land not just as a technical issue, but as a profound question of human dignity, identity, and possibility. We are proud to stand alongside local partners — across government, civil society, and community groups — as we work to scale solutions that place people, land, and dignity at the heart of sustainable return and reintegration.