Integrated Rural Land-Use and Development Plan (ILDP) Programme
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Overview
The ILDP Programme is a long-term initiative designed to promote sustainable development by guiding how land and natural resources are allocated, managed, and used in a coordinated way. It integrates agriculture, forestry, water, wildlife, fisheries, infrastructure, and community needs into a unified development framework. In Ethiopia, HoA-REC&N initiated the ILDP in Gambella Peoples’ National Regional State (GPNRS) in 2013 as a pilot, with potential replication in other regions.
Core Objectives
- Transform lives and livelihoods through optimal and sustainable use of land resources.
- Balance conservation and development while addressing climate, social, and economic challenges.
- Ensure inclusive participation of communities (“drivers”), government (“facilitators”), and experts (“guides”).
- Provide a policy and planning framework for infrastructure, land tenure, and natural resource management.
- Establish enforcement, monitoring, and evaluation systems for long-term sustainability.
Programme Phases
🔹 Phase I (2013–2016) – Funded by Embassy of the Netherlands
- Established steering and technical committees (federal & regional).
- Set up field coordination offices.
- Conducted first-cycle studies: production systems, basic data, spatial mapping.
- Developed preliminary land-use plans based on natural resource mapping (incl. 1:50,000 scale topographic map).
🔹 Phase II (2016–2018) – Funded by SIDA (23 million Birr)
- Expanded grassroots participation through community consultative groups.
- Conducted second-cycle studies: infrastructure, land tenure & policy, environmental & social assessments.
- Produced a holistic master plan covering Anywa, Majang, Nuer zones, Gambella City & Itang Special Woreda.
- Initiated creation of data centres, M&E systems, and enforcement mechanisms.
🔹 Future Phases (Post-2018 onward)
- Full implementation of the ILDP Master Plan.
- Scale-up of infrastructure (roads, schools, health, ports, airports).
- Strengthened institutionalization: establishment of an independent Land Use Bureau.
- Integration of ILDP principles into national land use policy and planning frameworks.
Key Features of the ILDP Approach
- Integrated Land Allocation
- Wildlife (41.9%), agriculture (26.6%), forestry (19.9%), biodiversity/ecological zones (9.1%), aquaculture (2.5%).
- Community-Centered Development
- Grassroots communities engaged as co-planners and custodians of land.
- Evidence-Based Planning
- Uses scientific studies, GIS/spatial data, and participatory mapping.
- Multi-Sectoral Engagement
- Agriculture, forestry, fisheries, infrastructure, health, and education sectors aligned under one plan.
- Sustainability & Governance
- Policy alignment, institutional enforcement, monitoring systems, and environmental safeguards.
Impact & Significance
- Provides a blueprint for sustainable rural development in emerging regions.
- Balances livelihood needs with biodiversity conservation.
- Strengthens land tenure security and women’s access to land.
- Serves as a model for other Ethiopian regions and potentially the Horn of Africa.
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