Scoping and Status Study on Land and Conflict (English 2016)

This publication presents a functional analysis of how the United Nations System deals with land and conflict across the UN pillars of peace, security, development and human rights. It reviews areas of engagement of eighteen UN Agencies across the full conflict cycle – from preparedness and prevention to humanitarian response, conflict mediation, peacemaking, peace consolidation and peace-building, recovery and development.

A coherent, comprehensive approach to land sector is proposed based on the findings of the study. This approach focuses on five work streams: land reform, land administration, land policy processes, capacity development and dispute resolution. The study also presents a change model to make the UN more fit for purpose in its response to conflict. It is based on an incremental approach that builds on advocacy, capacity development and the use of existing entry points and mechanisms for improved coherence, coordination and integration within the UN System.