In many parts of rural West Africa natural resource management and economic development are hampered by recurrent land confl icts and lack of local control over land. In countries where land management has been decentralised, these constraints can be addressed by establishing information systems about land rights that are recognised by  the State.

Land allocation information systems (LAIS) enable local governments to manage individually allocated land rights that are recognised by the State in a more effective and transparent manner.

In Senegal, the LAISs put in place by seven local governments have greatly reduced abuses of the system and considerably improved security of tenure for all the occupants concerned.

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