Land Policy 2026-2035

The National Land Policy (NLP) 2026–2035 offers a comprehensive and forward-looking
framework to address The Gambia’s longstanding and emerging land governance challenges. It
represents the country’s first-ever unified land policy, developed through an inclusive,
participatory, and consultative process involving diverse stakeholders across all regions and
sectors.

Rooted in national development priorities—particularly the Recovery-Focused National
Development Plan (2023–2027)—as well as international commitments such as the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), the African Union Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy in
Africa, and the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT), the
NLP aims to ensure equitable access, secure tenure, and sustainable land management for all
Gambians.

The policy is structured into seven interrelated chapters:

Chapter 1: Background
This chapter presents the historical evolution of land governance in The Gambia, tracing
colonial legacies and post-independence developments. It outlines critical land-related issues
such as tenure insecurity, institutional weaknesses, overlapping legal systems, and increasing
land disputes. It also elaborates on the rigorous, multi-tiered consultative process that shaped
the policy’s formulation, ensuring broad national ownership.

Chapter 2: Policy Framework
This chapter articulates the vision, mission, and goals of the NLP. It sets forth guiding principles
such as inclusivity, transparency, climate resilience, and respect for human rights. Key land
governance challenges identified include legal ambiguities, lack of cadastral data, inequitable
land access, environmental degradation, and systemic inefficiencies in land administration.

Chapter 3: Land Tenure Framework
This chapter details The Gambia’s tripartite land tenure systems—Customary, Freehold, and
Leasehold. It proposes the formal recognition of customary tenure through the introduction of
Certificates of Customary Ownership (CCOs), along with legal and institutional reforms to
guarantee equitable land access, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women, youth, and
persons with disabilities (PWDs). It also recommends a participatory and transparent process
for converting customary land to state land, including the provision of fair compensation, and
advocates for the registration and digitalisation of all land in the country.

Chapter 4: Land Use Planning and Land Management Framework
This chapter assesses land use dynamics and challenges, including unregulated development,
inadequate zoning, and climate vulnerabilities. It calls for the development of a national land
use plan, integrated spatial development, participatory planning, and digital land use
monitoring. Special attention is given to environmental sustainability, informal settlements,
and the allocation of land for social services and vulnerable populations.

Chapter 5: Land Legal Framework
This chapter examines the inadequacy and fragmentation of current land laws. It proposes
harmonising statutory and customary laws, reforming key legislation (e.g., the State Lands Act
and the Land Acquisition Act), and establishing robust frameworks for land valuation,
compensation, titling, and dispute resolution. Legal reforms aim to eliminate overlapping
mandates, reduce litigation, and increase public confidence in land governance.

Chapter 6: Land Administration Institutional Framework
This chapter addresses institutional capacity gaps, overlapping mandates, and the absence of a
centralised Land Information System (LIS). It calls for the development of a modernised,
digitalised National Land Administration System (NLAS), capacity building for local
authorities, and strengthened coordination among key land agencies. Emphasis is placed on

improving land valuation, reducing corruption, and promoting gender-responsive and climate-
resilient land administration.

Chapter 7: Implementation Framework
This final chapter outlines a ten-year roadmap for implementing the policy. It proposes the
establishment of a National Land Policy Implementation Unit (NLPIU) and includes a costed
implementation plan with short-, medium-, and long-term actions. The framework prioritises
stakeholder engagement, capacity building, resource mobilisation, public education, and a
robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system that includes annual reviews, mid-term
evaluations, and end-of-term impact assessments.

In sum, the National Land Policy 2026–2035 is a transformative instrument for achieving land
justice, unlocking economic opportunities, and enhancing environmental stewardship. If
effectively implemented, the policy will strengthen land tenure security, support responsible
investment, protect vulnerable groups, and align land governance with national priorities and
international standards—contributing to peace, prosperity, and sustainable development in The
Gambia.