HOUSING, LAND, AND PROPERTY
We work on research, policy, and facilitation for HLP issues. For over 25 years, our experts have been advising clients from the public sector, NFPs, and international organizations on the legal frameworks governing property rights, tenure rights, security of tenure, the political economy of property, the economics of land management systems, and risk analysis. We facilitate local dialogues and highly technical meetings and workshops among experts and institutional partners. We also develop digital tools to digitize analogue records and to use AI to extract cadastral features from old records.
Our services in this field include:
Research & Analysis
Our team offers deep insights into the history and evolution of land management systems, property regimes and their political economy in the MENA region. We believe that understanding the social, political and economic context of tenure systems is as relevant as understanding their technical and legal status.
We offer comprehensive analysis of HLP risks and mapping of the different typologies of tenure rights. We help clients to understand the eco-system surrounding tenure rights, by focusing on formal and informal mechanisms to preserve tenure.
We offer a variety of tools to map tenure fragility, and offer tools to assess its impact on community stability, human rights, gender equality, and migration issues.
Scenario Development
LUGARIT uses a variety of participatory tools to assess the risks and scenarios that may emerge from transformations in the property regimes at the local and / or national level.
We provide feasibility studies to assess scenarios and options related to urban renewal, urban development, and reconstruction processes. We bring in the social, cultural, and economic contexts when devising the future scenarios.
Advice
Our team supports local, national, and international actors to assess risks, conduct due diligence, and prepare do-no-harm studies on HLP issues before the starting of major projects.
We complement feasibility studies by developing valuation processes from economic and social perspectives.
We work with local, national, and international actors to develop remediation, restitution, and compensation schemes related to HLP loss.
Our experts engage in assessing damage to property and risks associated with major projects, natural disasters, and conflicts.
We offer a range of mapping tools to trace land patterns, use patterns, and economic valuation of sites, which assist in decision making regarding urban development processes.
We help in designing fair compensation schemes on HLP issues in the wake of natural disasters and conflicts. We help identify typologies of cases, and to evolve the necessary administrative solutions when legal litigation is neither possible nor likely to happen.
Stakeholder Engagement
LUGARIT experts have extensive expertise working with different local, national, and international stakeholders to understand HLP issues and to mitigate the different priorities and visions.
We develop risk analysis to support communities in advocacy to protect their HLP rights. We especially work with women groups to help them maximize their access to the decision-making process regarding property rights.
We facilitate dialogues among donors and international humanitarian actors to set priorities and develop joint programs related to protection of HLP rights.
Our experts advise stakeholders during political negotiations to support discussions on HLP issues.
We advise on communicating HLP issues and assist actors in reaching out to other stakeholders and build consensus on messaging and information sharing.
Capacity Building
Our team offers modules to train civil society and local government groups on HLP management issues.
We train urban professionals in assessing HLP risks and to understand the issues they face when dealing with urban brownfield and greenfield projects.
We support politicians in understanding the complexity of HLP issues and to develop negotiation skills on HLP issues.
Monitoring & Evaluation
We assess the impact of projects, natural disasters, and conflicts on HLP rights, and we help clients to develop adequate compensation schemes.
We participate in evaluating compensation schemes and reviewing their effectiveness and transparency.
We provide mapping tools to trace HLP rights across countries and territories, and to assess the effectiveness of the legal systems in protecting these rights. We especially work on mapping how women’s and girls’ HLP rights are protected under different legal, economic, and social conditions.
Related Works
Year: 2021 - 2022
Client: NRC - Norwegian Refugee Council
A communication and dissemination strategy for a Housing, Land, and Property Joint Programme (HLP JP) in Syria; funded by the European Union and involving NRC, UN-Habitat, UNDP, and UNHCR, with FAO initially as a partner.
Date: 5-6 April 2022
The GIZ organizes the first meeting of a working group on housing rights for Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons, focusing on a new GIS-based Informal Settlements Observatory to monitor and advocate for housing, land, and property rights in Syrian informal settlements.
Date: February 2021
Publisher: Prindex
A paper examines the relevance of Prindex survey findings for the land governance in the Arab region. It shows the region has one of the highest rates of tenure insecurity in the world. It also highlights what shapes perceptions and how they, particularly among young adults, urban renters, and women, contribute to land governance challenges.
Year: 2019
Client: UN Habitat
A research project examines Syria's Housing, Land, and Property (HLP) framework, exploring challenges in urban development and property rights amidst rapid urbanization and conflict. It highlights the complexities of legal and policy frameworks, the impact on informal settlements, and the need for comprehensive approaches in post-conflict recovery.
Date: March 2019
Publisher: LSE – London School of Economics
Summary of 2 presentations at the LSE conference highlight the complexities of property rights and urban planning laws in post-conflict Syria, emphasizing the challenges in housing and land management, and discussing the political economy of local elections, noting their role in reinforcing the regime's patronage network, rather than promoting fair representation or democracy.
Date: 10 November 2017
A presentation examines the evolution of property rights and land management in Syria, from the Ottoman era to the Syrian war. It highlights changes in legal frameworks, the impact of the French mandate, postcolonial state policies, and the consequences of the Syrian conflict on urban landscapes and property dynamics.
Date: October 2017
Publisher: Syrian Echoes, funded by the European Union
A report analyses Syria's complex urban housing crisis, highlighting the impact of traditional land tenure systems and rapid urbanization. It emphasizes the role of property rights in the conflict and post-conflict reconstruction, underscoring the need for fair housing policies and legal reforms, especially to support vulnerable groups like women.
Date: April 2017
Publisher: Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
A paper examines land conflicts in Myanmar and Syria, highlighting their role in broader societal issues and conflicts. It advocates for a systemic approach in national dialogues and peace agreements, emphasizing the use of existing legal frameworks and the development of new legislation and local reconciliation infrastructures.
Date: 7 March 2014
A lecture explores the shift from traditional to modern property systems in the Levant, focusing on cadastral reforms' impact on property understanding and state building. The lecture discusses how these changes affected ownership, legal frameworks, and societal structures, highlighting current challenges and the future of state building amid regional turmoil.
Year: 2013
Client: Ministry of Housing , Omrania
A study examines Saudi Arabia's housing policy, highlighting the need for a balanced approach. It critiques the current supply-focused policy, emphasizing the importance of demand-support, legal reforms, and public participation. Recommendations include restructuring housing finance, decentralizing management, and promoting realistic housing options to address urban growth and economic challenges.