Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Gambia is making significant strides toward the establishment of a National Land Information System (NLIS) as part of its broader efforts to digitize and streamline land management. A recent assessment conducted under the West Africa Coastal Areas (WACA) Gambia Project has laid the groundwork for the system’s development, identifying key areas of improvement in the country’s existing land registration framework.

The Ministry of Lands, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs recently received a three-day presentation of the assessment report from consultants, providing a roadmap and terms of reference for implementing the digital system.

The NLIS will be developed under the Gambia Inclusive and Resilient Agricultural Value Chain Project (GIRAV), aligning with key policy recommendations in the country’s draft National Land Policy.

What is a National Land Information System?

A National Land Information System (NLIS) is a digital platform that centralizes and integrates data related to land ownership, cadastral mapping, property valuation, land use planning, and resource management. By digitizing land records, such a system enhances transparency, minimizes disputes, improves land administration efficiency, and facilitates better urban and rural planning.

The consultant’s findings suggest the NLIS will improve land registration in The Gambia by enhancing cadastral mapping, improving processes, enabling efficient property valuation, strengthening land use planning, and facilitating resource management.

The Ministry has reaffirmed its commitment to digitization, emphasizing that modernizing land management will lead to more efficient and satisfactory service delivery for Gambians.

The NLIS is expected to streamline administrative processes, reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies, and enhance public confidence in land governance.

With the assessment report now in place, the next steps involve securing funding and technical partnerships to bring the NLIS vision to reality. The purpose is to move toward a more transparent and digitized land administration system, anticipating a significant positive impact on land security, investment, and sustainable development.