World Bank Annual Conference on Land and Poverty 2013

Washington, 8-11 April 2013

Every year, the World Bank Conference on Land and Poverty brings together representatives from governments, the development community, civil society, academia, and the private sector to discuss issues of concern to communities, land practitioners and policymakers worldwide. The conference aims to foster dialogue and sharing of good practices around the diversity of reforms, approaches and experiences that are being implemented in the land sector around the world (see the 2012 conference website at www.landandpoverty.com for details on format of the conference.

Call for papers

Under the theme of “Moving towards transparent land governance: Evidence-based next steps”, the 2013 conference will provide a forum for an evidence-based discussion of innovative approaches to follow up on recent global and regional initiatives, and concrete steps to improve land governance at country level in a way that contributes to poverty reduction, gender equality, and sustainable economic growth. Papers are invited for presentations at the conference in six thematic areas:

• Securing land rights and improving land use at the grassroots;
• Adjusting laws and institutions to address urban expansion and governance;
• Innovative approaches towards spatially enabling land administration and management;
• Supporting a continuum of rights in a decentralized environment;
• Mobilizing the private sector to improve land governance; and
• Sharing benefits from exploitation of land- based resources.

Individuals interested in presenting at the conference are requested to submit an initial 800 to 1,500 word abstract. Final paper should be between 6,000 and 12,000 words. Submission of an abstract implies also a willingness to review up to four other abstracts. A technical committee will decide on paper acceptance based on the following criteria:

• Innovative nature
• Policy relevance
• Contribution to the literature and body of knowledge more in general
• Quality of methodology and analytical rigor
• Links to capacity building

Abstracts should be submitted electronically through ConfTool platform. Deadline for the submission is November 23, 2012. The outcome of the selection will be communicated by December 15, 2012. Individuals that have been selected to present will be required to submit the final version of their paper with a 200 words summary by March 1, 2013. Submission information will be communicated to authors of selected abstracts.

Upon request, conference organizers will be able to provide a letter of attestation to presenters in an effort to allow them to seek funding from other sources. Depending on the availability of funds, a limited number of travel grants may be available to enable presenters to participate at the conference. Final selection of presenters requiring financial support to participate at the conference will be conditional on secured funding. Please indicate in your application whether your participation is conditional on such funding. Note that there is no guarantee of funding becoming available.

FIG is one of the partners of the conference.

More information at: http://go.worldbank.org/RTWVJ2OA20 

31 October 2012