Peri-urban informal land market and its implication on land use planning in Gondar city of Ethiopia

Abstract

In recent times, peri-urban land use planning is challenging in contemporary urbanization in sub-Saharan Africa in general and in Ethiopia in particular. This study analyzes peri-urban informal land market and tenure security status and its implications in peri-urban land use planning around Gondar city of Ethiopia. It uses primary data collected through household survey, field observation and key informant interviews, which are complemented by secondary data from national legal and policy documents, and regional and city administration reports. The analysis utilizes descriptive statistics and chi-square test. The result showed that a plot acquisition from peri-urban areas passes through its own stages, which mainly start to identify a plot for sale, and ends with the confirmation of letter of agreement signed by transacting parties without legal ground to do so. It also indicated the main actors (land brokers, local peri-urban landholders, social and religious relations) in the peri-urban informal land market, traditional social institutions (Idir, equb etc) played a significant role in processing peri-urban informal settlements, and stabilizing land related conflicts by social sanctions.