| Student: | Jawad Peikar |
|---|
This research examines how adopting an Open Strategy, with its dual dimensions of inclusiveness and transparency, could enhance land registration in Afghanistan. Historically, land registration in Afghanistan, much like in many developing countries, has followed a centralized, top-down model dominated by state institutions. Although substantial international investments, legal reforms, and modernization efforts have been implemented since the early 20th century, the nation still lacks a comprehensive and functional land registration system. As a result, most rural and urban properties remain undocumented, land disputes constitute more than half of all civil cases.
In contrast to traditional hierarchical approaches, Open Strategy promotes wider stakeholder participation and more transparent decision-making. While this concept has gained significant traction in the private sector, its application in public administration, especially in land governance, remains underdeveloped. This research aims to fill that gap by systematically examining how Open Strategy can be conceptualized, assessed, and operationalized for Afghanistan’s land administration system.
Methodologically, the study uses an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design. The first phase consists of qualitative data collection through key informant interviews and focus group discussions with Afghan land sector authorities, community leaders, international experts, former officials, and stakeholders at multiple administrative levels. Insights from this phase will inform the design of a national quantitative survey administered to 400 respondents across eight provinces. Data triangulation, member checking, and mixed-method integration will ensure credibility and analytical rigour.
The research has three core objectives:
v To develop a conceptual framework outlining how Open Strategy principles can be applied to land registration.
v To empirically assess how applying this framework could influence procedural efficiency, tenure security, and institutional legitimacy in Afghanistan.
v To recommend a national implementation model, the Inclusive and Transparent Land Registration Model (ITLR-M), detailing legislative, institutional, technological, and community-engagement requirements for systemic reform.
Anticipated outcomes include improved tenure security, reduced registration and transfer barriers, enhanced trust between citizens and state institutions, and a scalable model adaptable to other fragile or developing contexts. Ultimately, the research aims not only to propose a pathway for registering land more effectively but also to transform how strategic decisions in land governance are made, moving from top-down directives toward collaborative, transparent, and sustainable systems.
Meet the team
