At the recent Land for Life Summit, Dr. Yeraswork Admassie, Executive Director of the Forum for Social Studies (FSS), shared thought-provoking reflections on the nature of land institutions and their central role in shaping society. FSS is a local think tank that has conducted extensive research and facilitated dialogue on land and related issues in Ethiopia.
Speaking at a high-level workshop convened to review and validate an assessment of Ethiopia’s land legal and institutional frameworks, Dr. Yeraswork addressed an audience of government officials, researchers, civil society representatives, and development partners. Drawing on over 45 years of experience in teaching and research on land, environmental, and social issues, he challenged participants to rethink what institutions truly represent.
Dr. Yeraswork emphasized that institutions are not merely organizations or government ministries, but rather the rules of the game- the laws, norms, and directives that guide behavior and decision-making. Using a sports analogy, he explained that while institutions define the rules, organizations are the players operating within those rules.
He then took participants on a historical journey through Ethiopia’s land policy evolution-from land tenure tied to military service during Emperor Menelik II’s era, to Haile Selassie’s transition to cash-based taxation, and the revolutionary “Land to the Tiller” movement under the Derg regime, which significantly empowered farmers. Today, he noted, Ethiopia continues to adapt its land policies in response to the challenges and opportunities of a growing market economy.
Drawing lessons from international experience, Dr. Yeraswork highlighted the importance of strong, equitable institutions that serve the broader public interest. He referenced examples from China and Vietnam, where land governance reforms supported inclusive development, while cautioning against models that concentrate benefits among a few, citing post-apartheid South Africa as a critical lesson.
His call to action was clear: Ethiopia must continuously redefine and strengthen its land institutions to promote social justice, transparency, and sustainable development. The future of land governance, he stressed, depends on the country’s ability to design clear, fair, and adaptable rules. Embracing this challenge is essential to building a more equitable land system for all.