Study Visit to India on Strengthening Social Safeguards in Land Acquisition and Resettlement
03.06.2025
With support from the World
Bank, a study visit was organized from May 21 to 24, 2024, at the
Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) in Hyderabad, India, under the
theme: “Establishment of a Center of Excellence
in Central Asia: Land Acquisition, Resettlement, and Rehabilitation.”
The main objective of the visit
was to study the institutional framework, training programs, and operational
experience of the Center for Management of Land Acquisition, Resettlement and
Rehabilitation (CMLARR), housed within ASCI, and to explore opportunities for
establishing a similar center in Central Asia.
Key activities carried out
during the visit included:
·
Engagement with the CMLARR team
to understand institutional best practices, training methodologies, and
capacity-building approaches in the field of land acquisition and involuntary
resettlement;
·
Field visits to infrastructure
project sites financed by the Government of India to observe practical
implementation of land acquisition and resettlement activities, including
visits to resettlement sites and interactions with project-affected persons
(PAPs);
·
Consultations with
representatives from the World Bank and CMLARR on strategies for establishing a
Center of Excellence at “TIIAME” National
Research University in Uzbekistan, including
curriculum development, operational structure, and collaboration modalities.
The study visit brought together
specialists and academic staff from “TIIAME”
National Research University, the World Bank, and
representatives of key government institutions of the Republic of Uzbekistan,
including the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, the
Ministry of Water Resources, and the Cadastre Agency under the Ministry of
Economy and Finance.
Central Asia is currently
witnessing a growing number of infrastructure and development projects financed
by International Financial Institutions (IFIs) such as the World Bank, Asian
Development Bank (ADB), and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Many
of these projects involve land acquisition, involuntary resettlement,
livelihood restoration, and other social risk management activities. However,
the region faces a shortage of qualified social safeguard specialists and
resettlement practitioners capable of ensuring compliance with international
safeguard policies and national legislation.
In response to this need, and
with support from the World Bank, it is planned to establish a Center of Excellence in Central Asia for Land Acquisition,
Resettlement, and Rehabilitation at “TIIAME” National Research University. The Center will serve as a regional hub for building institutional
capacity, offering specialized training, and developing a cadre of
professionals well-versed in the social safeguard requirements of IFIs,
including the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and the ADB
Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS).
The proposed Center will engage
Project Implementation Units (PIUs), IFIs, consulting firms, academic
institutions, and other stakeholders to strengthen regional capacity in
managing land acquisition, involuntary resettlement, and rehabilitation in a
socially inclusive and compliant manner. The overarching goal is to support
sustainable infrastructure development by ensuring that land-related impacts
are addressed in accordance with international standards and good practices.
