The World Bank has praised Côte d’Ivoire’s progress in rural land tenure reform following a meeting between Agriculture Minister Bruno Nabagné Koné and a delegation from the international financial institution, as the country seeks to strengthen land rights, prevent disputes and support agricultural investment.

The delegation, led by World Bank Operations Director Marie-Chantal Uwanyiligira, met the minister at his office on Tuesday to discuss the Abidjan Land Days, progress under the Rural Land Tenure Security Strengthening Programme (PRESFOR) and prospects for further cooperation.

Uwanyiligira congratulated the minister on the organization of the Abidjan Land Days and shared expectations for future editions. She also expressed satisfaction with the implementation of PRESFOR and sought the minister’s advice on a proposed financing project focused on urban land tenure.

Koné welcomed the World Bank’s continued support, describing the institution as a strategic partner in the implementation of Côte d’Ivoire’s land reforms. He stressed the importance of securing land rights to prevent disputes, encourage agricultural investment and support sustainable development.

PRESFOR aims to improve land tenure security across rural Côte d’Ivoire through village boundary demarcation, the issuance of land certificates and the formalization of land rights.

According to the programme targets outlined by the ministry, the initiative seeks to demarcate 1,447 village territories, issue 500,000 land certificates and secure five million hectares across 16 administrative regions.

The programme covers 52 departments, 218 sub-prefectures and 3,353 villages, reflecting the scale of the government’s effort to clarify land ownership and strengthen the administration of rural land.

Secure land rights are considered important for reducing conflicts over ownership and use, while helping farmers and other landholders make longer-term investments in agricultural production.

The meeting also highlighted the potential expansion of cooperation beyond rural land management, with the World Bank delegation seeking advice on a proposed financing project for urban land tenure.

The discussions took place as part of the bank’s fourth support mission for the implementation of PRESFOR in Côte d’Ivoire.

Both sides reaffirmed the importance of continuing their partnership to improve land governance and ensure that reforms benefit local communities. The programme’s effectiveness will depend on implementation across the targeted regions and on the ability of landholders to obtain and exercise legally recognized rights.