ABSTRACT
The dynamic transformation of peri-urban landscapes from agricultural uses to urban built up is a common practice in developing countries like Ethiopia, which generally does not yield the desired results. Therefore, this study aims to examine the role of governance in mediating the relationship between selected governance success factors and peri-urban socioeconomic conditions. Structural equation modeling is used to support analytical frameworks derived from the Land Governance Assessment Framework and the Global Land Indicators. The study employs mixed research methods and data from relevant participants. The results demonstrate that peri-urban land governance plays a mediating role between the constructed exogenous and endogenous variables. However, the results show that the mediating effect of current peri-urban land governance is weak due to the acknowledged insufficiency of governance success factors. This study argues that integrating success factors into good governance principles offers opportunities for robust peri-urban land governance and thereby resilient socioeconomic conditions.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to Mr. Casey Wagner, JUA managing editor; Patrick Cobbinah, senior associate editor of JUA, and other editorial team members of the journal and the anonymous reviewers of this paper for their insightful and constructive comments and suggestions that contributed to the improvement of the paper. The authors also acknowledge the Amhara National Regional State Office of the President supporting the research fund partially. We also would like to thank Aysheshim Mengstu (PhD) and Mussa Adem (PhD), for their constructive comments and feedback on the final draft.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Seidu Eshete Gebeyehu
Seidu Eahete Gebeyehu is a PhD candidate in Land Policy and Governance in the Institute of Land Administration, Bahir Dar University. He has an educational background of rural development and natural resources management, and he did his second degree (MSc) in rural development. His actual experience includes working as a head of Culture Department of Amhara Region Culture and Tourism Bureau, as head of President Office of the Head of Regional Government, Chief Executive of Amhara Mass Media Agency and as head of Amhara Region Public Grievance Office, by where his primary clients were both urban and rural land resource users and rights holders. These demonstrate his expertise in both rural & urban land resource governance.
Achamyeleh Gashu Adam
Achamyeleh Gashu Adam is an associate professor and researcher in land policy and governance at Bahir Dar University Institute of Land Administration in Ethiopia. His academic training and areas of interest include a wide range of relevant topics, including land governance, land policy, land administration, land tenure and use management, land development management, and land registration and information system. Achamyeleh has held a number of leadership roles at Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia, including dean of the Institute of Land Administration. Currently, he has also been serving as president of the Ethiopian Land Administration Professionals Association. Achamyeleh has already has published more than 25 scientific articles in peer reviewed journals.
Berhanu Kefale Alemie
Berhanu Kefale Alemie is an associate professor at the Institute of Land Administration of Bahir Dar University. He did his PhD on socio-technical aspect of land governance at the faculty of ITC of University of Twente. Currently, Berhanu is supervising both MSc and PhD students on the areas of Land Governance, land information system management, technological innovation for land Governance, and socio-spatial perspectives of land governance.