Digital Identity Puts Land Administration on a Firmer Foundation

Land is one of a country’s most valuable economic assets. Secure and transferable land rights allow owners to use property as collateral, giving households and businesses access to finance for farming, construction and property. They also encourage inward investment by giving external investors confidence that property rights are enforceable so that development risks can be assessed reliably.

Weak land administration discourages economic development. The World Bank treats reliable land records as essential infrastructure for investment. When ownership is uncertain, boundaries are disputed and transfers can take months, with some owners unable to use property as collateral. Across South Asia, for example, the World Bank has found that outdated records and manual processes in land registration contribute to delayed development and the cancellation of important wealth-creating projects.