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Context and background African countries have undertaken vast and increasingly ambitious initiatives in recent years to promote land registration in order to secure land tenure and ownership rights. In theory, recognition of property rights should boost agricultural productivity and food security. However, empirical evidence of the link between land security, agricultural productivity and the food security of households remains ambiguous Goal and Objectives: It is against this backdrop that this research aims to study the effect of land tenure security on agricultural productivity and food security of farm households, based on evidence from Togo, and then by extension to ECOWAS countries. More specifically, it aims to (i) identify the determinants of land tenure security of farm households, (ii) analyze the effect of land tenure security on agricultural productivity and food security of farm household by gender. Methodology: The paper relies on Oaxaca and Blinder's decomposition technique and its nonlinear extension with the Propensity Score Matching Method (PSM) for robustness with data mainly from the Harmonized Households Living Conditions Survey (EHCVM) of Togo and selected ECOWAS countries realized in 2018-2019. Results: Empirical results reveal that being a woman reduces the probability of obtaining a document securing one's plot of land. However, the human capital of the head of household increases the probability of holding a land title. They reveal gender-based inequalities in agricultural productivity and food insecurity among farming households. However, holding a title deed to secure one's plot of land is expected to reduce this inequality by improving agricultural productivity and food security among farming households. The results confirm the need to develop land markets to facilitate the transfer of land, as part of measures to improve agricultural productivity and household food security in ECOWAS countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and background In the last few years, Blockchain technology has been taking the world by a storm. While it is true that its success has increased with the emergence of the Bitcoin, the world is becoming increasingly aware that the Blockchain is promising heaps in record keeping and transaction management. Land tenure and administration is no exception. Several initiatives have been undertaken to comprehend the extent of Blockchain's potential for land governance system. This paper falls under the scope of that study. Goal and Objectives This paper has set out to understand Blockchain and its operating mechanisms in order to determine its contribution to the issues challenging our land tenure systems. In addition, this study has also strived to delimit a framework for the Blockchain implementation in the land sector and create models of this implementation on various levels. Methodology This research and its findings are based on bibliographic research, a benchmark analysis as well as expert opinions and consultations. Results Land governance is an interesting field of deployment for Blockchain. Indeed, the technology can replace traditional record keeping methods, such as written registries and databases, to manage and track records and documentation insuring they remain unchanged and authentic. It also allows different stakeholders to work together in an automated and efficient framework involving smart contracts and unique digital signatures. Moreover, it can also redefine property into digital tokens exchangeable on the Blockchain. With the careful analysis of the framework of its implementation, Blockchain is as capable of improving current systems and addressing their issues and complicated procedures, as it is of completely redefining their visions and pushing process reengineering. In both cases, Blockchain is an IT solution that reinforces land security and responds to requirements of land systems that traditional solutions still fail to meet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]