Conflict in land acquisition for cooperative housing development in Woldia, Ethiopia

Land acquisition conflicts pose a significant obstacle to the socio-economic development of any country if not managed effectively. These conflicts can be addressed through the appropriate application of various conflict resolution mechanisms. This study therefore aims to examine conflict in land acquisition for cooperative housing development in Woldia, Ethiopia. Data were gathered from 323 displaced farmers, six focus group discussions (FGDs), and 25 key informant interviews (KIIs). Descriptive statistics, chi-square test and spearman correlation were used to analyze the collected data. The results of the study revealed that the factors driving conflicts were inadequate compensation, loss of livelihood, poor law implementation, unfair land acquisition procedures, and dissatisfaction with valuation. Conflicts were resolved through indigenous conflict resolution methods, modern litigation techniques, and a combination of both. There is a significant association between land acquisition conflict resolution methods with their acceptance level (χ2 = 49.24, N = 96, P = 0.000) and satisfaction level (χ2 = 59.68, N = 96, P = 0.000). There was also a strong positive correlation between the acceptance level and the level of satisfaction with the conflict resolution method, which was statistically significant (rs=0.867, p = .0000). To effectively manage conflicts, the government should strengthen public-private partnerships (PPPs), adopt a win-win- approach, and improve compensation systems to effectively manage conflicts. Decision-makers can develop and implement efficient conflict management strategies that facilitate the successful acquisition of land and the development of cooperative housing.