The National Development-Induced Resettlement Act, no. 20 of 2023.

This Act applies to any project whose associated activities or facilities entail or are likely to entail the physical or economic displacement of persons. The Act defines the following relevant terms: affected person; associated activities or facilities; compensation; development-induced displacement; displaced person; development-induced resettlement; economic displacement; host community; land; physical displacement; rehabilitation; replacement value in respect of agricultural land and of land in urban areas; resettlement impact assessment; resettlement management plan; vulnerable person. The Act concerns the following matters: establishment of the resettlement department; specification of its functions: monitoring and ensuring the compliance of development-induced resettlement with applicable laws and regulations; receiving applications for resettlement licence, approving resettlement management plans in respect of qualifying projects, and issuing resettlement licence; formulating policies and regulations on development-induced resettlements; co-ordinating the activities of bodies concerned with the technical and practical aspects of resettlement; prescribing standards and guidelines relating to best practices in resettlement and rehabilitation; ensuring coordination with government agencies, local councils and other bodies and institutions during the implementation of development-induced resettlement activities; conducting investigations into issues relating to development-induced resettlement; promoting studies, research, surveys and analyses for the improvement of the procedures for managing development-induced resettlement; promoting efficient and standardised rules, guidelines and procedures in the planning, implementation of development-induced resettlement activities; collecting and making available to the public data concerning resettlement and rehabilitation activities; receiving information from project proponents on activities undertaken towards the implementation of the approved resettlement management.
Further matters covered by this Act include: financial provisions and funding of the Department; compliance with the principles of development-induced resettlement, including sustainable development, and application of these principles; issuance of licences for qualifying resettlement project; requirements for resettlement impact assessment; preparation of resettlement management plan; implementation of resettlement activities; inspection and monitoring of the projects; right to full and fair compensation; offences and penalties.