Since 2011, NIRAS has led the Responsible and Innovative Land Administration (REILA) programme, a long-term collaboration between the governments of Ethiopia and Finland. Now in its final phase (2024–2028), the programme continues to drive progress in building a harmonised, transparent, and inclusive land administration system that secures land tenure for millions of rural Ethiopians. Phase II concluded in 2024 with major milestones, including the development and nationwide rollout of the National Rural Land Administration Information System (NRLAIS), which now manages over 27.8 million land parcels across 458 woredas. Using orthophoto-based surveying and second-level land certification (SLLC), REILA has helped establish cost-effective and transparent land registration procedures that are now considered a model for the region. REILA’s work is particularly significant in Ethiopia’s context, where agriculture contributes 45% of GDP and employs over 80% of the population. However, the State’s ownership of all land presents challenges, particularly for women, whose rights—though legally protected—are often undermined by customary norms. Tenure insecurity also deters investment, leading to underdevelopment and unsustainable land use practices. REILA directly addresses these challenges by promoting land rights, especially for women, and encouraging long-term economic development. Phase III shifts focus from certification to leveraging tenure security for economic growth—enabling landholders to access finance using land as collateral, supporting land consolidation for family agribusinesses, and expanding land registration to communal and pastoralist areas. The ultimate aim is to certify all 50 million land parcels nationwide and improve governance across all land types.