In several countries, a certificate of occupancy is a legal document that gives the holder certain rights to land.
These can be a part of land reform processes.
In Tanzania, for example, they are equivalent to 33-year leases and grant the holder the ability to mortgage the property.
[1] In Nigeria, all land is vested in the government under the Land Use Act of 1978, and certificates of occupancy are equivalent to 99-year leases entitling the holder to occupy the land.
[2] Mechanisms similar to certificates of occupancy include temporary occupancy permits (Botswana), certificates of land use (Thailand), and preemptive certificates (Thailand).