At the conference convened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 21-24 November 2023 under the theme, "Promoting Sustainable Land Governance in Africa for Accelerating Implementation of the AfCFTA," Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, said, "the African Union stands ready to support member states in advancing the land-related objectives outlined in the African Union Agenda 2063, the AfCFTA, and the African Union Land Policy Framework and Guidelines to foster an environment where land is a driver of prosperity and unity."
The continent faces multifaceted land governance challenges, Nsanzabaganwa said. These range from tenure insecurity and land tenure systems to the need for sustainable land management practices as urbanization advances rapidly and climate change continues.
She urged the delegates to translate the outcomes of the conference into concrete national, regional, and continental actions. "We [African nations] must not only commit to the principles and discussions articulated here [at the conference], but also allocate resources, build partnerships, and implement policies that promote sustainable land governance and support the objectives of the [African Continental Free Trade Area] AfCFTA."
Nsanzabaganwa also emphasized the need to amplify the voices of women, youth, indigenous communities, traditional institutions, and smallholder farmers in shaping land governance strategies, recognizing their invaluable knowledge and expertise in managing and preserving Africa's land resources. Land policies and governance mechanisms in Africa need to be aligned with the AfCFTA goals to create an enabling environment for investment, trade, and economic development in the continent, she said.
Organised biennially by the African Land Policy Centre (ALPC), CLPA is a joint initiative of the African Union Commission, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and the African Development Bank, to deepen capacity for land policy in Africa through improved access to knowledge and information on land policymaking and implementation. This year, 31 technical sessions were organized and about 120 papers posted in addition to 26 side events and master classes, and 4 pre-events. Conference participants numbered 1043, including 240 online.
Development partners were asked to foster better coordination in agenda setting and dissemination, and the alignment of development partners with AU land governance strategy.
Policymakers urged the African Union to prioritize land natural resources policy development and legal reforms that are people-centered, inclusive, and gender conscious, and also called for adequate financing for land and natural resources, governance processes and institutions.
Professional and non-state actors included civil society and non-governmental organizations active in the land sector urged monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the AU land strategy. They also want national and regional spaces to be created for engagement and dialogue between non-state actors and AfCFTA implementation mechanisms, while tapping into the experiences, knowledge, lessons learnt on land governance and the AfCFTA.
Traditional leaders made a call to the Africa Union to ensure inclusivity and to empower them to oversee the customary land processes and procedures in their respective countries. They also encouraged collaboration and synergy between government and traditional leaders in matters related to land governance to foster accelerated implementation of the AFCTA.
Academic and research institutions must review the current curriculum and education programs in institutions of higher to see that they meet the demands for quality and appropriateness required in the industry on land governance and AfCFTA, according to the call for action communiqué.
CLPA 2023 was made possible through the cooperation of many institutions and individuals, said Dr. Medhat El-Helepi, Economic Affairs Officer at the Agriculture and Business Enabling Environment Section of the Private Sector Development and Finance Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, as he closed the conference: "We are grateful to the leadership of and personnel of the tripartite organizations - the African Development Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union Commission - for supporting the conference."
For more on the 2023 CLPA, visit this site.
Contact:
Ochieng' Ogodo, African Development Bank Group, [email protected]
