Addis Ababa — Representatives of the Land Policy Initiative (LPI) and the Rural Land Administration and Use Directorate (LAUD) of the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) engaged in a consultation meeting to explore areas of possible collaboration between the two institutions.
Research, resource mobilization, and capacity development have been identified as areas of paramount importance for this future cooperation, meant to support Ethiopia's efforts in the implementation of the African Union agenda on land. The LPI and LAUD will examine the modalities to link LPI initiatives, such as the proposed African Center of Excellence on Land Governance (ACELG) and the LPI Capacity Development activities, to address the specific needs and interests of the Ethiopian land practitioners. Monitoring and evaluation of land policies and programmes was equally identified as critical for further collaboration.
"We are encouraged by the perspective of our renewed collaboration with the LPI, whose work is highly appreciated at continental level," noted Mr Tigistu Abza, Director of the LAUD. He added that the Ethiopian experience on land administration and use can be an example for other African countries that are tackling similar challenges related to land governance and management.
Ms Joan Kagwanja, Chief of the LPI, noted that the LPI work in support of Member States in the implementation of the AU Declaration on Land Issues and Challenges in Africa is primarily conducted in partnership with the Regional Economic Communities. "We equally engage with Member States, in response to their requests for specific assistance, taking into account their particular needs and challenges," she added.
Participants at the LPI-LAUD/MoA consultative meeting appreciated the informative nature of the meeting, and highlighted the hope for a fruitful collaboration. They agreed that the next stage would be the definition of a mechanism for further engagement to promote learning, track progress, and facilitate technical assistance.
The Land Policy Initiative is a joint programme of the tripartite consortium consisting of the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). Its mandate is to facilitate the implementation of the AU Declaration on Land Issues and Challenges in Africa.
