Addis Ababa — The Land Policy Initiative (LPI), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) will launch the project "Improve Land Governance in the IGAD Region," on 16 February 2015, in Djibouti.

The main objectives of the IGAD-LPI-SDC project to be launched are to: enhance the capacity of the LPI and the IGAD Secretariat to facilitate and monitor the implementation of the African Union Declaration on Land Issues and Challenges in Africa;mainstream land governance issues in programmes and activities of the IGAD Secretariat and Member States; and develop capacity of academic institutions in the region to promote and undertake land policy related research.

The three-year project also aims at establishing a regional platform for knowledge sharing and advocacy to promote good land governance and land policy convergence among IGAD Member States (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda). The implementation of the project will also contribute to improving partnerships, coordination and alignment of land governance related programmes in the IGAD region, and will facilitate monitoring and evaluation of land policy development and implementation processes.

"Mainstreaming land in the agenda for Africa's development is a strategic goal for the LPI, and is being implemented through joint projects - such as the one we are now initiating for the IGAD region - with Member States, Regional Economic Communities, and development partners," noted Ms Joan Kagwanja, Chief of the LPI.

The official launch of the event will be followed by a series of related back-to-back events. On 16 and 17 February a planning event will develop the first year project work plan and budget. On 18 February, the IGAD and LPI Secretariats will convene the first project steering committee (SC) meeting, to deliberate on the draft annual work plan and budget, and the composition and functions of the SC. On 19 February, a meeting aiming at improved coordination and synergy of project activities will be conducted, reuniting representatives from four Regional Economic Communities (RECs) - the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), East African Community (EAC), IGAD, and Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The project launch and related events will bring together about 50 officials and experts representing the Djibouti government and IGAD Member States, African Union Commission, various regional institutions and/or organizations partnering with IGAD and the LPI, civil society organizations, and the media.

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.