28 November 2022, 12:30 - 14:00 CET

InfoPoint and online

Much has been said about the African Union’s Agenda on Land, but what progress has been made so far? This session seeks to answer this and more as it presents the results of an assessment study on land policy in Africa, highlighting the progress made, challenges met, potential areas for work and lessons learnt.

In 2009, Heads of State issued the African Union’s Declaration on Land Issues and Challenges. Together with the Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy in Africa, the Nairobi Declaration on Large-Scale Land-Based Investments, the Guiding Principles on Large-Scale Land-Based Investments, and other decisions and tools, this declaration is the basis for the African Union’s Agenda on Land. It aims at promoting improved governance in the land sector through the development, implementation and monitoring of comprehensive land policy.

The CSO Platform on Land Policy in Africa and the International Land Coalition carried out a study of the AU Agenda on land to assess progress and effectiveness of the commitments made by heads of state, and as a basis for CSO advocacy. The study focused on 13 countries including Burkina Faso, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Cameroon, DR Congo, South Africa, Zambia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, as well as Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and continental institutions. The assessment involves a review of policy documents, data sets, and literature and included interviews with CSO platform members and partners from government and civil society.

The study shows clear progress on developing comprehensive land policies and improving land governance in many African countries, with diverse experiences and approaches in how countries address similar challenges. The direct and indirect influence of the AU agenda is evident, both on land on national land policy processes and the land agenda in most continental and regional institutions.

This session provides a status update on land policy development, implementation and monitoring in 13 African countries (Burkina Faso, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Cameroon, DR Congo, South Africa, Zambia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda), as well as Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and continental institutions. Considering the EU’s partnership with Africa, a key priority for the Commission, the study’s recommendations at a continental level and on the roles of particular groups and institutions– including INTPA – are highly relevant. Specific recommendations pertain to land governance areas such as women’s land rights, youth rights, customary and communal land rights, monitoring and evaluation just to name a few.

Speakers
Leonard Mizzi, Head of Unit, INTPA F3- Sustainable Agri-Food systems and Fisheries

Marc Wegerif, Development Studies Programme Coordinator at University of Pretoria

Maanda Ngoitiko, Executive Director Pastoral Women's Council

Amadou Kanoute, Executive Director CICODEV Africa

Audace Kubwimana, International Land Coalition, Africa Regional Coordinator

Michael Taylor, International Land Coalition Director

Language: English

Language Q&A session: English

Registration here.