YILAA Launches a Digital Solution to Strengthen Youth Land Rights Awareness in Tanzania

The Youth Initiative for Land in Africa (YILAA), through its Land for Youth: Innovate, Secure and Thrive project, has launched an innovative digital solution aimed at improving young people’s understanding of land governance in Tanzania.

At the heart of this initiative is the KANUNI App and the ARDHI HUB, a mobile-based tool designed to provide youth with easy access to land laws and policies governing land ownership and use. By delivering legal and policy information directly to smartphones, the application helps bridge the gap between young people, land owners and critical land-related knowledge.

A Digital Solution to Empower Youth

The KANUNI App was officially introduced during an online training organized by YILAA (Youth Initiative for Land in Africa), which brought together 146 young participants from across Tanzania.

Speaking during the second day of the training, which focused on Land Governance and Innovation for Youth, Joshua Laizer, Director of YILAA’s Indigenous Program, highlighted the importance of the application.

He explained that KANUNI simplifies access to complex legal frameworks by enabling users to consult land legislation directly from their mobile devices.

“This tool ensures that young people can easily access accurate and reliable information about land rights and policies,” he noted.

ARDHI-HUB: A Complementary Digital Platform

Alongside the KANUNI App, YILAA has developed a complementary digital platform known as ARDHI-HUB, supported by the AU-EU Youth Lab Action.

The platform aims to:

• 1. Promote equitable access to land
  2. Support youth empowerment
  3. Provide verified land opportunities
  4. Reduce land conflicts and disputes

According to @Joshua Laizer, ARDHI-HUB plays a crucial role in connecting young people to official land information while ensuring transparency and legitimacy in land access processes.

Users can also download the KANUNI App directly from the platform.

Youth as Ambassadors of Land Rights

During the closing session of the training, YILAA’s Executive Director, @Innocent Antoine Houedji, encouraged participants to become champions of land rights within their communities.

He urged them to transform the knowledge gained into concrete action and called on y outh nationwide to register on ARDHI-HUB and download the KANUNI App.

“Investing in youth access to land means investing in food security, economic growth, and sustainable development,” he emphasized.

Building Capacity Through Training

The training, held from 9 to 11 February 2026, brought together 146 participants from various regions of Tanzania. Its objective was to strengthen awareness and equip young people with up-to-date knowledge on land governance in Africa, with a strong focus on innovation and gender inclusion.

Sessions covered key topics such as:

• • Introduction to land governance
  • Challenges and opportunities for youth in land access
  • Technological innovation in land management
  • Gender dimensions of land governance

Deborah Oyugi, YILAA’s English-Speaking Countries Manager, led a session emphasizing that land governance is not only a technical matter but also a question of power, inclusion, and equity.

On the final day, @Marcel Loyd Minka, Director of the YILAA Training Center, facilitated discussions on gender and land governance, highlighting the importance of inclusive approaches.

Advancing Youth Land Rights in Africa

The Land for Youth: Innovate, Secure and Thrive project,  aims to empower young people with the knowledge, tools, and networks needed to secure land rights and actively participate in land governance processes.

Participants praised the initiative, noting its potential to bring positive change by increasing awareness, strengthening youth engagement, and promoting equitable access to land.

Through digital innovations such as KANUNI and ARDHI-HUB, YILAA continues to demonstrate its commitment to equipping Africa’s youth with practical solutions to overcome land challenges and build a more inclusive and resilient future.

This project was supported by the AU-EU Youth Lab Action.

Author: Godwin TADOUDJE