- 8 août 2025
- Envoyé par : Godwin TADOUDJE
- Catégorie : Africa Land Forum, All others African Countries, Benin, BLOG, International
A Decade to Celebrate: Advancing Land Governance for Africa’s Future
Addis-ababa, August 5–6, 2025, A significant delegation of stakeholders from across Africa gathered to mark the 10th anniversary of the Strengthening Land Governance in Africa (SLGA) program. Held under the theme “A Decade to Celebrate: Advancing Land Governance for Africa’s Future,” the event served as a key moment to reflect on achievements, address ongoing challenges, and explore forward-looking strategies for inclusive and sustainable land governance.
Highlights of the Event
The day began with a keynote address by Thea Hillhorst from the World Bank, who presented findings from a study on land rights documentation. She emphasized the importance of functional institutions and the role of civil servants in ensuring land security and access to documentation for individuals and public institutions.
A rich and engaging panel discussion followed, focusing on emerging issues in land governance: land rights, technology, trade, and legal frameworks. Key insights highlighted the need for digitalized, well-resourced institutions and the integration of land governance into broader public policy frameworks.
Participants later engaged in a collaborative session on the future of NELGA, exploring how the initiative can evolve to meet emerging needs. The day also featured a “Land Coffee” session, where partners shared concrete field experiences and case studies demonstrating the effective use of research and treaties in shaping policy and influencing decision-makers.
Key Takeaways and Forward Thinking
The event emphasized several future priorities:
- Strengthening multi-stakeholder platforms at local and national levels.
- Organizing and disseminating NELGA’s wealth of data, best practices, and expert knowledge to increase visibility and usability.
- Launching a targeted marketing strategy to engage governments, civil society, and private sector actors.
- Integrating land governance into other key agendas: climate, mining, biodiversity, and the just transition.
- Exploring artificial intelligence as a tool for understanding customary tenure systems and improving land registry management.
- Empowering the youth leaders trained through NELGA, who demonstrated strong commitment and understanding of the land governance landscape.
A Tribute to Collective Effort
The closing remarks celebrated ten years of collaboration, connection, and friendship, highlighting the human dimension as the foundation of the network’s success. Participants were encouraged to keep the momentum alive, even as questions around future coordination and funding remain. The discussion concluded by reinforcing the idea that land is not just an asset for productivity but also a source of identity, peace, and food security. The point was repeatedly made that achieving food security and sustainable development is impossible without prioritizing land rights.
This 10-year milestone was not only a celebration of past efforts, but also a call to action to innovate, adapt, and reinforce the governance systems that will shape Africa’s future.
