As governments press pause on economic activities and people change their work and social behaviors to halt the spread of COVID-19, there are several hidden dimensions that can put pressure on land governance and management and threaten the land rights security of millions worldwide. In this section, we’ve put together the latest news on how COVID-19 affects various dimensions of land rights. Click on the link for a the list of upcoming webinars.

upcoming webinars

“Graduating from my master’s is a dream that came true at the right moment” Rebecca J. Milamo.

2019 marks a celebratory year for the NELGA scholarship programme, as we celebrate our first 10 graduates from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana and Ardhi University, Tanzania.

The NELGA scholarship programme is a comprehensive scholars programme available for young academics and professionals from all African Union member states through the German Academic Exchange programme (DAAD). It aims to support master’s and PhD studies as well as short term trainings for young candidates, mid-career professionals and researchers. Since its inception in 2016, the scholarship programme has awarded a total of 82 scholarships to students from over 20 African countries of which 21 are women.

After my undergraduate degree (BSc. In Land Management and Valuation), I worked with several real estate firms and institutions as a trainee. That is when I realized that the land governance sector faces a lot of challenges but is also very exciting and promising. I also noted the land governance sector has limited number of qualified professionals, especially women. In my country, (Tanzania), women are less involved in land governance mainly due to social factors such as customary land rights which are governed based on culture or traditions of a particular group. Most tribes in Tanzania are patrilineal and marginalize women in land matters such as ownership, inheritance, management and decision making. I therefore saw an opportunity for women in the sector, and to be able to participate effectively, I needed to gain more knowledge and skills in this field of study. Hence, this inspired me to pursue MSc. Real Estate. – Rebecca.

“The passion to learn new things and my ambition to become an agent of change in the development sector has always been the driving force of my academic studies. Even though I was so excited when I completed my studies, I still have a great responsibility to transfer the knowledge I have gained so far to promote the land governance sector in the region.  I am currently looking for opportunities in-country and in-region to contribute immensely in the sector.” – Nancy

The African Journal of Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences has published the first Issue for the year 2020. This Special Issue contains the reviewed and presented manuscripts at the Conference on Land Policy in Africa on November 25-29, 2019 in Abidjan. The theme of the Conference was ” Winning the fight against Corruption in the Land Sector: Sustainable Pathway for Africa’s Transformation”. 

Call for Scholarship Applications 2020/2021 at Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II (IAV Hassan II) MSc in Land Surveying Engineering and Science Engineering Domain. See attached document for details, available in French and English.

Application Closing Date at DAAD (for pre-selected candidates only):
Master Candidates: February 29th, 2020
PhD Candidates: June 9th, 2020 DAAD.

Call for Scholarship Applications 2020/2021
at Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II (IAV Hassan II).

Application Closing Date at DAAD (for pre-selected candidates only):
Master Candidates: February 29th, 2020
PhD Candidates: June 9th, 2020 DAAD

Organized by the African Land Policy Center (ALPC), with the support of SLGA, the third biennial conference on land seeking to deepen knowledge on land policy has been successfully concluded.  Themed “Winning the Fight Against Corruption in the Land Sector: Sustainable Pathway for Africa’s Transformation,” this important five-day conference drew over 400 participants from government, traditional leaders, development organizations, academia, civil society and various stakeholders active in the sector of land governance in Africa to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire between Nov. 25-29, 2019.

NELGA (the Network of Excellence on Land Governance), was established by the ALPC with financial and technical assistance from the German Government through the BMZ and GIZ as well as other development partners.

At the just concluded CLPA 2019, NELGA has played a significant role in bridging the research gaps related to land governance in the African continent. Representatives from NELGA member universities as well as NELGA sponsored African scholars have presented their research papers at the event, which were relevant and timely to the continent’s needs.

In addition to sponsoring paper presenters, NELGA participated in the event by organizing a Master Class, a NELGA booth where participants could get information about NELGA and its partner ALPC. A NELGA reception which provided another opportunity for networking and highlighting the program’s activities and achievements was also successfully organized.

NELGA’s capacity building activities in collaboration with PLAAS, DAAD and ADLAND have included  providing trainings, master classes, Masters and PhD scholarships and research fellowships to hundreds of African scholars.

Giving testimonials at the event, NELGA Master Class alumni have confirmed that the scholarships have had positive impacts on their future careers.

The crucial role of the academia in bringing about research-based policy changes as well as the need to build the capacity of institutions in addressing land governance issues has been on the forefront of land governance discussions in Africa.

NELGA’s strategic role as a change agent to address this crucial need has been recognized during the conference by stakeholders across countries and sectors. Fueled by the positive feedback from stakeholders and partners, NEGA is poised to enhance its activities in the year 2020.

The consensus at the CLPA 2019 was that effective land governance was indispensable in achieving Africa’s development goal—the Agenda 2063, due to its direct contribution to end poverty and hunger, promote agriculture and investment, ensure gender equality and inclusive growth.

Sound land governance policies, with transparent and well-functioning systems provide incentives to investors and are crucial in fighting corruption while on the other hand legal uncertainty, lack of transparency and accountability, complex and unclear administrative processes, undeveloped systems create and foster corruption, and undermine business confidence and investment.

Organized by the African Land Policy Center (ALPC), with the support of SLGA, the third biennial conference on land seeking to deepen knowledge on land policy has been successfully concluded.  Themed “Winning the Fight Against Corruption in the Land Sector: Sustainable Pathway for Africa’s Transformation,” this important five-day conference drew over 400 participants from government, traditional leaders, development organizations, academia, civil society and various stakeholders active in the sector of land governance in Africa to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire between Nov. 25-29, 2019.

NELGA (the Network of Excellence on Land Governance), was established by the ALPC with financial and technical assistance from the German Government through the BMZ and GIZ as well as other development partners.

At the just concluded CLPA 2019, NELGA has played a significant role in bridging the research gaps related to land governance in the African continent. Representatives from NELGA member universities as well as NELGA sponsored African scholars have presented their research papers at the event, which were relevant and timely to the continent’s needs.

In addition to sponsoring paper presenters, NELGA participated in the event by organizing a Master Class, a NELGA booth where participants could get information about NELGA and its partner ALPC. A NELGA reception which provided another opportunity for networking and highlighting the program’s activities and achievements was also successfully organized.

NELGA’s capacity building activities in collaboration with PLAAS, DAAD and ADLAND have included  providing trainings, master classes, Masters and PhD scholarships and research fellowships to hundreds of African scholars.

Giving testimonials at the event, NELGA Master Class alumni have confirmed that the scholarships have had positive impacts on their future careers.

The crucial role of the academia in bringing about research-based policy changes as well as the need to build the capacity of institutions in addressing land governance issues has been on the forefront of land governance discussions in Africa.

NELGA’s strategic role as a change agent to address this crucial need has been recognized during the conference by stakeholders across countries and sectors. Fueled by the positive feedback from stakeholders and partners, NEGA is poised to enhance its activities in the year 2020.

The consensus at the CLPA 2019 was that effective land governance was indispensable in achieving Africa’s development goal—the Agenda 2063, due to its direct contribution to end poverty and hunger, promote agriculture and investment, ensure gender equality and inclusive growth.

Sound land governance policies, with transparent and well-functioning systems provide incentives to investors and are crucial in fighting corruption while on the other hand legal uncertainty, lack of transparency and accountability, complex and unclear administrative processes, undeveloped systems create and foster corruption, and undermine business confidence and investment.