Tag: African Union

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Empowering Africa: Launch of Land Governance Strategy at CLPA 2023

November 24, 2023

In a pivotal moment at CLPA 2023 on November 23, 2023, the collaborative efforts of the African Union and GIZ came to fruition with the launch of the African Union’s Land Governance Strategy. Ambassador Stefan Auer succinctly captured the essence, stating, “Providing secure access to land triggers positive economic, social, and political behaviors, especially among low-income families and rural agrarian communities.”

Ambassador Auer went on to underscore the urgency of effective land governance, emphasizing its indispensable role in achieving the African Union Agenda 2063 and UN Sustainable Development Goals. The strategy, a comprehensive framework, seeks to unlock Africa’s substantial arable land, poised to act as a catalyst for substantial economic growth and poverty reduction.

Highlighting the German support, Ambassador Auer spotlighted key initiatives such as the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA). Over the past six years, the African Land Policy Centre (ALPC), with technical support from GIZ, has significantly bolstered capacities, implementing educational programs and facilitating policy integration at national levels.

The launch of the African Union’s Land Governance Strategy marks a significant stride towards collaboration among African countries, private sectors, and development partners. This strategy is not merely a document; it signifies a collective commitment to secure and enhance land rights, fostering sustainable development across the continent.

As the conference provided a crucial forum for collaboration and knowledge sharing, the German Government commended the development of the Land Governance Strategy. The launch was a success, with high expectations of far-reaching implications for Africa’s sustainable development.

Looking forward, the African Union’s Land Governance Strategy is poised to become a cornerstone in fostering cooperation. It is anticipated to lay the groundwork for enhanced collaboration among African nations, private sectors, and development partners to secure and enhance land rights, ensuring a brighter and more prosperous future for the continent. The strategy is not just a milestone; it is a commitment to a transformative journey that will shape the trajectory of Africa’s land governance and, by extension, its socio-economic landscape.

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IWD2023 Q&A: Laws must protect Women’s Land Rights regardless of Status – Dr Edeme

March 1, 2023
  • Dr Janet Edeme is the Head of the Rural Development Division in the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment of the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
      • Her Division is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the African Union Agenda on Land and its challenges, Post-Harvest Loss Management, and Empowerment of Women and Youth in Agriculture.

        Special Focus on Leading Voices on Women’s Land Rights in Africa

        What is the importance of International Women’s Day (IWD), and what does it represent to you?

        International Women’s Day reminds us of the critical role women play in our societies and their valuable contribution to Africa. If you consider the African landscape, our women contribute to the sustenance of our agriculture and food systems and achieving food and nutrition security. Women, therefore, need land as well as other productive resources for them to contribute towards the development of Africa sustainably.

        When women can enjoy their land rights, they will be able to contribute to the achievement of Agenda 2063 sufficiently; more specifically, Aspiration 6 envisions an Africa whose development are people driven, relying on the potential offered by African People, especially its Women and Youth, and caring for Children. Through Aspiration 6 of Agenda 2063, we hope to achieve full Gender Equality in all spheres of life, including accessing and owning productive land.

        You’ve worked in this space for a long time. What about 2022 to 2023 has surprised you the most on women’s land rights?

        During the period 2022 and the early months of 2023, the world was recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic disrupted the status quo and prompted renewed thinking on managing global food supply chains.

        The Russia-Ukraine Conflict, however, slowed down the post-Covid 19 pandemic recovery process, and what we have seen is an increase in agriculture production costs, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is heavily reliant on fertiliser, agro chemicals and raw crop inputs from the two countries that have been in conflict for close to two years now.

        We, therefore, need to rethink and strategize how women can position themselves and apply sustainable agriculture practices that can enhance their productivity and leverage opportunities that the reduced importation of foods from Europe would create. We have sufficient land in Africa, but we must ensure that our women are resilient to the many external shocks, including wars, epidemics and climate change.

        How can we build back a society that supports women’s land rights?

        To have a society that supports women’s land rights, we need to ensure that our Member States put policies and legal frameworks in place that protect women’s land rights despite their status and whatever tenure arrangements they have land on.

        There is also a need to adapt to low-cost Information Communication Technologies (ICT) and associated applications and use them for enhanced information sharing among women and other vulnerable groups. This will help increase awareness of the available opportunities women can leverage and benefit from their land rights. ICTs can further facilitate women’s increased access to registering land rights, agriculture extension, finance and technical assistance.

        We also urge AU Member States to deliberately increase the quota for women’s participation in various Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) platforms both at the regional and national levels. This is key in facilitating women’s participation in planning, and decision-making and increasing their access to information to land.

        What can men do to help to achieve equality for women’s land rights?

        Men are involved in decision-making over land. They are also involved in land administration worldwide and can promote women’s rights to land in their daily roles as administrators of this vital resource. This includes creating a gender-inclusive business environment that limits the barriers to entry of women and women-led businesses in various sectors of the economy.

        What advice would you offer to young women interested in pursuing a career in the land/ land governance sector?

        Opportunities in the land sector are diverse, and you can always find a place to influence change as a surveyor, administrator, lawyer defending other women’s rights, policy maker, and planner. The opportunities are endless in the land sector!

        With the increasing digitalisation of processes, we expect tech-savvy young women to innovatively develop technologies and platforms that would address the challenges that disproportionately affect women’s access to land. Working in the land sector allows you to contribute to development, specially and uniquely.