Author: walelign5wk
Enhancing Sustainable Land Governance: NELGA’s Collaboration with PLAAS
As the Strengthening Advisory Capacities for Land Governance in Africa (SLGA) program approaches its conclusion in 2026, its incredible impact on people’s lives was illuminated during the SLGA/NELGA team’s visit to the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) in Cape Town, South Africa.
The visit entailed a detailed discussion about PLAAS’s sustainability strategies and comprehensive work plan for 2024 and provided detailed perspectives on its collaboration with GIZ and the African Land Policy Centre.
The significance of PLAAS’s role within NELGA as a technical node and its contributions to self-sustainability and regional development was driven home by two colleagues who directly benefited from PLAAS’s research.
Malany Meyer, a community-based activist who works with PLAAS, is from one of Cape Town’s largest and most impoverished townships, Lavender Hill. She recounted her experience of being evicted from her home, retelling her terrifying story of finding her daughter through the dust after a combative confrontation with eviction teams. Malany had initially thought her daughter was away from the vicinity when it happened.
Sandiso Kraai, a graduate of PLAAS’s unique Postgraduate Diploma in Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, the only such course in Southern Africa, gave an impassioned rendition of his time in the programme. As a member of the government and on the opposing side of communities where he has to evict people and face those like Malany – often where his family members live – he said the teachings gave him the language to express himself and the complexity he deals with daily, which made him into a more understanding public servant.
While the SLGA program is coming to an end, the collaboration with PLAAS remains steadfast. PLAAS’s presentation of its strategy and shared lessons provided invaluable guidance in navigating the extrication process.
Empowering Women: Webinar on Women’s Land Access Rights in North Africa
The Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA NA) organized a webinar focusing on “Women and land access rights in North Africa.” Held on March 28, 2024, the webinar aimed to shed light on the challenges and best practices surrounding women’s land rights in the region.
Throughout the event, leading experts from Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Sudan shared their insights and experiences. Discussions covered various topics, including legal and social reforms, women’s empowerment, access to agricultural land, and the major constraints limiting women’s access to land.
Key highlights included Professor Abderrahim IDRAIS’s presentation on the challenges and opportunities of women’s access to land in Morocco and Professor Dina NAJIB’s insights into the policy framework for women’s access to land in Egypt.
The webinar attracted participants from public institutions, the private sector, civil society, universities, and international organizations. Attendees engaged in meaningful discussions and exchanged valuable perspectives on the various country’s contexts presented and on the socio-cultural, legal, institutional and financial challenges to women’s access to land in North Africa.
Overall, the webinar served as a platform for knowledge-sharing and collaboration, paving the way for future initiatives aimed at enhancing women’s land access rights in North Africa.
Deadline Extended -Call for Proposals for NELGA/DAAD Postdoc Fellowship -2024
Good news for emerging researchers interested in land policy in Africa! The deadline for submitting proposals for NELGA/DAAD Post-Doc Fellowships 2024 has been extended to March 25.
NELGA announces the release of Call for Proposals for NELGA Post-Doc Fellowships. We encourage emerging researchers, especially women, to seize this opportunity to enrich their academic careers and make substantive contributions to advancing land policy in Africa.
Successful applicants will benefit from:
* Financial support for their research endeavours.
* Further training on Science Communication and Advocacy for Research Output
* Financial support for scientific publications
* Networking opportunities fostering collaboration and exchange with peers For
In addition to that, DAAD plans to offer a VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSION for interested applicants on 22nd February 2024, 11:00 CET (Central European Time).
The main language of the event will be English, but information materials will be translated into French. Questions & Answers will be in both English and French.
We look forward to the submission of your proposals and to welcoming you to our virtual info session!
comprehensive details and proposal submission guidelines, please refer to the attached Call for Proposals and visit the DAAD SLGA page.
Strengthening Land Governance: Highlights from Uganda’s Capacity Development Workshop
In a bid to fortify Uganda’s land administration system and enhance sustainable development, key stakeholders convened for a Capacity Development workshop happened 29th January 2024 leading to a training of Master trainers that was conducted from February 12th to 23rd, 2024. Supported by Strengthening Advisories Capacity for Land Governance in Africa (SLGA) in partnership with the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development (MLHUD) of Uganda, the workshop marked a significant step towards enhancing expertise and resources vital for effective land governance.
During the workshop, participants, including representatives from government bodies, academia, and development partners engaged in validating essential components such as capacity needs assessment, syllabi development, and criteria for selecting master trainers. Emphasising collaborative efforts, the initiative aimed to lay the foundation for a comprehensive strategy tailored to Uganda’s unique land sector needs.
A highlight of the capacity development strategy was the training of master trainers, tasked with cascading knowledge to district and sub-county levels. Focused on thematic areas such as land administration, physical planning, and conflict resolution, the training aimed to equip trainers with the necessary skills to drive transformative change in land governance across the country.
The SLGA program played a crucial role in supporting and facilitating the workshop and the training, further underscoring the commitment of local governance structures to effective land governance. This initiative underscores Uganda’s commitment to equitable resource allocation and sustainable development, positioning the land sector for enhanced effectiveness and resilience in the face of evolving challenges.
Bridging Gaps in Research Communication
NELGA concluded a Research Communication Workshop in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from March 5th to 7th, 2024. The workshop provided a valuable opportunity for participants, including academicians, researchers, policymakers, civil societies, and private sectors, to refine their skills in effectively communicating research findings.
The workshop aimed to enhance the visibility and accessibility of NELGA’s research endeavors. By employing the principles of Design Thinking (DT), the workshop facilitated collaborative engagements among researchers, the private sector, and the media. This approach addressed various challenges faced by stakeholders in accessing and comprehending research, ensuring that valuable insights could reach a wider audience.
Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in activities structured around the Empathize and Define Ideate Prototype, and Test and Reflect phases. These activities fostered collaborative idea generation, prototype development, and the presentation of communication materials and policy briefs. Participants demonstrated dedication in crafting tangible outputs, including engaging digital content and effective policy briefs.
Looking forward, NELGA anticipates the production of a series of policy briefs enriched by diverse perspectives. These briefs will be disseminated through NELGA channels and shared on different platforms. Additionally, participants will gain access to exclusive opportunities, including networking through the NELGA Alumni Network and potential funding opportunities like the NELGA Post Doc Fellowship.
The success of the Research Communication Workshop lays the groundwork for continued collaboration.
Unlocking Borders: A Professor’s Impactful Contribution to Land Governance
“Elevating from Assistant to Associate Professor, NELGA/DAAD Teaching Mobility fortified my expertise in transformative land governance”.
Prof MEDIEBOU CHINDJI
Recruited as an Assistant at the University of Yaoundé 1 in December 2011, I progressed from Assistant to Full Professor, shifting my focus to land governance under Professor Tchawa’s guidance. In November 2019, I was selected for the DAAD/NELGA Teaching Mobility and taught at Omar Bongo University on land-related issues. The program, funded by GIZ-SLGA and implemented by DAAD, facilitated a beneficial exchange of experiences and enhanced my advisory capacities for land governance in Africa.
NELGA not only strengthened my capabilities in land governance but also improved my English proficiency. It allowed me to share experiences with countries in Central, West, and East Africa, contributing to scientific articles and books that led to my promotion to Associate Professor at the University of Yaoundé I.
I actively participated in collaborative research projects, contributing to policy briefs and exploratory missions to influence political decisions and to enhance collaboration between universities in Central Africa under the NELGA initiative. In administrative roles, I coordinated seminars, workshops, and missions related to land governance, conflict prevention, and curriculum review.
I presented at the Fifth African Land Policy Conference (CLPA-2023) and the International Geography Symposium, showcasing my commitment to advancing knowledge in land governance. Since March 2024, I’ve been the new coordinator of the Professional Master’s degree in urban planning and development at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Yaoundé 1.
Pioneering Women in Land Governance: Inspiring Change and Progress
Chaimaa Erreddaf
“Empowering communities through land governance, Celebrating International Women’s Day with a commitment to equality and sustainable futures”.
On International Women’s Day, I share my journey from being an urban planner to a land governance specialist. A graduate of the National Institute of Urban Planning and Development (INAU), my initial focus was on understanding the complexities of urban policies and social dynamics shaping our built environments.
Desiring a deeper understanding of land governance, I joined the specialized Master’s program in Geospatial Sciences and Land Governance at Agronomic and Veterinary Institute HASSAN II, facilitated by NELGA. This transformative step allowed me to explore land systems, management policies, and rights, highlighting their interactions with social, economic, and environmental dynamics.
Upon completing my studies, I joined NELGA North Africa as a research assistant. In this role, I coordinate and support research activities, foster exchanges between researchers and stakeholders, and advocate for an inclusive and participatory approach to land governance.
Empowered by this experience, I am pursuing doctoral studies in Land Governance, Geosciences, and Sustainable Development at IAV II. As a doctoral student, my goal is to contribute to cutting-edge research and evidence-based policy development, addressing the complex challenges faced in land management.
On this day, I celebrate not just my achievements but those of all women dedicating their energy and passion to creating a more equitable world. Let’s continue to support each other, break barriers, and pave the way for a future where everyone, regardless of gender, can achieve their full potential.
NELGA Central Africa: Methodological tools made available to young researchers working on land tenure issues
The 2024 edition of the Methodological Seminar for doctoral students working on land tenure issues was held at the University of Yaoundé 1 from 27 to 28 February 2024, at the initiative of the Central Africa node of the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA).
The seminar aimed to train young researchers from Central African universities, particularly those enrolled in doctoral programmes, in the problematisation and construction of research subjects by introducing them to the understanding and handling of the most appropriate tools and techniques in their fields of specialisation, and to bring young researchers up to speed on the best practices and approaches for problematising research topics on the issue of the environment and sustainable development.
In addition to presenting NELGA Central Africa and its achievements, challenges and prospects, the two-day seminar focused on sharing knowledge and best practices on research methodology in social science (from a socio-anthropological and geographical perspective), in land law, the ethical implications of land law, the spatial dimension of land data with a focus on tools and methods, data processing and data collection tools, and localisation and exploitation of ressources .
The key suggestions emphasized the value of blending different types of information, like both qualitative and quantitative data, when conducting research. The significance of upholding ethical standards consistently throughout the research process has also been stressed. Additionally, students were urged to actively engage in or become part of established networks and communities of young researchers.
Community of Practitioners in Land Management (COPRAF) Inaugurated in Senegal
In a big move for land governance in Senegal, the first Community of Practitioners in Land Management (COPRAF) was officially launched on January 26th and 27th, 2024. This initiative creates smooth professional relations among land practitioners for ongoing progress, knowledge exchange, and the refinement of tools and governance mechanisms. The establishment of COPRAF aims to strategically enhance land management practices.
COPRAF’s inception comes in response to the operational challenges preceding legal frameworks in land reforms. This initiative signifies an opportunity to address operational shortcomings, strengthen observed successes, and pave the way for the expansion of pilot projects.
The project Strengthening Land Governance for Africa (SLGA) – Sénégal Country Package supported the establishment of COPRAF aiming to influence policy decisions and improve the institutional and legal framework of land management in Senegal.
Members of the network have access to specialised resources, training and events that allow them to fuel the development of Senegalese skills in the complex treatment of a land issue with delicate societal issues.
As COPRAF takes its first steps to enhance land governance in Senegal, it stands as a significant step towards collaborative efforts and sustainable land management practices in the region.
Unlocking Opportunities: NELGA’s Contributions at GIZ LandHub 2023
NELGA played a significant role at LandHub 2023 in Bonn, Germany. During the event, NELGA members actively participated in Technical Session 1, focusing on the connections between youth employment in the land sector, the Rio Conventions, and the SDGs.
This engaging session included discussions on “Unpacking linkages between youth employment in the land sector, the Rio Conventions, and the SDGs,” as well as a “Comprehensive analysis on the Rio Conventions and youth employment in the francophone and Anglophone areas.”
Speakers, such as Dr. Arno Sckeyde, Dr. Désiré Tchigankong, Dr. Madiodio Niasse, and others, explored how the Rio Conventions relate to youth employment in Africa. They presented comprehensive analyses based on case studies from Senegal, Cameroon, Tanzania, and Botswana, highlighting the significance of green jobs in addressing youth unemployment, particularly in agriculture, forestry, mining, and fisheries sectors.
Key takeaways stressed the need for collaboration between governments and training institutions to align education systems with land policy needs. Encouraging formalized economic activities for youth, promoting sustainable development, and supporting initiatives through capacity building were highlighted as crucial steps.
NELGA’s active engagement in this session underscores its commitment to shaping sustainable land governance in Africa.
Get full report – LandHub 2023 Report draft.docx (uneca.org)