Building Bridges for Sustainable Development: Insights from the 12th EALAN Conference

The 12th instalment of the EALAN Annual General Meeting and Conference, a collaborative effort by the Eastern African Land Administration Network (EALAN), Ardhi University, and the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA), took place from July 27th to 28th, 2023, in Dar es Salaam. This event is a landmark in the progress of sustainable development via land administration in Eastern Africa.

The conference theme, “Advancing Land Administration in Eastern Africa for Sustainable Development,” opened up insightful discussions on the complex dynamics between human interaction with the land, technological advancements, and societal priorities. These elements have a profound influence on the region’s journey towards achieving the sustainable development goals.

The EALAN Conference hosted engaging dialogues and technical sessions, shedding light on crucial sub-themes. These included land governance and tenure, the impacts of climate change on land use, land acquisition and conflicts, education and research in land administration, land registration and formalization, and pro-poor land management approaches.

The conference provided a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange between scholars, policymakers, and practitioners from diverse land-related disciplines. NELGA’s participation highlighted the network’s dedication to improving land governance practices in the region, aiming to promote economic development, social justice, and environmental protection.