The foundation of a nation’s prosperity and stability is inextricably linked to how it governs its land. Secure land rights are the bedrock of sustainable development, underpinning everything from private sector investment and urban planning to social equity and climate resilience. Without clear, enforceable tenure, economic growth remains fragile and development inequitable.

This foundational principle was the central theme at the GIZ’s Strengthening Advisory Capacity for Land Governance in Africa (SLGA) Closing workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 5-6 August 2025. Titled “A Decade to Celebrate: Advancing land governance for Africa’s future,” the event convened 130 experts to celebrate the achievements of the SLGA programme. More importantly, it served as a moment to collectively chart a new course for the future, reaffirming that progress for the continent depends on robust and fair land governance.

Why Secure Land Rights Matter for Development

For citizens, businesses and governments, secure land tenure is a catalyst for broad-based progress. A keynote presentation by the Thea Hillhorst from the World Bank detailed how documenting and formalising land rights unleashes profound benefits:

• Spurring Investment and Economic Growth: Secure land is required for investments. When rights are clear, individuals and businesses can focus on productive activities instead of spending resources to protect their property. This security fosters entrepreneurship allows land to be used as collateral to access credit , and attracts the skills and capital needed for economic diversification.
• Building Sustainable Cities: With urban areas in Africa growing rapidly, tenure insecurity produces unplanned urban sprawl and slows down infrastructure development. Documented rights are critical for sustainable urban development, financing housing, and creating the informational basis for property taxes that fund local services.
• Enhancing Climate Resilience and Reducing Conflict: As climate change increases pressure on resources, clear rights to land—including common lands and migration routes—are essential for resilience. Clearly defined rights can help prevent and mitigate the land-related violent conflicts that are rising in many parts of the continent.
• Empowering Women and Marginalized Groups: Documented rights are a powerful tool for social empowerment, allowing for the legal enforcement of women’s rights to land.

The Challenge: A Continent of Insecure Tenure

Despite the clear benefits, Africa lags in formalising land rights and digitising its land institutions. The outreach of formal institutions is often limited, with title coverage in many rural areas being negligible. Land administration services are often inefficient, with high registration costs creating a bias towards the wealthy and a persistent gender bias where men hold the vast majority of exclusive land ownership titles.

While traditional and customary institutions continue to fill this gap, legislation recognizing their role is often not fully operationalized. This lack of clarity creates uncertainty that undermines investment and can exacerbate conflict.

A New Chapter: Leveraging a Decade of Progress

The SLGA programme and its flagship initiative, the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA), were created to address these very challenges. Over the past decade, NELGA has built a powerful ecosystem for change, establishing a network of over 70 universities and research institutions , developing 30 curricula , and training 3,500 African land experts.

The SLGA Closing Workshop marked the beginning of a new chapter. With the conclusion of core funding from GIZ, the focus has shifted towards long-term sustainability driven by African institutions. The path forward is centered on key strategies:

• Reducing Donor Dependency: The network is actively exploring new funding mechanisms, including membership contributions, government partnerships, and establishing a consultancy consortium to ensure its long-term financial health.
• Strengthening the Network: A key lesson learned is that collaboration and networking allow for the sharing of experience and resources at a lower cost. The future strategy involves strengthening the autonomy of NELGA’s regional nodes to better tackle local specificities and anchoring the network’s secretariat within the African Union system to enhance ownership and sustainability.
• Empowering the Next Generation: A highlight of the event was the launch of the NELGA Alumni Network. This initiative is a strategic step to create a dynamic, pan-African community of professionals to encourage knowledge exchange and drive collaborative, data-driven solutions for the continent’s land challenges.

Ultimately, the workshop affirmed that land governance is not a niche technical issue, but a prerequisite for the continent’s stability and prosperity. As NELGA enters its next phase—driven by its members, partners, and alumni—the collective commitment to building transparent, equitable, and efficient land institutions holds the key to unlocking a resilient and prosperous future for Africa.

The SLGA Closing Workshop marked an incredible milestone, bringing together land experts, policymakers, academics, and partners from across Africa to reflect on a decade of progress and chart the future of land governance.

This was more than a celebration of achievements — it was a showcase of impact. Young researchers shared how SLGA shaped their careers. “SLGA changed my life,” says Dr. Diane Tapimali from Cameroon. “It gave me the skills and confidence to engage in land policy.” Ndeye Aminatou Thiam from Senegal adds, “The support helped me grow professionally and speak up as a young woman in land governance.” For Ntokozo Fortunate in South Africa, SLGA “turned my passion into a career and connected me to a continental network.” These stories highlight how SLGA’s support through the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA) goes beyond data — it transforms lives.

The workshop also celebrated institutional growth, launched the NELGA alumni network, unveiled the NELGA expert database, and brought together stakeholders to shape the future of African land governance.

Dr. Andreas Schaumayer, Dr. Joan Kagwanja, and Prof. Herbert Robinson reflected on the programme’s successes and challenges, calling on partners to “amplify what we have achieved.”

As SLGA closes its chapter in February 2026, NELGA begins a new journey — building on a decade of learning, partnerships, and impact to strengthen land governance across the continent.

In Ghana, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, together with the Lands Commission, the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands, and the Land Sector Multi-Stakeholder Platform for Inclusive Land Governance (LSMSP) are spearheading the review of Ghana’s National Land Policy from 1999. With support from the government, NELGA, Landesa and COLANDEF, a first engagement meeting with the National House of Chiefs took place in Kumasi on 14th of July.

Since about 80% of land in Ghana is under customary tenure, chiefs play a crucial role in sustainable and inclusive land governance. The engagement meeting brought together the Standing Committee of the National House of Chiefs to ensure their voices are reflected in the review process. Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, the President of the National House of Chiefs urged the Government to prioritise engagement with traditional leaders in the allocation of land for the exploitation of natural resources and to plug the gaps in the land laws of the country. He recognised the engagement of the House on the National Land Policy as a step in the right direction. Dr. Wordsworth Odame Larbi stressed that a comprehensive review of the land policy is impossible without the full participation of traditional custodians.

By joining forces with the Ghanaian government, NELGA supports the development of a land policy that addresses today’s challenges — from climate change to women’s and youth land access — while safeguarding community rights and promoting sustainable development.

The NELGA Alumni Workshop, held from July 7 to 11, 2025, brought together former scholarship recipients and past training and workshop participants to reflect on the network’s achievements and shape its future. The event underscored NELGA’s significant contribution to strengthening land governance systems and building expertise across Africa.

Over five days, participants engaged in interactive trainings, thought-provoking discussions, and hands-on exercises aimed at empowering alumni and fostering a strong, connected network. Sessions addressed key topics such as innovative fundraising strategies, lessons learned from other land governance networks across the continent, and practical approaches to effective communication, advocacy, and leadership.

At the heart of the workshop was the collective commitment of alumni to leverage their diverse skills, resources, and expertise in support of Africa’s land governance agenda. Participants worked collaboratively to craft a shared vision for a continental alumni network that will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange, mentorship, and policy influence.

By pledging their ongoing support and active engagement, alumni demonstrated their determination to ensure the sustainability and impact of the NELGA network well beyond the workshop. This renewed commitment signals an important step toward amplifying NELGA’s reach and fostering continued progress on land governance reforms across Africa, with alumni at the forefront of driving meaningful change in their respective countries and regions.

The NELGA Alumni Workshop, held from July 7–11, 2025, brought together alumni, experts, and partners to advance a shared vision for improved land governance across Africa. Over the course of five days, participants worked collaboratively to define the role of the alumni network as a driver of knowledge exchange, policy influence, and professional growth in the sector.

The workshop delivered outcomes that will shape the future of the NELGA Alumni Network. Participants co-created a clear roadmap for alumni engagement, outlining concrete actions to enhance collaboration, mentorship, and regional fundraising initiatives. Regional alumni representatives shared practical strategies for sustaining networks and demonstrated how alumni can collectively influence land policy debates and reforms.

In parallel, hands-on training equipped alumni with skills critical to their roles as leaders and advocates in land governance. Sessions focused on effective leadership, strategic communication, advocacy, and alumni network management, leaving participants with actionable tools to strengthen their professional and organizational impact.

The exchange of best practices among alumni and youth-led initiatives showcased the innovative work already happening across the continent, inspiring others to replicate and adapt successful approaches in their own contexts. Alumni also explored pathways to contribute more effectively to applied research and to mentor the next generation of land professionals.

By the close of the workshop, alumni left empowered with a stronger collective identity, a concrete action plan, and enhanced capacities to drive meaningful change in land governance systems throughout Africa.

From July 9–11, 2025, IGAD hosted a Regional Dialogue with Women Parliamentarians and Duty Bearers on Gender, Land and Climate Resilience in Nairobi, Kenya.

This event brings together women parliamentarians, duty bearers, policymakers, and development partners from across IGAD Member States to tackle the interconnected challenges of gender inequality, insecure land rights, and climate vulnerability.

The dialogue builds on national consultations previously held in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda. These consultations highlighted critical gaps in women’s access to land, their role in decision-making, and the disproportionate impacts of climate change on women and rural communities.

Through the support of Strengthening Advisory Capacities for Land Governance in Africa (SLGA) program, IGAD was able to support these national and regional dialogues by providing technical expertise, fostering inclusive policy discussions, and promoting regional collaboration.

At the Nairobi meeting, participants are sharing lessons, identifying priority reforms, and generating actionable recommendations to strengthen gender-responsive land governance and climate adaptation. The outcomes will inform IGAD’s regional policy frameworks and Member States’ efforts toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly on gender equality, climate action, and sustainable land management.

SLGA has championed efforts to strengthen land administration, support inclusive land governance, and enhance community resilience—particularly for women and vulnerable groups. The Nairobi Dialogue is part of IGAD’s and SLGA ongoing initiative to align regional strategies, foster political will, and catalyse transformative actions that secure equitable land rights and sustainable climate responses.

The Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA) has reached another milestone in advancing land governance knowledge: over 180 of its publications are now accessible through the Land Portal’s open-access library.

These publications — including policy briefs, manuals, good practice reports, and in-depth research studies — represent years of collaboration between African universities, research institutions, and development partners. Together, they reflect NELGA’s mission to build evidence-based capacity for improved land policies and practices across the continent.

Since its launch, NELGA has worked to strengthen Africa’s human and institutional capacities for land governance, supporting training, research, data generation, and policy dialogue. This work has been made possible through the cooperation of the African Land Policy Centre (ALPC), African Union, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development BMZ, the World Bank, and other partners, implemented with the support of GIZ’s SLGA program.

As the SLGA program nears its close in early 2026, preserving and sharing the knowledge generated by NELGA is more important than ever. The integration of these publications into the Land Portal ensures that policymakers, scholars, practitioners, and advocates continue to benefit from open, long-term access to this critical knowledge.

Explore the full NELGA collection on the Land Portal Safeguarding knowledge: Over 180 NELGA publications now accessible via the Land Portal | Land Portal

The University of Douala, in collaboration with the NELGA Central Africa node, held a curriculum validation workshop in Kribi, Cameroon. The event marked a milestone in the reform and advancement of land governance education in the region.

The workshop brought together academic experts, university leaders, and land professionals to review and validate newly developed training modules focused on land governance and territorial management. These modules were developed in line with the African Union’s Guidelines on Land Policy in Africa and tailored to address the complex realities of Central Africa—particularly in urban and coastal contexts.

A major highlight of the workshop was the alignment of academic curricula with regional challenges such as rapid urbanisation, coastal vulnerability, climate change, and land-related conflict. The sessions emphasised inclusive approaches, including gender equality, youth engagement, and interdisciplinary learning.

This initiative is part of a broader effort to equip the next generation of land professionals with the tools and knowledge needed to ensure responsible, equitable, and sustainable land management in Africa.

The University of Douala’s leadership and commitment to educational reform is a promising step forward in addressing land governance challenges through targeted academic transformation.

Bishoftu, Ethiopia | June 21, 2025  

With support from the Strengthening Land Governance in Africa (SLGA) and Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Government of Ethiopia convened National Dialogue on Gender, Land, and Climate Resilience from 20–21 June 2025.

The two-day dialogue brought together women parliamentarians, policymakers, civil society, and technical experts to develop actionable strategies for gender-responsive land governance and climate action.

With opening remarks from IGAD’s Head of Mission to Ethiopia, Mr. Abebaw Bihonegn (on behalf of H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu), the event reaffirmed IGAD’s commitment to aligning national efforts with global and regional frameworks such as the SDGs and AU Agenda 2063. Speakers from Ethiopia’s Parliament, Ministry of Agriculture, and GIZ echoed the country’s drive to embed equity and resilience in land and climate policies.

Participants tackled challenges such as discriminatory land laws, limited women’s participation, and weak institutional coordination. They proposed stronger legal protections, increased funding, and inclusive planning to unlock women’s leadership in climate-smart land reform.

The event outcomes including a national policy brief will feed into IGAD’s Regional Dialogue in July.

From 02–04 June 2025, Morogoro, Tanzania hosted a three-day national consultation workshop aimed at aligning land governance with the country’s climate ambitions. The event, organised by Tanzania’s Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development in partnership with the Vice President’s Office, focused on reviewing the country’s second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC2.0) and laying the groundwork for the forthcoming NDC3.0 submission.

The workshop, supported by GIZ’s “Strengthening Advisory Capacities for Land Governance in Africa” (SLGA) programme, brought together government officials, academic experts, local consultants, and civil society representatives. Their joint mission: to evaluate existing gaps in NDC2.0 and ensure land governance issues are fully embedded in the updated climate framework.

By examining links between land use, tenure security, and climate adaptation, stakeholders developed targets, indicators, and action plans to inform NDC3.0. The process reflects Tanzania’s growing recognition of land governance as a key lever in achieving climate resilience and meeting obligations under the Paris Agreement and Rio Conventions.

SLGA’s support, including the engagement of national and regional consultants, underscores Germany’s ongoing partnership with African countries to enhance climate-smart land policy development. The outcomes of this workshop will also feed into regional and global dialogues, including the 2025 World Bank Land Conference.