The GIZ-Participatory Integrated Land Use Planning II (PILUP II) project, in collaboration with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Planning and Development, recently concluded its successful three-year journey (2022–2024) with a closing workshop in Addis Ababa. As a close partner, SLGA/NELGA actively participated in the event to honor the project’s achievements and reflect on its impact.

The workshop brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including political and implementing partners, experts, civil society organizations, and development partners. It highlighted the significant role of SLGA/NELGA in bridging Ethiopia’s national land priorities with the African Union’s continental land agenda. Through its Ethiopia Country Component, SLGA/NELGA supported the development of standards for land data transfer and management, addressing the digital divide in geospatial information in line with the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (UN-IGIF). These contributions have been pivotal in promoting evidence-based decision-making across key sectors.

The event also served as a platform to share lessons learned, showcase best practices, and foster collaboration. A preview of the upcoming Land Governance III project (2025–2027) was introduced, signaling a continued focus on land policy reforms, rural land consolidation, and enhanced land use planning.

For SLGA/NELGA, this marks the culmination of a successful partnership and a renewed commitment to advancing sustainable, inclusive land governance in Ethiopia and beyond.

The recently concluded National Validation Workshop on Land Governance in Ethiopia, held from December 16–18, 2024, marked a step toward advancing sustainable land management and governance frameworks. Organised by the IGAD Land Governance Unit in collaboration with the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and NELGA, the workshop brought together key stakeholders from federal ministries, regional land bureaus, academia, civil society, and development partners.

The workshop focused on reviewing policy-oriented research reports and eight policy briefs addressing critical land governance issues. Participants provided substantive feedback on challenges such as institutional coordination, legal reforms, and the integration of climate resilience, gender equity, and human rights into land governance policies.

A significant outcome was the reaffirmation of the importance of aligning Ethiopia’s land reforms with the African Union Declaration on Land and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. NELGA’s instrumental role in supporting this alignment was highlighted, particularly in bridging research and policy to ensure informed decision-making processes.

Discussions emphasised the role of digital solutions in enhancing transparency and efficiency, particularly in urbanization and land use planning. Community participation was identified as a cornerstone for equitable and effective land governance reforms.

SLGA/NELGA contributions to fostering collaboration between academia and policymakers, advancing land governance research, and promoting sustainable development in Ethiopia and the wider IGAD region showcased.

Africa is home to the world’s youngest population, with youth defined by the African Union’s Youth Charter as individuals aged between 15 and 35. The continent’s youth demographic is rapidly growing, with young people aged 15 to 29 accounting for over 40% of the adult population in 2019. Each year, more than 10 million young Africans enter the workforce, yet only 3.7 million jobs are created annually. This mismatch underscores the urgent need to empower youth, women, and vulnerable groups to secure a sustainable and prosperous future.

Despite this, 60% of Africa’s youth remain unemployed. Universities struggle to equip graduates with the skills industries require, resulting in a gap between education and employability. To address this, the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA) prioritizes strengthening human and institutional capacities to advance the African Union’s Agenda on Land. Partnering with universities across the continent, NELGA has focused on bridging the gap between youth employment and land-related education. This effort aims to ensure graduates from NELGA universities can secure suitable employment in public and private sectors, NGOs, and international organizations.

The Career Talk: Insights for Land Graduates

In a bid to tackle youth unemployment and improve land-sector employability, a career talk was organized in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This event brought together students and job seekers, offering valuable advice from Dr. Tchigankong Désiré and sparking discussions on actionable recommendations for universities and decision-makers.

Key Takeaways for Students and Graduates:

• Develop Digital Skills: As the job market increasingly moves online, graduates must master digital platforms to access opportunities and sustain their careers.
• Strengthen Soft Skills: Employers value attributes such as communication, teamwork, and adaptability. Students should actively seek mentorship, participate in projects, take online courses, expand their networks, and refine these crucial skills.

Recommendations for Universities:

1. Strengthen Industry-Academia Collaboration: Fostering partnerships with industries can bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical application.
2. Enhance Practical Exposure: Universities should make annual field placements mandatory, enabling students to gain hands-on experience in the land sector.
3. Conduct Tracer Studies: Establishing systems to track graduates’ career paths can provide valuable insights into employment trends and gaps.
4. Revamp Curricula: Transitioning from knowledge-based education to capacity- and skill-based training will better prepare students for the job market.

Toward a Brighter Future for African Youth

This career talk exemplifies NELGA’s commitment to addressing the challenges faced by Africa’s youth. By fostering dialogue, equipping students with essential skills, and driving institutional change, NELGA is paving the way for a more inclusive and dynamic land sector. Empowering young land professionals is not just about securing jobs—it is about building a generation capable of shaping Africa’s future.

With sustained efforts and collaboration between universities, industries, and organizations, Africa can transform its vast youth potential into a powerful force for economic growth and sustainable development.

In Tunis, a workshop organised by NELGA in partnership with GIZ brought together experts, educators, and policymakers to address youth employment challenges in the land governance sector. The event emphasized the integration of young graduates into the workforce and showcased innovative strategies from Morocco and Cameroon.

Discussions highlighted Tunisia’s need to bridge the gap between academic training and labor market demands. With graduate unemployment at 23.7% in 2023, participants proposed aligning curricula with real-world needs through collaborative program revisions, mentorship initiatives, and practical skill-building workshops.

Best practices shared included Cameroon’s integration of young professionals into land administration roles through specialized training and one-stop shops for land services. Morocco’s AMC-GOF initiative focuses on continuous training and partnerships to prepare graduates for the job market.

Key recommendations from the workshop included introducing co-diplomas such as a NELGA Master’s degree in land governance, promoting entrepreneurial access to state-owned land, and fostering soft skills through student clubs and alumni networks.

The workshop underscored the urgent need for dynamic education reforms to create a more inclusive and competitive land governance sector. By fostering youth engagement and aligning education with market demands, stakeholders aim to empower the next generation of professionals in Tunisia and beyond.

The event is a significant step towards addressing skills gaps and ensuring that young talent plays a central role in advancing sustainable land governance practices.

The second annual Knowledge Exchange Week (KEW) 2024, held in Somone, Senegal, from October 7-11, brought together over 17 countries’ representatives to advance responsible land governance across Africa. Jointly organised by GIZ’s Global Project on Responsible Land Policy (GPRLP), the Strengthening Advisory Capacity for Land Governance in Africa (SLGA) and funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the event focused on sustaining best practices, fostering partnerships, and amplifying the impact of BMZ-supported land initiatives.

Discussions centered on five thematic streams: land conflict resolution, customary land rights, land use registration, civil society engagement, and responsible investment. Strengthening Advisory Capacity for Land Governance in Africa SLGA and GIZ together with GFA consulting group facilitated sessions on these critical issues, providing a collaborative platform for sharing insights and practical solutions.

A significant presence, the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA) showcased its achievements, networked with new partners, and identified areas for expanded involvement. NELGA also explored collaboration with the Global Land Facility for research support and policy engagement, and PLAAS proposed training for African climate negotiators on customary land rights and climate resilience.

KEW 2024 concluded with clear recommendations: governments should generate evidence to institutionalise successful programs, universities should pursue action research on customary land rights, and multi-stakeholder platforms should support collaboration for sustainable land governance. Digital tools, including a mobile event app, facilitated engagement, while SLGA underscored the need for inclusive partnerships and local community involvement.

Regardez les moments forts de l’atelier ici: 2024 GIZ Knowledge Exchange Workshop – YouTube

The NELGA Central Africa Pole of Excellence recently hosted its second annual awards ceremony, celebrating outstanding academic work in land governance. In collaboration with the University of Yaoundé 1, and with the support of GIZ and the Africa Land Policy Centre (ALPC), the event aimed to promote research on land tenure, support emerging scholars, and encourage knowledge-sharing across Central Africa.

Held at the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), the ceremony highlighted exceptional PhD and Master’s theses that addressed critical land governance challenges. The awards recognized innovative research approaches that contribute to sustainable land management and inclusive policies in the region.

In addition to the awards, winners were offered internship opportunities through GIZ’s Responsible Land Policies Program, providing hands-on experience in land governance initiatives in Cameroon. The initiative is part of NELGA’s broader mission to foster academic excellence and support young professionals in addressing pressing land issues.

The event concluded with a call to maintain strong connections within NELGA’s network, emphasising the importance of continued collaboration to advance sustainable land governance in Central Africa.

“Studying with NELGA-DAAD wasn’t just about education—it was about connecting, learning, and making a real impact back home.” – Kedrala Wabela Hussen

Hailing from Dalocha, a district in southern Ethiopia, Kedrala’s early education in a rural setting laid the foundation for his passion for agriculture. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Hawassa University College of Agriculture in 2011 and began his career as a junior researcher in irrigation agriculture at the Southern Ethiopian Agricultural Research Institute (SARI). His quest for deeper knowledge led him to achieve a Master’s degree in irrigation and drainage engineering in 2017.

Kedrala Wabela Hussen’s academic and professional journey embodies the impact of NELGA’s support. A proud 2021 NELGA-DAAD scholarship recipient, Kedrala pursued his PhD in Water Resource Management at the Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine (IAV) in Morocco, culminating in a degree on July 22, 2024.

Kedrala’s desire for advanced learning was fulfilled through the NELGA-DAAD scholarship, which opened doors to world-class education and international exposure. During his studies in Morocco, he gained invaluable skills in research data analysis, scientific publication, and climate change adaptation actions. His journey took him to notable forums such as the International Young African Water Professional’s Forum in Marrakech and the International Conference on Water Resources Management and Sustainability in Dubai. These experiences allowed him to exchange knowledge on irrigation practices and bring fresh insights back to Ethiopia.

His research led to the publication of three influential papers focusing on small-scale irrigation schemes, significantly advancing practices in irrigation water management. Kedrala’s work, which explores effective irrigation practices and modelling, aims to ensure sustainable agricultural production and enhance water productivity.

Kedrala’s success story highlights how NELGA’s support through the DAAD scholarship has empowered individuals to make significant contributions to land and water management in Africa. His journey not only underscores the value of international academic collaboration but also illustrates NELGA’s role in fostering expertise that drives sustainable development across the continent.

The Network of Excellence for Land Governance in Africa (NELGA), in partnership with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), is pleased to announce the 2024 Research Fellowship. This initiative offers a unique opportunity for scholars and professionals within NELGA partner institutions to engage in research that addresses the critical intersection of climate change and land governance.

The 2024 fellowship focuses on empowering African researchers to explore key areas such as African food systems, pastoralism, digitalization, and gender dynamics in land rights and aims to strengthen the academic and practical linkages essential for effective land policy reforms across Africa.

Eligible Fields Applicants must have a background in land governance/ land management or a related field (e.g. land administration, land economics, urban and regional planning, geomatics). Proposals covering the following cross-cutting issues will be given special consideration in the field of Climate Change and Land Governance:

• African Food Systems and Land Governance
• Pastoralism, Livestock and Land Rights in Africa
• Digitalization and Land Rights in Africa
• Gender and Land Rights in Africa

Applications are due by 14th October 2024, with the fellowship period starting in January 2025.

For more details click the link nelga_call_for_research_fellowships_2024_climate-english.pdf (uneca.org)

The Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA) Eastern Africa Node launched the NELGA East Africa Alumni Network during a workshop held in Dar es Salaam from July 31st to August 1st, 2024. The event brought together NELGA experts, policymakers, researchers, and civil society members to celebrate NELGA’s achievements, share experiences, and build a sustainable future for land governance in Africa.

The workshop emphasised the importance of maintaining strong alumni connections to further NELGA’s mission of improving regional land governance. Participants engaged in discussions on the role of alumni in strengthening the network, ensuring the ongoing exchange of knowledge, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders.

The workshop’s success was marked by the establishment of a committed NELGA East Africa alumni network that will continue to drive NELGA’s objectives forward, ensuring that land governance in Africa remains inclusive, equitable, and sustainable.

The Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA) conducted the International Seminar on Land Governance in Africa, alongside the launch of the NELGA Central Africa Alumni Network. This event, hosted by the Association of Young Experts on Land Issues (AJEF) and the University of Yaoundé I, with support from the GIZ-SLGA Programme through the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa NELGA, took place from June 18 to 20, 2024, both online and in Yaoundé.

NELGA, dedicated to research and capacity building, supports students and young researchers in the land sector through scholarships, fellowships, and improved education. To enhance this support, the alumni network aims to foster connections, circulate job and funding opportunities, provide mentorship, and strengthen NELGA both regionally and continentally.

The NELGA alumni, comprising graduates, program beneficiaries, and NELGA DAAD scholars, are essential for the network’s sustained impact. Their participation is crucial for advancing training, promoting research, and strengthening regional collaboration in land governance.

The seminar featured workshops and interactive sessions focused on effectively leveraging alumni contributions. The outcomes included a clear understanding of the alumni’s role in NELGA’s sustainability, a structured network for ongoing engagement, and actionable strategies for utilizing alumni expertise.

NELGA through alumni experience aims to address land governance challenges, fostering sustainable development and social justice. This transformative event empowered the next generation of land governance leaders and created a more connected and resilient NELGA community.