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.

The 2025 World Bank Land Conference in Washington, DC, brought together over 800 global land governance experts, policymakers, academics, and practitioners. This year’s theme, “Securing Land Tenure and Access for Climate Action”, placed land firmly at the center of climate discussions, with African voices and innovations leading key conversations.

The African Land Policy Centre (ALPC) and the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA), played an active role in shaping dialogue across climate resilience, gender justice, and youth engagement. Through a dedicated exhibit space and multiple sessions, NELGA showcased its commitment to supporting land policy research, youth capacity development, and university partnerships across the continent.

A standout was the NELGA session on “Securing Land for Climate Action in Africa: Ideas, Concepts and Experiences”. It brought together experts from NELGA universities, the Youth Initiative for Land in Africa (YILAA), the London School of Economics and Political Science, the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN), the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) and GIZ African Union. The discussion focused on aligning land governance with climate action through science-policy strategies, highlighting contributions from NELGA representatives across East, West, and Southern Africa.

As global momentum builds toward COP30, NELGA contributions at the Land Conference reinforced one key message: Securing Land for Climate Action in Africa is fundamental to achieving climate justice in Africa. The partnerships built and knowledge shared in Washington will continue to drive action long after the conference’s close.

On 24 April 2025, NELGA hosted a webinar featuring Dr. Désiré Tchigankong, who presented on the functions of a new toolkit developed by the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa NELGA to support the implementation of the AU Guidelines for the Development of Land Governance Curricula in Africa.

The toolkit aims to bridge persistent capacity gaps across African higher education institutions. Drawing from 26 AU-endorsed curriculum guidelines, it offers a structured, thematic approach to reviewing and designing academic programmes that reflect Africa’s socio-political, environmental, and economic land realities.

Dr. Tchigankong highlighted that many existing land governance curricula are imported and disconnected from the African context. The toolkit addresses this by empowering universities to localize content, build stronger links to policy processes, and ultimately produce graduates better equipped to lead in land policy development and implementation.

Already, over 20 universities have revised or launched new programmes using the guidelines. The toolkit is expected to deepen this momentum by making the adoption process more accessible and practical for institutions.

The webinar emphasized NELGA’s commitment to strengthening education systems as a cornerstone of effective, inclusive land governance across Africa, laying the foundation for a new generation of professionals ready to meet the continent’s land challenges head-on.

Toolkit supporting implementation of the Guidelines on the Development of Curricula on Land Governance in Africa

From 29–30 April 2025, the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA), in collaboration with the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) at the University of the Western Cape, hosted a two-day online course on Climate Change and Land Governance in Africa.

The training brought together land professionals, researchers, civil society representatives, and policymakers from across the continent. Participants explored the complex and urgent connections between climate change and land governance, focusing on how Africa’s land systems can become more inclusive, resilient, and responsive to climate impacts.

Facilitated by Prof. Ruth Hall, Prof. Moenieba Isaacs, Dr. Phillan Zamchiya, and Dr. James Murombedzi—the course addressed themes such as climate justice, tenure security, adaptation, and sustainable land use. The programme blended theoretical insights with practical case studies, highlighting community-led responses and policy innovations across Africa.

This training reflects NELGA’s broader mission to strengthen the capacity of African institutions and individuals to shape effective land governance systems in the face of growing environmental and socio-political pressures. By equipping stakeholders with knowledge and tools, NELGA aims to support climate-resilient development and ensure equitable access to land for all.

Held in Morocco, the Third Arab Land Conference brought together ministers, land governance experts, and stakeholders to address critical challenges in land management across the Arab region. With urbanization, climate change, and land tenure insecurity on the rise, the conference explored solutions for promoting inclusive development, social stability, and sustainable growth. Discussions emphasized the importance of robust land administration systems, regional collaboration, and digital innovation to secure land rights, resolve conflicts, and foster economic resilience.

The Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA) played a key role by showcasing its contributions to advancing sustainable land governance through research, capacity building, and policy dialogue. A key session, Integrated Geospatial Information Framework and Land Administration, highlighted the transformative potential of geospatial technologies in improving land governance. NELGA’s work in integrating geomatics and spatial data analysis equips future experts with the tools needed to address land tenure challenges, enhance decision-making, and support climate-resilient development.

Key NELGA partners including Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), underscored the importance of secure land tenure as a foundation for social peace, economic productivity, and environmental sustainability. “Land tenure security is not just about property rights—it is about social peace, economic productivity, and environmental sustainability,” noted Sebastian Wilde, Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy in Rabat.

NELGA reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional collaboration, fostering evidence-based solutions, and preparing the next generation of land governance professionals to address Africa’s evolving challenges.

The latest issue of the African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences (Vol. 8 No. 1, 2025) focuses on the critical role of women in land governance across Africa. This special issue presents a diverse range of research exploring the complexities of gender, land rights, and governance, shedding light on both the challenges and opportunities that exist.

From Uganda to Zimbabwe, Cameroon to Kenya, the studies in this issue examine women’s access to land, their role in customary governance, and the impact of policy frameworks on gender equality.

One study highlights the persistent struggles of women in Kakunyu Village, Uganda, in securing land ownership despite existing legal protections. Another investigates how sub-regional efforts are aligning with continental guidelines to promote women’s land rights. In Zimbabwe, researchers take an intersectional approach to analyze urban land corruption, revealing how governance failures disproportionately affect women.

The issue also explores the intersection of land rights with climate change, agriculture, and socio-economic transformation. Studies from Burkina Faso and South Africa discuss how agricultural initiatives and traditional governance structures impact women’s empowerment and land access.

Other contributions address the role of women in agroforestry, the commons, and sustainable land management. This collection of research offers critical insights for policymakers, researchers, and advocates striving to ensure gender-equitable land governance.

Read the full issue https://revues.imist.ma/index.php/AJLP-GS/issue/view/2961