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

The NELGA Knowledge Exchange (NEx) Webinar on Climate Change and Land Governance, held on January 30, 2025, provided a platform for experts and researchers to discuss the critical intersection between climate change and land governance in Africa.

A key highlight was the special edition of the African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences (AJLP-GS), which has reached over 10,000 readers worldwide.

The session featured insights from Prof. Moha EL-AYACHI (NELGA North Africa Coordinator), Prof. Patrick OPOKU (Guest Editor), and leading researchers, who presented findings from selected articles. Topics covered included land tenure systems in conflict zones, the impact of mining on land use, and smallholder farmers’ adaptation strategies to climate change.

The discussion emphasized the importance of integrating climate change considerations into land governance. Prof. El-Ayachi noted that the special issue is only the beginning of further research in this field.

The webinar also set the stage for the next NEx session on Gender and Land Governance, with recommendations to enhance outreach, panelist preparation, and audienceengagement. The announcement for the next AJLP-GS special issue is expected soon.

On January 16, 2025, the Moroccan Association of Researchers in Geomatics and Land Governance (AMC-GOF) hosted an insightful webinar on the pressing issue of agricultural land urbanization in Morocco. Supported by the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA), the event explored regulatory frameworks and challenges tied to sustainable land governance.

Khalid El Hadri, Head of the Studies Department at the Urban Agency of Kénitra-Sidi Kacem-Sidi Slimane, highlighted critical gaps in the current legislative framework. His analysis revealed the urgent need to strengthen regulations that address unchecked urban development encroaching on agricultural lands.

Prof. Abdelwahed El Idrissi, Director of the Doctoral Studies Center at INAU, presented a detailed analysis of urbanization trends in Morocco, supported by compelling data. His insights focused on the extent of agricultural land loss and the necessity of aligning urban development with long-term sustainability goals.

The discussions underscored the importance of integrating sustainable land governance policies with urban planning to strike a balance between development and the preservation of valuable agricultural resources.

NELGA’s collaboration in supporting this event reflects its ongoing efforts to foster research, dialogue, and practical solutions to Africa’s land governance challenges.

The Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA) is excited to announce the launch of its Research Communication Reference Guide (RCRG), a comprehensive toolkit designed to support researchers and land governance stakeholders across Africa. This guide is a vital resource for enhancing the impact of research, offering practical guidance on effectively translating complex findings into accessible, engaging formats.

The RCRG is structured to address the challenges of modern research communication. It includes essential elements such as case studies showcasing best practices in sustainable land governance from various African countries. The guide also provides editable templates for policy briefs and presentations, along with infographics that simplify complex methodologies, making them more digestible for broader audiences.

In addition to these practical tools, the guide offers a curated list of literature focused on communication strategies, writing techniques, and audience engagement. Topics covered in the guide range from audience segmentation to identifying allies in media and policy spaces, equipping researchers with the necessary skills to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.

The RCRG bridges the gap between academia and policy, empowering researchers to connect their findings to real-world applications. By providing practical tools and methodologies, it enables users to enhance their influence, drive policy changes, and promote sustainable land governance initiatives across Africa. This manual complements the self-paced online course “Course: Maximising Research Impact: Driving Change and Making a Difference | atingi,” by delving deeper into key aspects of research communication. For those with limited internet access, the manual is available for download and can be referred to offline, reinforcing your approach to research communications in land governance policy. With this guide, researchers can further enhance their ability to craft compelling narratives, engage audiences, and drive meaningful change through their research. Get the reference tool here Research Communications Guidance Manual