Leaving No Place Behind: Advancing Just Land Governance in Africa

“Just land governance begins with people — and with places.” This message set the tone for the GIZ side event, “Towards Just Land Governance,” held during the 2025 Conference on Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) in Addis Ababa.

The session brought together policymakers, researchers, and practitioners from across the continent to reflect on lessons learned from over a decade of collaboration through the Global Programme on Responsible Land Policy (GPRLP) and the Strengthening Advisory Capacities for Land Governance in Africa (SLGA) programme. Discussions emphasized that inclusion, evidence, and innovation remain central to achieving equitable land systems.

Cissy Namuddu Settumba Kiyaga from the Buganda Land Board highlighted that partnerships between governments, civil society, and traditional leaders are crucial to building trust and driving meaningful change at the community level. Similarly, Michel Delor Atangane Mbang from Cameroon’s Centre pour l’Environnement et le Développement stressed the importance of cross-country learning to promote transparency and prevent land-related conflict.

Adding a broader perspective, Professor Uchendu Eugene Chigbu urged participants to move beyond the principle of “leaving no one behind” to “leaving no place behind,” underscoring the need to integrate rural areas fully into land reform and development initiatives.

These reflections echo the Berlin Land Week Declaration, which calls for secure land rights to be embedded in agricultural, environmental, and social policies to achieve justice, sustainability, and shared prosperity.

📄 Read the Berlin Land Week Declaration – https://nelga.uneca.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Shaping-the-Future-of-Land-Governance-A-Global-Call-to-Action-for-Food-Security-and-Fair-Life-for-All.pdf