Rethinking Youth Access to Land: Key Takeaways from the NELGA Francophone Alumni Webinar

On February 10, 2025, the NELGA Alumni Network of Francophone West Africa (RANAF) hosted a webinar on youth access to land, highlighting the challenges faced by young people in securing land rights. The event featured alumni, experts, and stakeholders who shared insights from their field experiences, discussing issues like land scarcity, regional disparities in land access, and the need to expand youth engagement in land-based livelihoods beyond traditional agriculture.
Youth access to land is critical for driving employment, economic growth, and sustainable development in Africa. Yet, misconceptions about land availability, cultural practices, and the complexities of land tenure continue to impede progress. With varying regional contexts across Africa, it is crucial to develop solutions that address these unique challenges and ensure that youth have the opportunity to thrive through secure land rights.

The webinar these misconceptions about land tenure and emphasized the need to rethink youth’s relationship with land. Participants discussed that empowering youth, securing their land rights, and providing financial support to invest in land-based activities are essential to unlocking opportunities for economic growth. By focusing on diverse value chains, the discussion stressed the importance of context-specific strategies to create sustainable solutions for land governance, fostering a new generation of land stewards and innovators in Africa.