Celebrating a Decade of the Global Programme Responsible Land Policy in Berlin
In October 2025, Berlin became a global meeting point for land governance. More than 130 experts and partners from various countries gathered to celebrate the closing of the Global Programme Responsible Land Policy (GPRLP) implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU).
For millions of people, land is far more than a piece of ground. It is a source of life, identity, and belonging. It is where livelihoods begin and communities take root. That understanding was evident throughout the event, reflecting a shared commitment to social cohesion, economic growth and reduced poverty through secure land rights.
A Decade That Changed Futures
Ten years of the GPRLP have left a lasting mark across continents. Since 2015, the programme has strengthened land rights in partner countries including Peru, Paraguay, Cameroon, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Benin, Uganda, Ethiopia, Madagascar, and Laos. Now, at the end of the programme, achievements are striking: more than three million people, over 650,000 households, now hold secure land certificates. Sixty-four percent of documented rights involve women or joint ownership, advancing gender equality and economic empowerment. More than 11,000 land conflicts have been peacefully resolved through participatory dialogue, and over 300 investors now apply responsible land management standards.
But the numbers only tell part of the story. Behind each figure lies a family whose future has become more secure, a farmer who can invest with confidence, or a woman who now has legal recognition of her right to the land she cultivates.
Throughout the conference, one central truth resonated: secure land rights are about more than technicalities or legal frameworks. As Marcy Vigoda, Director of the International Land Coalition, put it, “Land rights are not just a technical or policy issue. They are about dignity, survival, equity, and hope.”
Learning That Never Stops
The closing conference in Berlin was not just a moment to look back, it was a space for learning, reflection, and forward thinking. Over three days, participants explored how to carry lessons from the past decade into the future. The message was clear: responsible land governance is a global team effort. Real progress comes when partners share what works, adapt to changing realities, and continue to learn from each other.
Workshops, exhibitions, and dialogue sessions created a vibrant atmosphere of exchange. Impact marketplaces buzzed with stories and innovations from the field. A photo exhibition brought local experiences vividly to life. Technical sessions drew connections between land rights, gender, and sustainable food systems, while high-level panels with speakers from different levels and institutions and organisations helped align future priorities. As insights and ideas crossed borders, continuity took on a deeper meaning: it became a living, evolving process.
Mr. Paul Garaycochea – BMZ, Director – Sustainable supply chains; agricultural and food systems
Youth and Agriculture: Shaping the Future
One key topic was raised: the role of Africa’s youth in transforming the continent’s food systems. With more than 60% of Africans under the age of 25, and the average farmer now over 55, the generational gap is striking. “Africa’s future food systems depend on empowering its youth,” said John World Ackah Bonoua from the Youth Initiative for Land in Africa (YILAA). Secure land tenure and fair access are crucial for unlocking investment, innovation, and climate-smart entrepreneurship. If Africa is to feed its growing population and build sustainable rural economies, young people must be placed at the heart of land policies.
“Youngpeople have ideas, but they lack trust and means to act. Africa’s future will be built with its youth – or it will not be built at all.”
Mr. John World BONOUA, YILAA, Youth Initiative for Land in Africa
A Co-Created Commitment: The Closing Declaration
The conference culminated in the “Closing Declaration” — a collective Call for Action to the global land governance community. Far from being a formal conclusion, the declaration marks a new beginning: it seeks to strengthen collaboration by sharing scalable good practices and concrete, actor-specific recommendations.
Drawing on more than ten years of experience from GPRLP and the Strengthening Advisory Capacities for Land Governance in Africa (SLGA), the declaration aims to inform key continental and global platforms that shape land policy and governance.
What makes the document unique is how it came to life. It was co-created through a participatory process involving diverse stakeholders — from government representatives and civil society to private sector actors, academia and implementing partners in the land sector. Drafted through a series of virtual consultations and workshops, the declaration was further refined and officially endorsed during the closing conference.
The declaration’s message is clear: building secure land rights requires shared responsibility, evidence-based decision-making, and a culture of learning that transcends projects and borders. It stands as both a roadmap and a promise — to keep learning together for a future where land truly means life.
Writing committe of the declaration: Mr. Woldu Tadesse Reda representing Ministry of Agriculture in Ethiopia, Ms. Iantefana Rajenarison representing Ministry of Decentralization and Land Planning in Madagascar, Ms. Carol Namuzimule representing UCOBAC/ Stand for her land in Uganda, Ms. Valérie Cromer representing Meridia in Cote d’Ivoire, Prof. Rose Mediebou representing NELGA/ University of Yaoundé in Cameroon,Dr. Faridah Dosso representing NELGA/ University of Parakou in Benin
Looking Ahead
The motto “From Closing to Continuity” perfectly captures the spirit of the conference: making knowledge last, letting evidence travel, and scaling what works. The decade-long journey of the GPRLP is not ending—it is entering a new phase of land governance!
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Originally published on 31 October 2025 by the Global Programme Responsible Land Policy on Land Portal. Republished under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Photographs: GIZ, via Land Portal.