By Oliver Puginier, GIZ
As part of its efforts to promote secure land tenure in Africa, three Programmes of German Development Cooperation joined hands and brought together 120 land experts from 17 countries to discuss Responsible Land Governance Systems in Somone, Senegal on 7-11 October 2024. These were: the “Global Programme on Responsible Land Policy” (GPRLP), the “Global Programme Strengthening Advisory Capacities for Land Governance in Africa” (SLGA) and the bilateral project “Seen Suuf – Support for the improvement of land management”. This was the second such workshop after the Knowledge Exchange Workshop in June 2022 in Uganda, entitled “Secure Land Rights – Learning, Collaboration and Practice”, and was intended to deepen exchanges as well as share lessons learned.
Anchoring Practitioners’ Experience in Responsible Land Governance Systems refers to integrating and grounding the practical knowledge gained as well as experiences of professionals in the field into formal land governance systems. The workshop aimed to foster experience sharing and proven best practices in responsible land policy by those directly involved in land governance, so as to provide valuable insights to inform, assess the effectiveness and to refine land policies and frameworks. Mutual learning and innovative solutions are key elements for strengthening land tenure security and promote responsible land management systems. Discussions covered Land Tenure Security, Conflict Mediation, and Land Reforms among representatives from governments, CSOs, academia, practitioners from land governance projects as well as a variety of development partners.
Best practices around five thematic communities of practice were highlighted in Knowledge Streams, including cross-cutting themes such as climate resilience, gender inclusivity, and digitalization. The workshop included field excursions, presentations, exchange sessions, and discussions on mainstreaming practitioners’ experiences into policy frameworks, thus fostering a strong international network for knowledge sharing and collaborative action.
The results are summarized in a communiqué in English and French which you can find below.
Lessons Learned
- Importance of Local Knowledge and Community Engagement. Community-driven practices in conflict resolution and natural resource management are highly effective in addressing local land disputes and restoring ecosystems. Examples include the use of local land charters in Burkina Faso and Niger, which incorporate both traditional and formal land management practices.
- Challenges in Formalizing Customary Land Rights. Formalizing customary rights remains challenging due to high administrative costs and complex legal frameworks. Projects like Seen Suuf in Senegal demonstrate that sustained technical and financial support is crucial to overcoming these obstacles and securing rights for vulnerable groups.
- The Need for Cross-Sector Partnerships. Integrating digital, gender, and environmental dimensions into land governance requires cross-sector collaboration. Strengthening alliances between civil society, government, international partners and private stakeholders can drive systemic change, aligning land policies with broader environmental and social objectives.
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Originally published on 13 December 2024 on Land Portal. Author: Oliver Puginier, GIZ. Photograph via Land Portal.