Victor Uzoho
African leaders and stakeholders have called on African states to develop pro-poor land policies and inclusive land tenure rights, particularly for women and youth.
The leaders spoke at the ongoing 2021 Conference on Land Policy in Africa, in Rwanda.
The hybrid event, themed: “Land governance for safeguarding art, culture, and heritage towards the Africa we want,” underscored the need for equitable access to land.
Speaking, Rwandan Environment Minister, Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, stressed the need for commitments at regional levels to ensure equity, adding that “anything related to land needs strong political will, people buy-in, and close collaboration.”
The Minister, represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Patrick Karera, said the negative effects of climate change have raised the risk of deforestation and land degradation, and called for innovative ways in implementing land reforms and services.
In any programme on land reform and women’s land rights in Africa, the importance of land and its unequal distribution between male and female should be given greater consideration.
On her part, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy of the African Union Commission, Josefa Sacko, described land as a very emotive issue in Africa, which continues to have major historical significance for the people.
She said: “It lies at the centre of agriculture activities, natural resources and other land-based activities that are fundamental to livelihoods as well as ensuring food security and social-economic development for future generations.”
Sacko added that competition for land following the negative effects of climate change was exacerbating conflict on the continent, as witnessed in the Sahel.
She urged member states to develop comprehensive land policies to address the human, financial, and technical capacity gaps following the African Union Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy in Africa.
Remarking, African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Beth Dunford, stressed the need for equitable access, use, and ownership by all community members, particularly women and the youth.
Dunford, represented by the Country Manager for Rwanda, Aissa Sarr Toure, said: “Land is a key input to food production and a major source of capital for the poor.
“In any programme on land reform and women’s land rights in Africa, the importance of land and its unequal distribution between male and female should be given greater consideration.”
