Land conflicts and climate change are among the topics being discussed at the ongoing fifth edition of the Conference on Land Policy in Africa (CLPA), in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from November 21-24.

It was noted that land conflicts, mostly due to boundary disputes and climate change, which poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity, natural resource management, and the overall stability of rural livelihoods, could be resolved through one of the principles of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), land governance.

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The CLPA, a biennial gathering convened by the Africa Land Policy Centre (ALPC), provides a critical platform for African Union member states to deliberate on pivotal land-related issues and formulate actionable recommendations.

This year’s conference is held under the theme "Promoting Sustainable Land Governance in Africa for Accelerating Implementation of the AfCFTA.”

Already, 50 countries, among them Rwanda, have deposited their ratification instruments of the AfCFTA and the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and the African Passport.

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Amb. Josefa Sacko, from Angola who is the Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, stressed the intrinsic link between land policies and regional economic integration.

She emphasised that ensuring secure land tenure, facilitating land access for productive activities, and harmonising land administration systems are crucial elements for the success of the AfCFTA.

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In agreement, Robert Lisinige, Acting Director at the Private Sector Development and Finance Division of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), shared his sentiments on behalf of Dr Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary at ECA.

He said good governance promotes secure access to land, and creates an enabling environment for investments that are key for Africa to reach its full potential.

This, he said, should include youth, women, communities, and the private sector, since "after all, they constitute the largest part of the private sector, and an integral part in the quest to find climate-smart solutions.”

Lisinige also underscored the transformative potential of the AfCFTA, citing estimates that it could lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty, boost Africa’s income by $450 billion, and connect a staggering 1.3 billion people.

Where’s Rwanda?

Leonard Kayonga, Director of Land Use Management and Spatial Planning at Rwanda Natural Resources Authority, provided insights into Rwanda’s efforts to manage land conflicts, which he referred to as doing fairly well.

In Rwanda, land conflicts related to boundaries and systematic land registrations are handled by the National Land Authority and Districts or the City of Kigali.

From 2008 to 2013, Rwanda undertook a big project of land registration which resulted in more than 12 million parcels of land being registered in the Land Administration Information System (LAIS).

Land registration provides secured ownership of land and helps to protect the land from fraud and resist third-party applications for adverse possession of others’ land and property. Registration of land rights has also supported investment, productivity growth, increased land value and created more business opportunities.

"The first step was to ensure people feel secure in the tenure of their lands. In case the land needs to be revoked for public interest, for instance, it was ensured that the law provides for the previous owner, in which case, the government has to reimburse the equivalent value of the land, or provide for an equivalent alternative,” he explained.

Also, he said, the government conducts awareness campaigns to ensure citizens understand all land interests — rights, responsibilities, obligations, etc.

Also, a new land law was published in 2021, to facilitate the process for handling land disputes and enabling the National Land Authority and local government institutions to make decisions on disputes related to boundaries and systematic land registration.

The current process of handling land disputes further streamlines the process of handling land disputes, aligning with the goal of reducing court-handled disputes.

Persistent challenges

Despite efforts, climate change continues to pose a significant threat to agricultural productivity, natural resource management, and the overall stability of rural livelihoods.

Participants are urged to adopt adaptive land governance strategies that counteract the adverse impacts of climate change and enhance the resilience of agricultural systems.

Furthermore, during the five-year day conference, participants are discussing how land policies can foster inclusive trade while enhancing social and economic integration as envisioned in Agenda 2063.

The African Land Policy Centre, in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the UN Economic Commission, and the African Development Bank, hosts the CLPA every two years.

The conference, which started in 2014, brings together African policymakers, academics, civil society leaders, the private sector, and international agencies to discuss the future of land policy in Africa.