#CLPA2023 - Gender responsive, inclusive land policies vital for Africa's progress
Policy experts have been urged to focus on implementing strategies that empower women farmers, agri-preneurs, and pastoralists while deliberating on sustainable land governance
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (Planet Defence) - The African Union (AU) Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, emphasized the importance of gender-responsive initiatives during the ongoing Fifth Conference on Land Policy in Africa writes Michael Phiri in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Sacko emphasized that by ensuring fair access to land resources, markets, and support services, the African continent can create an environment conducive to amplifying the contributions and innovations of women in driving agricultural productivity, rural development, and overall economic prosperity.
"The continental free trade area presents a transformative opportunity for intra-African trade, industrialization, and economic growth. Coherent land governance is fundamental to realizing its full potential," said Sacko.
She added, "Encouraging secure land tenure, facilitating access to land for productive activities, and harmonizing land administration systems will underpin the success of the continental free trade area and foster inclusive development across the continent."
Kanziemo Leontine, an advisor on natural resource management at the African Development Bank (AfDB), echoed Sacko's sentiments, emphasizing the necessity of addressing structural inequalities, particularly concerning women's land rights in Africa amidst trade liberalization processes.
Leontine highlighted that despite more than half of Africa's agricultural labor force comprising women, existing inequality persists in ownership, access to, and control of land.
"Hence, as African governments ratify laws to implement the continental free trade area, there's a crucial need to bolster women's rights to land and natural resources to achieve fair and sustainable outcomes for all," Leontine asserted.
"Agenda 2063 calls for governments to fully empower women in all spheres, providing equal social, political, and economic rights, including ownership and inheritance of property, contract signing, and business management," she emphasized.
Leontine also noted the AU's campaign initiated in 2016, aiming to allocate 30 percent of land to African women by 2025 for the continent's economic transformation. She urged continued investment in supporting women farmers.
"The AfDB remains committed to advocating for land integration within national development and policy frameworks across our regional member countries. We will continue championing pro-poor land policy-making, capacity-building for national land institutions, and inclusive land tenure rights to support poverty reduction strategies," Leontine stated.
Organized jointly by the ECA, the AU Commission, and the African Development Bank (AfDB), the conference has convened leaders, experts, traditional authorities, and various non-state actors.
The ultimate goal of CLPA 2023, concluding on Thursday, November 24, 2023, is to bolster commitment and enhance capacities for the development, implementation, and monitoring of land policies in Africa.