Africa takes first important step in tackling large scale land-based investments

Abstract

Continental efforts to adopt land policies that leverage on land as a strategic resource for inclusive and sustainable development took a step forward with the official launch of the African Union Guiding Principles on Large Scale Land Based Investments in Africa (LSLBI). The launch, which took place during the Inaugural Land Policy Conference in Africa, this Wednesday at the African Union Conference Center in Addis Ababa, kick starts a decade during which African countries are expected to draft policies that recognize the strategic importance of land and encourage its efficient use in Africa’s efforts for structural transformation, industrialization and inclusive development. The challenge, following the launch of the LSLBI, is their adoption and operationalization by AU member States. But Ms Kagwanja believes that African countries are ready to take the challenge.