Land governance key to Africa's transformation, says Hamdok at opening of land policy conference

Abstract

The Second Conference on Land Policy in Africa opened with a call for the continent to properly manage its land resources for the benefit of its current and future generations. In opening remarks to the conference, ECA Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist, Mr. Abdalla Hamdok, said there was no doubt that good land governance was key to Africa’s transformation and central to livelihoods and sustainable development. Land forms the basis for agriculture, forestry, mining, industry, tourism and urban development. But to maximize on the benefits of land and its resources, inclusion of land users in decision making on how land is governed and managed is crucial. The conference started in the morning with participants discussing various topics including land planning and governance, land certification systems, technology application for agriculture, conflict management, access to land for women and youth and environment management.