Guidelines on prevention and addressing land-based conflicts in Africa

Abstract

The development of the Guidelines on Prevention and Addressing Land-Based Conflicts in Africa have been developed by the ALPC in order to “Build adequate human, financial, technical capacities to support land policy development and implementation” in accordance with the African Union (AU) Declaration on Land Issues and Challenges in Africa as well as associated decisions relating to the governance and management land on the continent. In developing interventions, the ALPC carried out assessments of key land issues in the five regions in Africa.This was later followed by a Continental Stakeholder Needs Assessment. Subsequently, the AUC, AfDB and ECA, called on ALPC to develop several guidelines and frameworks in support of land policy development and its implementation. The Guidelines on land conflict prevention are part of this critical effort. In developing the Guidelines, the ALPC embarked on a context and needs assessment study which examined the intersection of ethnicity, land and conflict in Africa. The study highlighted that to promote effective land governance in Africa, a clear understanding of landrelated and ethnic driven conflict must lie at the core of land policy development and implementation, as well as efforts to foster peace and security. It also emphasizes that resolving land-related conflicts in Africa can provide a strong foundation for economic growth and sustainable development. The study looked at ethnic identity and diversity, power struggles and political drivers, access to resources and productivity, among others. The study goes further to share best practices and recommendations.