Land Governance Program

Access to land for the (agro-)pastoral population in the Horn of Africa – a region where pastoralism is the main form of land use – is not sufficiently regulated. Relocations, infrastructural development, large-scale land investments and non-transparent land administration as well as coexisting customary and modern property systems create insecurity of land tenure which often result in disputes and conflicts. This is particularly pronounced for women, youths and other disadvantaged groups of people.

The overall goal is to facilitate the implementation of the African Union (AU) Declaration on Land Issues and Challenges in accordance with the Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy in Africa. This will facilitate access to land and security of lands rights for all land users in the IGAD region, especially vulnerable groups such as pastoralists, women and youth.

The ultimate beneficiaries are all categories of land users, especially vulnerable groups such as pastoralists, women and youth in selected countries in the IGAD region. They will benefit from improved and more secure land tenure and, thus, be able to invest in land.

The direct target groups include the public sector institutions of IGAD member states that are mandated to formulate and implement land policy, organizations of the civil society, producer organizations, and private sector actors as well as science and research institutions that are interested in securing land rights and are involved through consultation.

The main (direct) partners are the IGAD Secretariat, the Land Policy Initiative and the responsible land governance institutions in the Member States.

The capacity of IGAD to facilitate and monitor the implementation of the AU Declaration on Land in the Horn of Africa and to formulate a regional land governance policy framework is strengthened.

Fase 1 01.10.2014 - 31.05.2019   (Completed)