African countries urged to focus on sound land policy for growth
African countries have been asked to focus on implementing sound land policies to achieve growth.
“Most countries do not have a good land policy. Even if they have one it is not properly implemented,” Dr. Abebe Hailegabriel, the Director, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture at the African Union Commission told member countries at the African Development Forum (ADF VIII) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, October 23 to 25, 2012.
Speaking at the second day of the Forum on the topic, ‘Centrality of Land for African Development’ said 60% of Africans depend on access and use of land for their livelihoods.
He urged African countries to use the Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy which – a joint product of the partnership and collaborative effort of the African Union Commission (AUC), the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to promote Africa’s socioeconomic development, through agricultural transformation and modernisation.
Initiated in 2006, the aim of the Land Policy Initiative (LPI) was to examine land policy issues and challenges in Africa with a view to developing a framework to strengthen land rights, enhance productivity and improve livelihoods.
The Framework and Guidelines provides a clear overview of the historical, political, economic and social background of the land question in Africa and elaborates on the role of land as a valuable natural resource endowment in attaining economic development and poverty reduction. Based on lessons and best practices identified in land policy development and implementation across Africa, it outlines how the land sector should perform its proper role in the development process.
It also promotes the need for a shared vision among all stakeholders of a comprehensive and coordinated land policy as a major factor in national development. It urges African governments to pay attention to the status of land administration systems, including land rights delivery systems and land governance structures and institutions, and to ensure adequate budgetary provision to land policy development and implementation.
“Progress will require the development of tracking systems and mechanisms of land policy formulation and implementation that will enable African governments learn from past successes and setbacks, and make timely readjustments to national land policy processes.
This Framework and Guidelines is much more than simply another document on land. It reflects a consensus on land issues; and serves as a basis for commitment of African governments in land policy formulation and implementation and a foundation for popular participation in improved land governance,” he said.
By Groum Abate