Addis Ababa, 20 November 2023 (ECA) - Business and economics journalists from various media houses across Africa participated in a master class on land rights and governance in Africa ahead of the fifth edition of the Conference on Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) underway from 21-24 November 2023 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The training was organized by The African Land Policy Center (ALPC), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the International Development Law Organization (IDLO)
Joan Kagwanja Coordinator of the ALPC, acknowledged the role journalists play in informing the public on land matters in Africa and the need for attention on the multiple dimensions surrounding land governance.
Ms. Kagwanja said media should effectively report on the key challenges of land issues in Africa that include cultural practices that discriminate against women, colonial practices and poor governance.
“The dissemination of content on land governance, rule of law and intra-Africa trade could enhance inclusive and sustainable growth,” said Ms. Kagwanja.
The aim of the master class was to increase awareness and knowledge among business and economics journalists about rule of law indicators, land governance policies and intra -Africa trade; expose journalists to approaches for effective reporting on land governance and how it intersects with trade and economic activities; build a network of business and economics journalists who appreciate and can advocate for inclusive land policies and intra-Africa through their media outlets; and build support among journalists for the 2023 Conference on Land Governance in Africa.
Kimani Njogu, an adviser to the Scientific Committee organizing the Conference said by understanding how land governance policies and practices affect opportunities for intra-Africa, journalists are able to inform and educate the general public and decision makers.
“Journalists should embrace their watchdog role and create awareness on the issues of land rights in Africa, expose corrupt practices related to land and trade practices, monitor land reforms, acquisitions, deals and demand accountability from public officers,” said Prof Kimani.
“Through the framing of stories, journalists can also influence policymakers to adopt policies and frameworks that advance inclusive and sustainable use of land on the continent to accelerate the implementation of AfCFTA.”
Speaking at the Master Class, Ms. Barbara Kilei Country Manager for the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) told the journalists that a rule of law approach lens ensures that systems of laws, norms, institutions, and communities commit to accountability, just law, open government, inclusive, accessible, and impartial justice in land governance. By doing so, she emphasized, the rule of law creates an enabling sustainable environment for inclusive land governance that promotes a Culture of Justice and dignified life for all.
“IDLO recognises that good land governance is critical to achieving sustainable development. Through its interventions on improving governance of land and natural resources in the East and Horn of Africa, IDLO works with Governments and local communities, “ she said.
In doing so, IDLO strengthens institutions capacity to promote rule of law. It also enhances the legal capacity of communities and enables customary and informal dispute resolution structures to be more inclusive and just. Furthermore, IDLO promotes linkages between formal and informal justice actors and strengthens collaboration and coordination of state and non-state actors in land governance.
Eileen Wakesho, the Director of the Community Land Protection Program, Namati, Kenya explained that all the research papers presented at the land conference are published in the African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences (AJLP&GS) established in 2018
“This is an open-access journal aiming to encourage innovation in research, promote knowledge exchange, and advance scientific research in land policy and geospatial sciences in Africa and serve as a reference journal for Africa,” said Ms Wakesho adding that in 2023, the Journal joined the EuroPub as the European Directory of Academic and Scientific Journal
The ALPC and IDLO note that increasing the capacity of business and economics journalists to appreciate the key land governance and rule of law issues in Africa and their linkage to intra-Africa trade.
This year’s CLPA is holding on the theme “Promoting Sustainable Land Governance in Africa for Accelerating Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA).”
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org