Strengthening responsible land governance through knowledge exchange and capacity development
Secure access to land is essential for reducing poverty and hunger in rural areas, particularly for women and marginalised groups. The Global Programme Responsible Land Policy (GPRLP) worked across seven African countries—Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Niger and Uganda—to improve land governance systems in collaboration with public institutions, civil society, academia and the private sector.
GFA Consulting Group was commissioned to design and implement a regional knowledge management and capacity development approach that complemented country-level interventions. The objective was to strengthen collaboration, build institutional capacities and promote the exchange of good practices across countries. The project focused on three key areas:
- Securing land-use and land tenure rights, including land registration and recognition of customary tenure
- Strengthening the participation of civil society in land policy processes
- Promoting responsible agricultural and forest investments in line with the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT) and climate frameworks
A central component of the project was the capacity development of civil society organisations (CSOs). Through a bilingual (English/French) blended learning programme, CSO representatives enhanced their skills in policy advice, advocacy, resource mobilisation and multi-stakeholder engagement. The programme combined e-learning, peer exchange, expert sessions and coaching, with a strong focus on translating individual learning into organisational change.
GFA established an integrated system for learning and exchange, including thematic Communities of Practice, international workshops and structured documentation processes. This enabled stakeholders from West, Central and East Africa to jointly address key challenges such as land conflicts, recognition of customary rights, land administration reforms, responsible investments, and gender-responsive and climate-resilient land governance. By facilitating cross-country dialogue and peer learning, the project helped identify and scale successful approaches, including participatory land-use planning, customary land charters and innovative land registration models. Overall, the project strengthened institutional frameworks, enhanced civil society engagement in land policy processes and fostered sustainable regional cooperation beyond the programme’s duration.
PROJECT IS PART OF
