AUC-ADB-ECA Land Policy in Africa: A Framework of Action to Strengthen Land Rights, Enhance Productivity and Secure Livelihoods

Expert Group Meeting on Land Policy Indicators

3 - 4 May 2007
UNCC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Opening Remarks by Dr. Josue Dioné, Director, Food Security and Sustainable Development Division, The Economic Commission for Africa

Your Excellency Mme Agnes Kaliballa, Ambassador, Uganda High Commission to Kenya and Deputy Permanent Representative of Uganda to UN-HABITAT and UNEP

Dr. Ahmadou Babagana, Director, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture at the African Union Commission,

Dr. Thizier Seya, Resident Representative of the African Development Bank,

Distinguished experts from African governments, the Regional Economic Communities, Civil Society, UN organizations, Centers of Excellence, Development Partners,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Executive Secretary of ECA, Mr. Abdoulaye Janneh, I am pleased to welcome you to this Expert Group Meeting on land policy and land reform Indicators in Africa, being hosted by the Economic Commission for Africa in partnership with the African Union Commission and the African Development Bank, under the auspices of the AU-ECA-ADB Land Policy Initiative.

Let me acknowledge, on the outset, the tremendous contribution of our sister UN agency, UNHABITAT, who has been a supportive partner of this continental initiative, and who, through the Global Land Tools Network, has graciously provided the funding and invaluable technical support for this expert group meeting. We believe that it is these types of partnerships that will ensure that the AU-ECA-ADB initiative delivers on its commitment to assist African Member States catalyze land policy and land reforms with a view to enhancing economic, social and political development of the continent.

Dear Experts,

Many of you were part of a consultative meeting held in March 2006 here in Addis Ababa, which put in place a course of action for developing a framework and guidelines for land policy and land reform in Africa. The meeting was successful in gaining a consensus on: the key elements and thematic issues that would characterize the framework and guidelines of land policy and land reform in Africa; the features of a vision and guiding principles; the actions and sequential activities; and the roles of stakeholders and partners, as well as modalities for resource mobilization. Following recommendations of that meeting, the AU-ECA-ADB joint secretariat worked closely with an African Task Force in transforming the issues paper, which was the main basis for deliberations at the meeting, into a background document. This document now forms the basis for all activities and processes related to the initiative.

Distinguished Experts,

As you may be aware, the consultative meeting also recommended that clear benchmarks and indicators be developed to accompany the framework, with a view to ensuring that land policy and other land reform processes are monitored and reviewed to evaluate their contribution to their intended goals. In addition, the meeting felt that the review and monitoring of these reforms would help to draw lessons for similar processes across the continent.

This expert group meeting is intended to answer that call of the consultative meeting by spearheading a process that will lead to the development of benchmarks and indicators to accompany the continental framework and guidelines for land policy and land reform in Africa. It is therefore my hope that this meeting will provide clear guidelines on the main activities necessary for the development of the benchmarks and indicators, as well as mechanisms and modalities for applying the indicators at the national, sub-regional and continental levels. I am also keenly awaiting the outcomes of this meeting to advice us on the potential roles of the various stakeholders, in the development and implementation of benchmarks and indicators. Also important for the AU-ECA-ADB initiative, is guidance related to viable communication strategies and advocacy tools, necessary to ensuring buy-in at all levels and among all stakeholders in the application of the benchmark and indicators.

Dear experts,

Ladies and gentlemen,

The caliber of experts and wealth of experience in this room, in critical areas such as land governance and policy implementation, land administration, urban related issues, land indicator development and others, give me great confidence that the deliberations are going to be rich and of high quality, and guided by realities on the ground. I therefore have every confidence in your abilities to provide us, first, with inputs to transform the concept paper into a background document for developing the benchmarks and indicators, and second, with clear guidelines on a process that will ensure the development of viable indicators and commitment by all stakeholders.

With these few remarks, we greatly appreciate that you kindly accepted our invitation to come and help us all face up to the challenge. I wish you fruitful deliberations and a very pleasant stay in Addis Ababa.

Thank you.