Nairobi, Kenya, 21 September 2025 (ECA) – A landmark initiative to reshape how land governance is taught in Africa kicked off at the University of Embu, Kenya, at a high-level inception meeting convened by the African Land Policy Centre (ALPC).
The three-day meeting, supported by the German Government through GIZ, brought together university leadership, legal and agricultural experts, and ALPC consultants to forge a collaborative path for developing a new, continentally aligned curriculum on land governance.
In his opening remarks, University of Embu Vice Chancellor, Prof. Daniel Mugendi Njiru, emphasized the critical timing of the initiative. “Land is at the heart of our economies, our social fabric, and our environmental future. Training the next generation of land professionals with the right skills is not just an academic exercise; it is a necessity for sustainable development in Kenya and across Africa,” he stated.
The new curriculum will be guided by the African Union’s (AU) Guidelines for Curricula Development on Land Governance in Africa. These guidelines were developed to address significant gaps identified by ALPC research in the training of land professionals, particularly in understanding traditional land tenure systems, which manage over 80% of Africa's land, and the political dimensions of land governance.
“For too long, our curricula have not fully equipped graduates to handle the complex, real-world land challenges our communities face,” said Joan Kagwanja of the ALPC. “This partnership with the University of Embu is a strategic step towards closing that gap. We are moving from policy to practice, ensuring future leaders can navigate and reform land systems to secure rights, promote investment, and empower vulnerable groups, especially women.”
The meeting culminated in a clear roadmap and consensus on key actions. Participants agreed on the immediate launch of a comprehensive needs assessment to determine whether the new programme will be offered at the Master’s, Diploma, Certificate, or undergraduate level. The curriculum will be designed to complement the University of Embu’s existing programmes, such as its proposed LLM in Environmental Law & Climate Justice.
A core focus of the discussions was ensuring the curriculum strengthens expertise in securing women’s land rights, reflecting a key commitment from AU frameworks like the 2015 decision encouraging 30% of land to be documented for women.
“This is about building institutional capacity for the long term,” said Prof. Robert Kibugi, a lead consultant on the project. “The collaborative spirit and commitment from all university departments—from Law to Agriculture—is a powerful indicator that this programme will be robust, interdisciplinary, and truly transformative.”
The University of Embu is moving into the needs assessment phase, with a final curriculum expected by the end of the year. The initiative positions the university as a potential regional leader in land governance education, contributing to the broader goals of the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA).
About the African Land Policy Centre (ALPC):
The ALPC is a joint initiative of the African Union Commission, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and the African Development Bank. Its mission is to strengthen land rights, enhance agricultural productivity, and secure land rights for all Africans, particularly women and youth. The curriculum development on land governance initiative aims to strengthen land governance in Africa with targeted interventions that include curricula development and training programmes on land governance, research and knowledge exchange, policy dialogue and advocacy to support reforms in the land sector.
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