Introduction

This Information Note aims to provide the participant with pertinent information relating to the upcoming Consultative Workshop on land Policy in Southern Africa, scheduled to take in Windhoek, Namibia on 29-31 August 2007. The following information is included: the background and roadmap of the AU-ECA-AfDB land Policy Initiative (section II); the objectives and intended outcomes of the consultation workshop in southern Africa (Section II); an information sheet (Annex I) and a confirmation sheet (Anne II).

I. The AU-ECA-AfDB Land Policy Initiative: Background and Roadmap

A. Background

In view of the importance of addressing land related challenges to facilitate broad based economic growth and social development as well as ensure peace and security, the majority of African governments have embarked on land policy and institutional reforms. Most of these reforms aim to address the twin challenges of p roviding a sound basis for strengthening property rights so as to facilitate investment and the generation of economic opportunities while at the same time guaranteeing security of access to land for the rural and urban poor as a basis for secure livelihoods and improved food security. A review of progress made by African governments in the formulation and implementation of sound land policies shows a wide variation among African countries in terms of progress made

Some countries are still at the initial stages of policy development while others have relatively new policies that are yet to be fully implemented in order to realize meaningful results on the ground. A further examination of the underlying constraints behind this slow progress points to many factors such as insufficient expertise, knowledge and resources to facilitate formulation and implementation processes, as well as inadequate long-term commitment and political will by key stakeholders.

Recognizing that there is a wealth of information already available based on research findings and the experience of the many actors involved in developing and implementing land policies on the continent and elsewhere, the African Union Commission (AU), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) joined forces to harness the efforts of various actors, with a view to developing viable mechanisms for facilitating the flow of knowledge, lesson sharing, innovative resource mobilisation strategies, and enhancing political will, all critical to catalysing the formulation and implementation of land policy and institutional reforms on the continent. The AU-ECA-AfDB Land Policy Initiative therefore aims to support national, regional and international efforts so as to catalyze land policy formulation and implementation. Specifically, the AU-ECA-AfDB Land Policy Initiative, working in close collaboration with Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and other stakeholders, has engaged in a process of developing a framework and guidelines for land policy in Africa supported by benchmarks and indicators for assessing performance of land policy formulation and implementation processes.

The Land Policy Initiative is grounded in a roadmap that recognises the central role of multi-stakeholder consultations aimed at gaining consensus on the key elements that should constitute the framework, guidelines, benchmark and indicators for land policy and institutional reforms.

The critical steps in the roadmap include: a) A continental consultative workshop; b) An Expert Group Meeting on Benchmarks and Indicators; c) Regional assessments and consultations; d) A continental Meeting of African experts and African Ministers responsible for land; and f) AU Heads of State and Government Summit

B. An overview of the roadmap

The key steps of the roadmap for the development of the framework, guidelines, benchmarks, and indicators are described briefly below.

1. Consultative workshop

The consultative workshop, which took place on 27-29 March 2006 at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC), Addis Ababa, was informed by an issues/discussion paper, and brought together over 100 representatives from African governments, RECs, civil society including farmers' organizations, African private sector, centres of excellence and development partners. The main outcomes of the consultative workshop were key messages and recommendations based on a consensus around the following issues: The

•  Elements and thematic issues that would characterize the framework and guidelines of land policy and land reform in Africa;

•  Features of a vision and guiding principles for a framework of land policy in Africa;

•  Actions and sequential activities needed to develop a land policy framework and guidelines; and

•  Roles of stakeholders and partners, and resource mobilization.

Following recommendations of the workshop, members of an African Task Force on Land Policy transformed the Issues Paper into a Background Document and developed a ‘skeleton' framework of land policy and land reform in Africa, based on specific inputs from the consultative workshop.

2. Expert Group Meeting on Land Indicators

In order to put in place a mechanism to develop benchmarks and indicators to support the Land Policy Framework and Guidelines for effective implementation, the AU-ECA-AfDB consortium, in partnership with UN-HABITAT, organized an Expert Group Meeting on Land Indicators held on 3-4 May 2007. The meeting, which brought together 52 participants drawn from a wide range of stakeholders and experts in land policy, land administration and indicator development, based its discussions on a Concept Paper on Land Policy Indicators in Africa. The main outcome of the meeting was a consensus on the mechanism to develop benchmarks and indicators, including: a coordinated process of review of the concept paper based on inputs from the expert group meeting; moderated e-discussions to engage a wider audience on the subject matter; and field pilot studies on land policy indicators in a few selected countries.

3. Regional Assessments and Consultations

Using the background document and the skeleton framework resulting from the consultative workshop, regional assessments are underway, to document the regional specificities, initiatives, and lessons in each of Africa's five regions: Central, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Africa. Regional background Documents will then form the basis of discussions at regional consultative meetings. The Regional Consultation Workshop on Land Policy in Southern Africa (29-31 August 2007 ) is the first regional meeting to take place and its specific objectives and outcome are outlined in section II below.

4. Meeting of African Experts/ African Ministers Responsible for Land

With inputs from the regional consultative workshops, the African Task Force on Land Policy will enrich the draft Land Policy Framework and Guidelines in preparation for a continental meeting of African experts and ministers responsible for land. At this meeting, the draft will be subjected to an extensive review and discussions by key experts from land related line ministries of AU member States. A key outcome of the experts meeting will be a refined draft of the framework and guidelines to be sent to the ministerial meeting. In addition, an Experts Report on the land policy framework and guidelines including key recommendations on its implementation will be produced. Following the Experts meeting, Ministers will review and adopt the Expert's Report and Recommendation on Land Policy Framework and Guidelines.

5. The Summit of Heads of State and Government

The Ministers' Report and Recommendations on Land Policy Framework and Guidelines will be subjected to the policy organs of the AU Summit for consideration and adoption. These include the Permanent Representative Council (PRC) and the Executive Council (EC) of the Assembly. The Executive Council will prepare a draft Declaration for consideration, review and adoption by the Assembly of African Heads of State and Government. The Declaration will contain resolutions and decisions on its implementation and follow-up.

II.  Regional Consultative Workshop on Land Policy in Southern Africa: Objectives and Outcomes

The Workshop will bring together a wide-range of stakeholders on land issues in the region, including national governments, civil society, private sector, centres of excellence, and development partners. A regional background paper based on a comprehensive assessment of key land issues in the Southern Africa will form the basis for discussion at the workshop.

A. Objectives

The workshop will aim to reach a consensus on the:

•  Regional specificities, initiatives and lessons that should be included in the continental framework;

•  Knowledge, institutional and resource gaps as well as lessons from on going land initiatives in the region, critical to identifying capacity needs and developing strategies for implementation; and

•  Key elements necessary to the development of benchmarks and indicators, and mechanisms for assessing performance of land processes in the region.

B. Expected Outcomes

The key outcome of the regional consultations will be an enhanced regional background document whose elements will enrich the draft continental framework and guidelines, and inputs to the development of relevant benchmarks and indicators .

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