Organized by the African Land Policy Center (ALPC), with the support of SLGA, the third biennial conference on land seeking to deepen knowledge on land policy has been successfully concluded.  Themed “Winning the Fight Against Corruption in the Land Sector: Sustainable Pathway for Africa’s Transformation,” this important five-day conference drew over 400 participants from government, traditional leaders, development organizations, academia, civil society and various stakeholders active in the sector of land governance in Africa to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire between Nov. 25-29, 2019.

NELGA (the Network of Excellence on Land Governance), was established by the ALPC with financial and technical assistance from the German Government through the BMZ and GIZ as well as other development partners.

At the just concluded CLPA 2019, NELGA has played a significant role in bridging the research gaps related to land governance in the African continent. Representatives from NELGA member universities as well as NELGA sponsored African scholars have presented their research papers at the event, which were relevant and timely to the continent’s needs.

In addition to sponsoring paper presenters, NELGA participated in the event by organizing a Master Class, a NELGA booth where participants could get information about NELGA and its partner ALPC. A NELGA reception which provided another opportunity for networking and highlighting the program’s activities and achievements was also successfully organized.

NELGA’s capacity building activities in collaboration with PLAAS, DAAD and ADLAND have included  providing trainings, master classes, Masters and PhD scholarships and research fellowships to hundreds of African scholars.

Giving testimonials at the event, NELGA Master Class alumni have confirmed that the scholarships have had positive impacts on their future careers.

The crucial role of the academia in bringing about research-based policy changes as well as the need to build the capacity of institutions in addressing land governance issues has been on the forefront of land governance discussions in Africa.

NELGA’s strategic role as a change agent to address this crucial need has been recognized during the conference by stakeholders across countries and sectors. Fueled by the positive feedback from stakeholders and partners, NEGA is poised to enhance its activities in the year 2020.

The consensus at the CLPA 2019 was that effective land governance was indispensable in achieving Africa’s development goal—the Agenda 2063, due to its direct contribution to end poverty and hunger, promote agriculture and investment, ensure gender equality and inclusive growth.

Sound land governance policies, with transparent and well-functioning systems provide incentives to investors and are crucial in fighting corruption while on the other hand legal uncertainty, lack of transparency and accountability, complex and unclear administrative processes, undeveloped systems create and foster corruption, and undermine business confidence and investment.

Organized by the African Land Policy Center (ALPC), with the support of SLGA, the third biennial conference on land seeking to deepen knowledge on land policy has been successfully concluded.  Themed “Winning the Fight Against Corruption in the Land Sector: Sustainable Pathway for Africa’s Transformation,” this important five-day conference drew over 400 participants from government, traditional leaders, development organizations, academia, civil society and various stakeholders active in the sector of land governance in Africa to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire between Nov. 25-29, 2019.

NELGA (the Network of Excellence on Land Governance), was established by the ALPC with financial and technical assistance from the German Government through the BMZ and GIZ as well as other development partners.

At the just concluded CLPA 2019, NELGA has played a significant role in bridging the research gaps related to land governance in the African continent. Representatives from NELGA member universities as well as NELGA sponsored African scholars have presented their research papers at the event, which were relevant and timely to the continent’s needs.

In addition to sponsoring paper presenters, NELGA participated in the event by organizing a Master Class, a NELGA booth where participants could get information about NELGA and its partner ALPC. A NELGA reception which provided another opportunity for networking and highlighting the program’s activities and achievements was also successfully organized.

NELGA’s capacity building activities in collaboration with PLAAS, DAAD and ADLAND have included  providing trainings, master classes, Masters and PhD scholarships and research fellowships to hundreds of African scholars.

Giving testimonials at the event, NELGA Master Class alumni have confirmed that the scholarships have had positive impacts on their future careers.

The crucial role of the academia in bringing about research-based policy changes as well as the need to build the capacity of institutions in addressing land governance issues has been on the forefront of land governance discussions in Africa.

NELGA’s strategic role as a change agent to address this crucial need has been recognized during the conference by stakeholders across countries and sectors. Fueled by the positive feedback from stakeholders and partners, NEGA is poised to enhance its activities in the year 2020.

The consensus at the CLPA 2019 was that effective land governance was indispensable in achieving Africa’s development goal—the Agenda 2063, due to its direct contribution to end poverty and hunger, promote agriculture and investment, ensure gender equality and inclusive growth.

Sound land governance policies, with transparent and well-functioning systems provide incentives to investors and are crucial in fighting corruption while on the other hand legal uncertainty, lack of transparency and accountability, complex and unclear administrative processes, undeveloped systems create and foster corruption, and undermine business confidence and investment.

Call for Scholarship Applications 2020 at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) – Department of Land Economy. See attached document for details.

Application Closing Date at DAAD (for pre-selected candidates only):
February 29th 2020.

Call for Scholarship Applications 2020 at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) – Department of Land Economy. See attached document for details.

Application Closing Date at DAAD (for pre-selected candidates only):
February 29th 2020.

Call for Scholarship Applications 2020 at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology – Department of Geomatic Engineering. See attached document for details.

Application Closing Date at DAAD (for pre-selected candidates only): February 29th 2020.

Call for Scholarship Applications 2020 at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology – Department of Geomatic Engineering. See attached document for details.

Application Closing Date at DAAD (for pre-selected candidates only): February 29th 2020.

In the context of the IGAD land governance program, the Regional Economic Community is commissioning several consultancies. Please see the following link: https://www.igad.int/2016-05-24-03-25-55/consultancies

The consultancies cover the following areas:

1) Request for Proposals (RFPs) for the following consultancy services under the Land Governance Prgram:

• Consultancy Services of Documentation of Best Practices on the Nexus of Land Governance and the Multiverse of Women in the IGAD Region.
• Consultancy Services Photography and Production of a Coffee Table Book on the Multiverse of Women in the IGAD Region.
• Consultancy service for Production of a Documentary on the Multiverse of Women in the IGAD Region.

2) Request for Expression of Interests (REOIs) for the following consultancy services under the Land Governance Program:

• Consultancy Services to Conduct a National Gender Assessment of the Land Sector in IGAD Member States.
• Consultancy Services Developing a Practice Manual and Tools for Mainstreaming Gender in the Implementation of Land Reforms and Practices.
• Consultancy service for “Developing a Model/Prototypical Gender Responsive National Land Policy.
• Develop a Gender Responsive Practice Manual for Alternative Dispute Resolution and Resolution of Administrative Disputes arising out of Land Adjudication.
• Developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) mainstreamed by gender for standardized land services provision

Note that the deadline of all will be 15th November 2019.

In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme “Strengthening Advisory Capacities for Land Governance in Africa”

Programme Objectives

As part of the “In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme” DAAD in close collaboration with the GIZ assisted programme “Strengthening Advisory Capacities for Land Governance in Africa (SLGA)” is able to offer scholarships for postgraduate studies within the Network of Excellence for Land Governance in Africa (NELGA)”. The programme is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) within the framework of the special initiative “One World – No Hunger”.
NELGA is a partnership of leading African universities and research institutions with proven leadership in education, training and research on land governance. Currently NELGA has more than 50 partner institutions across Africa.

Its overall objective is to promote good land governance by strengthening human and institutional capacities for the implementation of sustainable and development-oriented land policy in Africa.
The target group for scholarships are graduates and postgraduates from Africa with a first academic degree if applying for a Master’s programme, or with a Master’s degree if applying for a doctoral programme who want to pursue Master’s or PhD courses in their home country (so called In-Country scholarships) or in another African country (In-Region scholarships).
DAAD offers up to 3 scholarships for Master studies and 3 scholarships for PhD studies at PLAAS for the intake 2020.

Application Requirements

• have successfully completed generally a three-year university degree (Master candidates) or a two-year university degree (doctoral candidates) with above average results (upper third of class)
• clearly show motivation and strong commitment
• have thorough knowledge of the language of instruction
• must be nationals or permanent resident of an African country
• hold a SAQA Certificate of Evaluation or be in the process of obtaining one if they hold a non-South African university degree;
• should generally be a) staff member of a public university, b) candidate considered for teaching or research staff recruitment, c) from the public sector.

Female applicants and candidates from less privileged regions or groups are especially encouraged to participate in the programme.
Scholarships are initially granted for one year and can be extended to upon receipt of an application for extension. Scholars must demonstrate satisfactory progress before an extension is granted. All further information will be provided after admission to the scholarship programme.

Eligible Fields

The scholarships at PLAAS are available for the following Master and PhD courses:
• Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies

Place of Tenure

University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa

Duration and Commencement

The duration of the Master programme is two years, the duration of the PhD programme is three years, generally starting in May 2020.

The application process contains two steps. Please be aware of the two application deadlines.
First step:
Applicants must apply for their studies at PLAAS using the contacts and the method that is prescribed by the institution. PLAAS has set its own deadlines.
PLAAS will screen, pre-select (according to DAAD selection criteria) and short-list the applicants. A detailed report consisting of the shortlisting procedure, the entire list of applicants, the ranked shortlist and the shortlisting panel members will also be availed to DAAD. The ranked shortlist will contain preferably triple the number of scholarships that have been attributed to the institution.
DAAD reserves the right of final selection.

Second step:
PLAAS will provide the shortlisted candidates with the link to the DAAD-Portal. Only the pre-selected candidates are asked to log into the DAAD portal, register themselves and submit an DAAD application. DAAD Deadline: 30/11/2019

Documents to be submitted:

• DAAD application form duly filled in (available in the DAAD-Portal)
• Hand signed curriculum vitae (please use the European specimen form at http://europass.cedefop. Europa.eu), including a list of publications (if applicable).
• Recommendation letter by university teachers (Master: 1, PhD: 2)
• Letter of admission for the host university
• Certified copies of university degree certificates including transcripts
• Letter of motivation
• Passport copy
• In case of non-South African university degrees: SAQA Certificate of Evaluation

Scholarship Funding

The scholarship will either be disbursed by the host institution or will be paid directly to the scholarship holder´s banking account. Further details will be announced after admission to the scholarship programme.

Contact and Advice

German Academic Exchange Service
Section ST32 – Scholarship Programmes Africa
Kennedyallee 105
53175 Bonn
Germany
Ms Jana Bömer
E-Mail: boemer@daad.de

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The Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA) launched its francophone West Africa Node in December 2018 at the University of Gaston Berger in Saint Louis, Senegal. It was followed by a week-long learning exchange aimed at identifying common land governance challenges in West Africa and the role universities can pursue to address those challenges.

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