Following the announcement of the initial confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Africa in March 2020, many countries integrated health and safety regulations aimed at preventing the further spread of the pandemic. With social distancing measures in place, NELGA institutions across Africa were faced with unprecedented challenges in the academic world: staff members and students suddenly had to do research and study from home.

NELGA institutions decided to turn this challenge into an opportunity and the networks excellence centres from Morocco to Namibia chose proactive approaches to deal with the global crisis. The NELGA partners examined on national, regional and continental levels how this global pandemic was going to affect the implementation the network’s activities. In virtual meetings across the continent, they assessed their existing workplans, and with creativity and innovative minds, identified activities which could be implemented without physical contact.

“In this period of COVID-19 we all live in “lockdown” mode, whether voluntarily or not.  But it is clear that our ideas cannot and must not be locked up under any circumstances. With this in mind, like everyone else, we do our best to maintain the same dynamism at work, even if it is from home.” (Oumy Faye- NELGA Francophone Africa)

Based on these brainstorming sessions between and within NELGA regions, many NELGA activities are currently being implemented mainly through virtual means. The research institutions adjusted and instead of meeting in person, used e-mails, online communication platforms, and phone calls for knowledge exchange and joint implementation. Emphasis was also laid on issues that weren’t prioritized in the past, such as better communication, monitoring and evaluation.

“In addition to maintaining permanent coordination activities, our strategy is to focus on activities that do not necessarily require a physical presence, such as strengthening communication, scientific activities via E-learning, and partnership consolidation.” (Oumy Faye- NELGA Francophone Africa).

Consolidating and expanding the Network

When it comes to networking and partners, the NELGA regional networks are being expanded and consolidated during the NELGA crisis. The NELGA regions updated their partner lists, entered into Memoranda of Understanding with new partners, and engaged with broader networks of academic and research institutions.

Outside of the NELGA academic institutions, NELGA also identified potential for wider collaboration and multi-stakeholder dialogue by establishing relations and identifying opportunities for collaboration with non-academic stakeholders, and particularly with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) and the private sector.

To further strengthen the NELGA scholar and alumni network, a virtual scholarship holder meeting, which will put emphasis on science communication as well as the link between pandemics, open data and land governance, is currently being organized for August 2020.

“Virtual communication and collaboration is no longer just an option but a necessity. This covid-19 crises has presented an opportunity to accelerate the acquisition of necessary virtual skills, competence and equipment.” (NELGA Southern Africa- Theodor Muduva)

Many NELGA members also used the unexpected lockdown to critically examine the strategic development of the network and look into new strategic directives. In Northern and Southern Africa for example, Sustainability Strategies as well as Strategies on Gender and Outreach are being elaborated in consultation with partners. In Southern Africa, the “Research and Capacity Development Strategy for Land Governance” has been drafted and is currently discussed with the partners in the region.

Boosting outreach and communication

NELGA has also embarked on stronger communication within and beyond the network’s regions. A new layout and functions of the NELGA website were introduced and a full revamp of the NELGA digital environment, including the introduction of a NELGA research library and a virtual platform for land-related data and information are under preparation.

NELGA partners in Central, Francophone and Southern Africa updated and redesigned their regional websites. Newsletters were published in Central, Francophone and Western Africa. In addition, different NELGA members have edited and formatted knowledge products, such as policy briefs, research studies, newsletters, good practices and NELGA strategies.

In Northern Africa, two issues of the African Journal of Geospatial Sciences and Land Policy were published, and the Francophone African University Gaston-Berger in Senegal published two issues of the “Cahier du Foncier”, focusing on the methodology of land tenure research, as well as good land tenure practices in Francophone West Africa.

NUST university in Namibia, the Southern African node of the NELGA network, continued to publish opinion pieces on Land Governance authored and submitted by partners. The opinion pieces are published in key newspapers in Namibia, which during global crisis become even more relevant means of information than usual.

Several NELGA members also used their (partial) lockdowns to elaborate and share various good practices. NELGA Central and Southern Africa, for example, collaborated on a good practice piece on NELGA advisory missions to effectively mainstream land governance issues into National Agricultural Investment Plan (NAIP) under the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) of the African Union

Developing online learning opportunities

For many NELGA nodes, who had already started to think about online learning in the past years, the emergence of COVID-19 increased the urgency for sound online learning measures in the field of land governance. Many NELGA institutions therefore fast-tracked their online learning ideas and plans.

University of Yaoundé I, the NELGA excellence center for Central Africa, finalized a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) project on land conflicts. NUST university is elaborating a course on land governance and corruption to equip land professionals in various stages of their career with the tools, tactics and networks to help tackle issues of land corruption.

In NELGA Francophone Africa, webinar series in the form of virtual doctoral seminars dedicated to PhD students were held in June 2020, and a directory of young researchers and land professionals with a special focus on PhD students was initiated. Similarly, IAV university in Morocco, the NELGA Northern African node, adapted to the new learning environment and conducted distance education to Master students, and monitored students who are virtually carrying out their internships in different land governance institutions and companies. Northern Africa also tested an e-learning platform which helps ensure and evaluate courses online with African NELGA partners.

Doing research

NELGA also boosted research activities all over the continent. In NELGA Southern Africa and Northern Africa, Scoping Studies on the needs and demands of scientific research in land governance are in the process of finalization and will be presented virtually. Under the NELGA scholarship programme, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) issued a fellowship call for research on the trajectories between COVID-19 and good land governance.

What we learned

Virtual communication and collaboration is no longer just an option but a necessity. The COVID-19 crisis has presented an opportunity to accelerate the acquisition of necessary virtual skills and competences. In an effort to enhance collaboration during this time of the global pandemic, NELGA universities have embarked on an assessment of the virtual capabilities and competence of their structures and partners and initiated capacity building initiatives, with regards to online learning as well as virtual tools and social media platforms. This will contribute to even more effective cooperation, collaboration and consequently effective implementation in the NELGA network. Ultimately, NELGA is now an even stronger network than before, and better equipped with the virtual tools that are crucial for the future of research and learning.

“To put it plainly, COVID 19 will not only have negative effects on NELGA in Central Africa but will help also our network to better utilize new communication tools and to innovate in reorienting and adapting its activities.” (NELGA Central Africa- Rosette Mbenda)

English: The research team led by Professor Moha El-ayachi and Mr Kamal Benaddou of ETAFAT is undertaking in collaboration with Professor Ibrahima Diallo, Coordinator NELGA Francophone West Africa, a study on the framework for the analysis of land governance by the LGAF tool in Côte d’Ivoire on 26^th June 2020 at 10:30 am. The Webinar will be an opportunity to share and clarify the frame for analyzing land governance using the LGAF tool.  

French: Dans le cadre des activités de recherche conduite à l’Institut agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II de Rabat au Maroc sur les politiques foncières et les indicateurs d’évaluation de la gouvernance foncière, l’équipe de recherche dirigée par le professeur Moha El-ayachi et monsieur Kamal Benaddou de l’ETAFAT entreprend en collaboration avec le Professeur Ibrahima Diallo, Coordonnateur NELGA Afrique de l’Ouest Francophone, une étude sur le cadre d’analyse de la gouvernance foncière par l’outil LGAF en côte d’Ivoire le 26 juin 2020 à partir de 10h30.  

English: The research team led by Professor Moha El-ayachi and Mr Kamal Benaddou of ETAFAT is undertaking in collaboration with Professor Ibrahima Diallo, Coordinator NELGA Francophone West Africa, a study on the framework for the analysis of land governance by the LGAF tool in Côte d’Ivoire on 26^th June 2020 at 10:30 am. The Webinar will be an opportunity to share and clarify the frame for analyzing land governance using the LGAF tool.  

French: Dans le cadre des activités de recherche conduite à l’Institut agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II de Rabat au Maroc sur les politiques foncières et les indicateurs d’évaluation de la gouvernance foncière, l’équipe de recherche dirigée par le professeur Moha El-ayachi et monsieur Kamal Benaddou de l’ETAFAT entreprend en collaboration avec le Professeur Ibrahima Diallo, Coordonnateur NELGA Afrique de l’Ouest Francophone, une étude sur le cadre d’analyse de la gouvernance foncière par l’outil LGAF en côte d’Ivoire le 26 juin 2020 à partir de 10h30.  

We have the pleasure to share with you our newest Policy Brief on Tenure Security of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Cameroon.

This Policy Brief is structured in four sections: the first aim is to show why it is important to secure the land rights of IDPs; the second analyses the issues and challenges of securing land rights for IDPs; the third summarizes recommendations on which to base the discussion prior to a possible revision of the texts. The last section offers suggestions for parliamentarians and any other actor wishing to know more about the issue. «Who knows better, argues better, raises awareness and convinces».

As governments press pause on economic activities and people change their work and social behaviors to halt the spread of COVID-19, there are several hidden dimensions that can put pressure on land governance and management and threaten the land rights security of millions worldwide. In this section, we’ve put together the latest news on how COVID-19 affects various dimensions of land rights. Click on the link for a the list of upcoming webinars.

upcoming webinars

“Graduating from my master’s is a dream that came true at the right moment” Rebecca J. Milamo.

2019 marks a celebratory year for the NELGA scholarship programme, as we celebrate our first 10 graduates from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana and Ardhi University, Tanzania.

The NELGA scholarship programme is a comprehensive scholars programme available for young academics and professionals from all African Union member states through the German Academic Exchange programme (DAAD). It aims to support master’s and PhD studies as well as short term trainings for young candidates, mid-career professionals and researchers. Since its inception in 2016, the scholarship programme has awarded a total of 82 scholarships to students from over 20 African countries of which 21 are women.

After my undergraduate degree (BSc. In Land Management and Valuation), I worked with several real estate firms and institutions as a trainee. That is when I realized that the land governance sector faces a lot of challenges but is also very exciting and promising. I also noted the land governance sector has limited number of qualified professionals, especially women. In my country, (Tanzania), women are less involved in land governance mainly due to social factors such as customary land rights which are governed based on culture or traditions of a particular group. Most tribes in Tanzania are patrilineal and marginalize women in land matters such as ownership, inheritance, management and decision making. I therefore saw an opportunity for women in the sector, and to be able to participate effectively, I needed to gain more knowledge and skills in this field of study. Hence, this inspired me to pursue MSc. Real Estate. – Rebecca.

“The passion to learn new things and my ambition to become an agent of change in the development sector has always been the driving force of my academic studies. Even though I was so excited when I completed my studies, I still have a great responsibility to transfer the knowledge I have gained so far to promote the land governance sector in the region.  I am currently looking for opportunities in-country and in-region to contribute immensely in the sector.” – Nancy

The African Journal of Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences has published the first Issue for the year 2020. This Special Issue contains the reviewed and presented manuscripts at the Conference on Land Policy in Africa on November 25-29, 2019 in Abidjan. The theme of the Conference was ” Winning the fight against Corruption in the Land Sector: Sustainable Pathway for Africa’s Transformation”.