At the Fourth International Youth and Land Governance Conference (CIGOFA), held from October 20-24, 2024, in Arusha, Tanzania, over 300 participants from 40 countries, including youth organizations, civil society, traditional leaders, and policymakers, came together to address a pivotal issue: the empowerment of African youth in land governance. The conference was a platform for collaboration and action, producing a comprehensive set of recommendations focused on accelerating youth land rights across the continent.
A Call for Action: CIGOFA Resolutions
With Africa's youthful population catalyzing development, the CIGOFA resolutions emphasize the need for inclusive policies, secure tenure systems, and youth-centered land governance frameworks. The recommendations call for concrete steps to enable youth access to land, finance, and technology, thereby paving the way for their active involvement in sustainable agricultural and land-based enterprises.
Key recommendations include:
- Creating Youth-Centered Land Policies: Governments across Africa are urged to adopt youth-inclusive land policies and legal frameworks, ensuring accessible credit facilities, technical support, and opportunities for agricultural entrepreneurship.
- Strengthening Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: Effective land governance requires the collaboration of government, civil society, and private sector stakeholders, with each sector playing a role in fostering youth-centered land policies and practices.
- Advocating Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI): Recognizing that inclusive land rights strengthen communities, the recommendations underscore the importance of embracing equitable land governance that involves women, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.
- Promoting Knowledge and Capacity Building: Developing youth-focused educational programs on land rights, policy advocacy, and sustainable land use is essential for empowering the next generation to lead on issues of land governance and sustainability.
ILC Africa’s Role in Advancing These Goals
ILC Africa is committed to transforming these resolutions into meaningful action. Working with regional partners, we are mobilizing resources, supporting youth-led initiatives, and facilitating partnerships to create safe, inclusive spaces where young Africans can actively participate in decision-making around land issues. By amplifying these voices through targeted advocacy, digital campaigns, and regional forums, ILC Africa will ensure that these resolutions resonate and catalyze real change across Africa.
Through the implementation of CIGOFA’s recommendations, ILC Africa is dedicated to shaping a future where youth land rights are protected, their potential realized, and their voices heard. Join us as we work together towards an Africa where land rights serve as a foundation for empowerment, economic growth, and sustainable development.
We invite stakeholders, youth leaders, and partners to collaborate with ILC Africa to champion the implementation of these recommendations. Together, let us empower Africa’s youth for a brighter, and more equitable future.