The third international youth land governance conference in Africa ambitions to bridge the gap on youth economic power and financial capacity on the continent at a time of recession.
Dakar-Senegal, 17th October – Over a thousand youth are expected at the third International Youth Land Governance Conference (CIGOFA3) to be held from 1-4 November 2022 in Dakar at AXIL HOTEL, Senegal but also online.
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The conference theme “Youth Access to Land for Peace and Security in Africa” will be a solution-oriented platform where participants will propose transformative solutions and initiatives. The conference will radically improve land governance for youth in view of peace and security in Africa. It will deepen capacity for youth land use for economic empowerment as countries battle for recovery from the Covid19 and other crises.
According to (Kwame, 2019), emphasize that, Social empowerment is understood as the process of developing a sense of autonomy and self-confidence, and acting individually and collectively to change social relationships and the institutions and discourses that exclude poor people and keep them in poverty. Socio-economic development, youth have been identified as key drivers for economic transformation in many countries. Youth Access to Land and subsequent security of tenure are fundamental for young Africans to engage in farming and will significantly shape their livelihood options. Contrary to the widespread perception of land abundance, evidence points to rising costs associated with young people’s ability to access land in Africa. When a young person is socially and economically empowered they have the skills to determine their own future and can address the multitude of health, education, employment, and societal challenges that face them (AFLATOUN, 2019)
We realize that we are still battling with Covid19, in addition to the food crisis, climate change and democratic regression, witnessed across the continent. Land governance can play a vital role in this process of recovery. Our lands need to be revived; our youth need to be involved; our peace needs to be preserved; and our security must be restored.
It is time to leverage the potential of the youth in agriculture, innovation, green skills, gender equality and entrepreneurship, and place them at the heart of land governance in Africa. The time is now to let the youth take lead in advocating for peace across the continent and contribute to the cessation of wars threatening the peace of communities. This conference is designed to empower the African youth to play increasing roles on land management for agricultural production, peace and security.
Women and youths encounter problems with access to land, as well as securing tenure in land resources. Several researchers and organizations have dedicated their efforts to conceptualizing land tools for women’s and youths’ access to land. A land tool or land method is any practical means of solving land-related challenges. Over 60 percent of Africans are under the age of 35 – a well-documented “youth bulge” representing both an enormous challenge and a tantalizing opportunity for the continent. While 10-12 young Africans enter the labor market each year, only 3.1 million formal wage jobs are generated, a shortfall that pushes millions of youth into low-paying and precarious informal employment.
At the same time, the potential and the talent in Africa’s rising generation also represent a given opportunity, these millions of youth could help boost agricultural productivity, enhance food security, and generate broad economic development across the continent. To properly leverage the immense potential of youth to transform the agricultural sector, government policymakers must first address a fundamental barrier to productive youth engagement in agriculture. Youth land rights are essential to ushering in Africa’s rural and agricultural transformation, providing the foundation on which youth can stake their future and invest in agriculture and farm-related productive (Uchendu, 2020)
It will be with great delight to the African youth from various African States and beyond come together to plan, organize and exchange knowledge on land governance related issues in Africa.
The International Youth Land Governance Conference is being organized by the Pan African Youth-led Organization, Youth Initiative for Land in Africa (YILAA), in collaboration with the African Union, GIZ, UEMOA/WAEMU, NELGA, Gaston Berger University, International Land Coalition, CICODEV, Cadasta Foundation, Habitat for Humanity International and LANDESA. CIGOFA3 will culminate with the launch of the Youth Land Multi Stakeholders Platform, the Oscar night as well the Stand for Her Land campaign in Senegal.
Contacts:
Kevin Eze, kevin@landcoalition.info
Georges Gambadatoun, georges.gambadatoun@yilaa.org
This press release was first published at Yilaa website: https://www.yilaa.org/cigofa3-press-release-achieving-youth-access-to-land-for-peace-and-security-in-africa/