Land in Africa: market asset or secure livelihood?

This document summarises the proceedings from a conference organised by International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) , Natural Resource insitute (NRI) and the Royal African Society in November 2004.The conference brought together a wide range of interest groups including, African policy makers, academics and civil society representatives, as well as representatives of the private sector and international agencies, to debate the way ahead for land rights and land reforms in Africa.The event addressed two key dimensions of land and property rigths in Africa today and their implications for future stability, prosperity and reduction: the links between propery rights, investment and the generation of econoimc opportunities in the context of global integration how best to secure access to land for farmers and the urban poor as the basis for imporved livelihoods and food security.Emphasis was placed on sharing experience from a range of African countries and a series of thematic discussions focussed on: formalising and securing land rights: diverse approaches from Africa gender, land rights and inheritance urban and peri-urban land development and land use conflict securing collective rights to land and natural resources.In conclusion to the conference, the African Union recognised that for African governments to take the lead in land policy and tenure they need to: give political support and long term commitement break the barriers that current donor mechanisms present put land issues into the wider economic development agenda use the technical support that donors can provide make training and capacity building essential skills to be learnt through learning networks and platforms build and share models of innovation that are rooted in locally developed innovation engage in policy dialogue to achieve radical new solutions to land issues in southern Africa.