Socio-economic factors for improved land resource management: with an emphasis on gender and policy

The theme addressed in this Keynote paper links improved land resource management to socio¬economics but with special reference to gender. It is quite a broad theme but very pertinent in Eastern Africa today. This is because land resource management are a combination of factors that have their roots in the socio-economic organisation cultural policy and ecology. In this paper however, I will restrict myself to socio-economic and cultural issues. Land management is not just a matter of development where issues of crisis management dominate but a broad one that allows for a cultural historical approach. The natural environment in East Africa is varied in altitude, rainfall patterns in dry and wet seasons, river systems, soil types and vegetation cover. This varied pattern has basic ways in which it has affected the distribution of settlements, population and the distribution of productive activities and thus in the management of land resources. Land resource management requires supportive policies and an enabling socio-economic and cultural environment to enable improved productivity and poverty alleviation. One of the major milestones in East Africa is the fact that the macro level various bills, Plans and commissions of inquiry and acts are being put in place and these will definitely affect in future the way land resource management is effected. In Kenya for instance these bills, plans and commissions likely to have an impact on land resource management include to mention a few, the Environmental Management Bill (1999), the Draft Water Act (2000), the Njonjo Commission on Land issues in Kenya and the National Poverty Eradication Plan among others. These bills and commissions will impact on the way land resources are managed. The new bills and commissions are in line with the Agenda 21, a blueprint document for global sustainable development. Sustainable development includes policies for equal opportunities, for extending the int1uence of women, and young people in decision-making.