https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/203 2026-04-19T01:18:19Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4419 The Fifth Session of the Committee on Social Policy Poverty and Gender The fifth session of the Committee on Social Policy, Poverty, and Gender on the theme “Building New Social Contracts in Africa: Choices to fulfill development aspirations” was held at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa with in-person participation, on Thursday and Friday, 2 and 3 November 2023. 2023-11-02T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4311 Ermyas Amelga, Omari Issa, and James Mwangi Panelist at the 2012 World Economic Forum on Africa The 2012 World Economic Forum on Africa was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 9-11 May 2012. This side event which organized by ECA as part of its partnership with the World Economic Forum and the Government of Ethiopia. It builds on the outcome of the Fifth Session of the Joint AUC-ECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development held in March 2012 in Addis Ababa under the theme “Unleashing Africa's potential as a pole of global growth”. Africa's growth rate is expected to reach 6% in 2012. Improved macroeconomic and political stability, a growing consumer base, and an ongoing resource expansion drive this growth. Deepening links to fast-growing emerging economies and an increasing appetite for long-term investments in Africa's frontier markets by global and regional champions are fueling renewed optimism about the continent's future. During the 2012 World Economic Forum on Africa, three panelists - Ermyas Amelga, Chairman of Access Capital, Omari Issa, CEO of the Investment Climate Facility for Africa, and James Mwangi, ECO and Managing Director of Equity Bank of Kenya explained that the challenges facing in the African investment. One of the major issues identified was the lack of capable private-sector management. Although there have been some improvements in leadership and management capacity on the continent, there is still a long way to go. Private sector job creation is crucial for economic growth in every country in Africa, but this cannot happen without a conducive environment for growth. Unfortunately, many small and medium enterprises in Africa struggle to access the necessary funding. They often borrow far more than they can afford, leading to debt and financial instability. Despite these challenges, innovation has the potential to drive development and make a positive impact in Africa. 2012-05-09T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4316 Opening Statement HEC Chairperson Ahmed Issack Hassan at the AGR III Media Workshop Part 5 African Governance Report (AGR III) Media Workshop: Elections and Management of Diversity in Africa was held 29-30 September 2011 in Nairobi, Kenya. Media representatives from around Africa gathered for a two-day workshop. It was organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on the theme, Elections, and the Management of Diversity in Africa. The workshop was held in the context of an ongoing research project in 42 countries, which aimed to deepen understanding of democracy, elections, and diversity management in Africa. The findings are currently being collated through extensive surveys and published in the third edition of the African Governance Report. The report in its methodology includes the views of the media in its analysis The Kenyan representative, Mr. Ahmed Issack Hassan, Chairperson, HEC, highlighted that a significant portion of the African public relies on the media for information. Media outlets like the press, computer-to-computer communications, electronic mail, internet services, and personal communication devices similarly cell phones have transformed human life worldwide. The influence of the media is so pervasive that we cannot disentangle ourselves from it. The media has a firm grip on our country and nation. 2011-09-29T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4414 Interview with Moses Michael Phiri Business Journalist the Nation at the 2023 Conference on Land Policy in Africa The fifth conference of Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) took place in Addis Ababa from 21-24 November 2023 under the theme: “Promoting Sustainable Land Governance in Africa for Accelerating Implementing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)”. CLPA was co-organized by the Government of Ethiopia and the African Land Policy Center, a joint initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the African Development Bank. Participants included experts from government, academia, research, traditional authorities, other non-state actors, the private sector, and development partners. The overall objective of the conference was to deepen commitment and strengthen capacity for land policy development, implementation, and monitoring in Africa through improved access to knowledge and information in support of evidence-based land policymaking. The dialogue also fostered improved networking, resources for land governance and land policy in Africa, and partnerships. During the 2023 Conference on Land Policy in Africa, Moses Michael Phiri, a Business Journalist explained the importance of the master class for the Land Conference on Africa. He emphasized that land issues in Africa are critical, as many conflicts on the continent are related to land. These conflicts involve people competing for land and fighting over it. There are also issues related to trade, as conflicts over land acquisition and rights impact trade, including among women. 2023-11-21T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4415 Interview with Emmanuel K. Dogbevi, Managing Editor, Ghana Business News at the 2023 Conference on Land Policy in Africa The fifth conference of Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) took place in Addis Ababa from 21-24 November 2023 under the theme: “Promoting Sustainable Land Governance in Africa for Accelerating Implementing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)”. CLPA was co-organized by the Government of Ethiopia and the African Land Policy Center, a joint initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the African Development Bank. Participants included experts from government, academia, research, traditional authorities, other non-state actors, the private sector, and development partners. The overall objective of the conference was to deepen commitment and strengthen capacity for land policy development, implementation, and monitoring in Africa through improved access to knowledge and information in support of evidence-based land policymaking. The dialogue also fostered improved networking, resources for land governance and land policy in Africa, and partnerships. During the 2023 Conference on Land Policy in Africa, Emmanuel K. Dogbevi, Managing Editor of Ghana Business News, reviewed a master class as a type of workshop where skills are taught to people interested in a specific area or journalists who cover land issues. He believes this master class is intended to share valuable knowledge with them. So far, some useful information has been shared, and he hopes to use it in his reports. As a journalist, he finds it important. However, if it could be made more practical, it would greatly benefit journalists in improving their skills. 2023-11-21T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4418 Interview with Violet Shivutse, Huairou Commission at the 2023 Conference on Land Policy in Africa The fifth conference of Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) took place in Addis Ababa from 21-24 November 2023 under the theme: “Promoting Sustainable Land Governance in Africa for Accelerating Implementing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)”. CLPA was co-organized by the Government of Ethiopia and the African Land Policy Center, a joint initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the African Development Bank. Participants included experts from government, academia, research, traditional authorities, other non-state actors, the private sector, and development partners. The overall objective of the conference was to deepen commitment and strengthen capacity for land policy development, implementation, and monitoring in Africa through improved access to knowledge and information in support of evidence-based land policymaking. The dialogue also fostered improved networking, resources for land governance and land policy in Africa, and partnerships. During the 2023 Conference on Land Policy in Africa, Violet Shivutse of the Huairou Commission expressed her concern about the lack of grassroots leaders present at this point of the conference. She emphasized the importance of having real people affected by land rights in attendance to inform policy. While there were discussions on women's land rights and the African continent's free trade area, she highlighted the need for more representation from grassroots leaders at such meetings. 2023-11-21T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4399 Interview with Jade Natacha Iriza, News Reporter at The New Times Rwanda at the 2023 Conference on Land Policy in Africa The fifth conference of Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) took place in Addis Ababa from 21-24 November 2023 under the theme: “Promoting Sustainable Land Governance in Africa for Accelerating Implementing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)”. CLPA was co-organized by the Government of Ethiopia and the African Land Policy Center, a joint initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the African Development Bank. Participants included experts from government, academia, research, traditional authorities, other non-state actors, the private sector, and development partners. The overall objective of the conference was to deepen commitment and strengthen capacity for land policy development, implementation, and monitoring in Africa through improved access to knowledge and information in support of evidence-based land policymaking. The dialogue also fostered improved networking, resources for land governance and land policy in Africa, and partnerships. Jade Natacha Iriza, a News Reporter at The New Times Rwanda, spoke at the 2023 Conference on Land Policy in Africa. She emphasized that although Africa has made progress, there is still a long way to go. She acknowledged positive changes in land policies, such as women being able to own land, but also highlighted the need for further changes. She expressed her understanding of policymakers' intentions. She hoped to effectively explain these complex topics to the people in her community, as she felt confident in her ability to do so. 2023-11-21T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4401 Fifth Conference of Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) 2023 Highlights The fifth conference of Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) took place in Addis Ababa from 21-24 November 2023 under the theme: “Promoting Sustainable Land Governance in Africa for Accelerating Implementing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)”. CLPA was co-organized by the Government of Ethiopia and the African Land Policy Center, a joint initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the African Development Bank. Participants included experts from government, academia, research, traditional authorities, other non-state actors, the private sector, and development partners. The overall objective of the conference was to deepen commitment and strengthen capacity for land policy development, implementation, and monitoring in Africa through improved access to knowledge and information in support of evidence-based land policymaking. The dialogue also fostered improved networking, resources for land governance and land policy in Africa, and partnerships. This video highlights the speakers at the Fifth Conference of Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) 2023; H.E. Hans Lundquist, Ambassador of Sweden to Ethiopia and Djibouti, and Permanent Representative to AU, IGAD, and UNECA; Mr. Robert Lising, Chief of Section, PSDFD- Energy Infrastructure and Services, UNECA; Hon. Judith Nabakooba, Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Uganda; and H.E. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, AfDB. The points highlighted: land is a fundamental resource that provides a foundation for the well-being of our societies; Sound Land governance systems are essential to facilitating young women's communities and the private sector to engage and benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area; This year the conference focused on promoting sustainable land governance in Africa for the acceleration of the African continent's free trade; By 2040 the implementation of the AfCFTA will raise intra-African trade by 15 to 20 percent. 2023-11-21T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4402 Interview with Ms. Esther Obaikol, Land Governance Expert, IGAD at the 2023 Conference on Land Policy in Africa The fifth conference of Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) took place in Addis Ababa from 21-24 November 2023 under the theme: “Promoting Sustainable Land Governance in Africa for Accelerating Implementing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)”. CLPA was co-organized by the Government of Ethiopia and the African Land Policy Center, a joint initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the African Development Bank. Participants included experts from government, academia, research, traditional authorities, other non-state actors, the private sector, and development partners. The overall objective of the conference was to deepen commitment and strengthen capacity for land policy development, implementation, and monitoring in Africa through improved access to knowledge and information in support of evidence-based land policymaking. The dialogue also fostered improved networking, resources for land governance and land policy in Africa, and partnerships. Esther Obaikol, a Land Governance Expert at IGAD, stated at the 2023 Conference on Land Policy in Africa that 70% of the IGAD region is arid or semi-arid. The primary land use in this region is pastoralism, which means the main resource is rangelands, not fully available for arable or agricultural productivity, but for livestock production. The main conflicts experienced in the region are related to pasture and water, as livestock require these resources. Conflicts arise when people move in search of these resources, leading to conflicts with others in the region. 2023-11-21T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4398 Interview with Kimani Njogu, ALPC Consultant at the 2023 Conference on Land Policy in Africa The fifth conference of Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) took place in Addis Ababa from 21-24 November 2023 under the theme: “Promoting Sustainable Land Governance in Africa for Accelerating Implementing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)”. CLPA was co-organized by the Government of Ethiopia and the African Land Policy Center, a joint initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the African Development Bank. Participants included experts from government, academia, research, traditional authorities, other non-state actors, the private sector, and development partners. The overall objective of the conference was to deepen commitment and strengthen capacity for land policy development, implementation, and monitoring in Africa through improved access to knowledge and information in support of evidence-based land policymaking. The dialogue also fostered improved networking, resources for land governance and land policy in Africa, and partnerships. Kimani Njogu, ALPC consultant at the 2023 Conference on Land Policy in Africa, expressed that we had an interesting master class for journalists who write stories on trade, business, and economics in Africa. This was important because there is a lack of diversity in business journalism stories. The journalists received valuable information on how to gain data and statistics from various websites. We shared websites containing information on the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) and the opportunities it provides for the African continent. We also discussed how journalists can cover CFTA more effectively. 2023-11-21T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4292 Eleni Gebre-Medhin, Charles Soludo, and Ermyas Amelga Panelist at the 2012 World Economic Forum on Africa The 2012 World Economic Forum on Africa was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 9-11 May 2012. This side event which organized by ECA as part of its partnership with the World Economic Forum and the Government of Ethiopia. It builds on the outcome of the Fifth Session of the Joint AUC-ECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development held in March 2012 in Addis Ababa under the theme “Unleashing Africa's potential as a pole of global growth”. Africa's growth rate is expected to reach 6% in 2012. Improved macroeconomic and political stability, a growing consumer base, and an ongoing resource expansion drive this growth. Deepening links to fast-growing emerging economies and an increasing appetite for long-term investments in Africa's frontier markets by global and regional champions fueling renewed optimism about the continent's future. During the 2012 World Economic Forum on Africa, three panelists - Eleni Gebre-Medhin, CEO of Ethiopian Commodity Exchange, Charles Soludo, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and Ermyas Amelga, Chairman of Access Capital - discussed the great opportunities available in agricultural products for the development of African youth. Collaboration between private and government sectors is essential for achieving better results in African development. Despite the hard work required to overcome challenges, Africa is a region brimming with opportunities by 2050, it is estimated to meet seventy percent of the basic needs of its citizens. Investors are drawn to Africa due to its lower risk and promising growth potential. 2012-05-09T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4290 Mr. Abdoulie Janneh the UN Under-Secretary-General Opening Remarks and Emmanuel Nnadozie Discussion at the 2012 World Economic Forum on Africa The 2012 World Economic Forum on Africa was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 9-11 May 2012. This side event was organized by ECA as part of its partnership with the World Economic Forum and the Government of Ethiopia. It builds on the outcome of the Fifth Session of the Joint AUC-ECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development held in March 2012 in Addis Ababa under the theme “Unleashing Africa's potential as a pole of global growth”. Africa's growth rate is expected to reach 6% in 2012. Improved macroeconomic and political stability, a growing consumer base, and an ongoing resource expansion drive this growth. Deepening links to fast-growing emerging economies and an increasing appetite for long-term investments in Africa's frontier markets by global and regional champions are fueling renewed optimism about the continent's future. In his opening remarks, Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, the UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA, highlighted the ongoing debate around the roles of state and private sector operators over the past fifty years. While the state may have over-extended itself during the early post-independence era, the market fundamentalism of the past thirty years has come at a high cost in terms of equity, growth, and development. According to his indication, as we look towards Africa's progress over the next four decades, we must find the right balance between the roles of states and markets on our continent. Emmanuel Nnadozie, Director of Economic Development and NEPAD Division at UNECA, outlined five key points during his discussion. Firstly, he acknowledged that Africa is currently experiencing growth and success. However, the question remains: where will Africa be in the future? Secondly, he emphasized the importance of considering where Africa should aim to be by 2050, and what can be expected. Thirdly, he discussed the various opportunities that exist for Africa's development. Fourthly, he addressed the challenges that need to be overcome to achieve progress. Finally, he highlighted the crucial role that the private sector should play in driving Africa's development. 2012-05-09T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4383 Remarks by Anthony Nyong, Director, African Development Bank at the 11th Conference on CCDA2023 The Eleventh Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa and Africa Climate Summit (CCDA XI) was held at Safari-Park Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya from September 1-3, 2023, under the theme: “Green Growth and Climate Finance Solutions for Africa and the World”. The Climate for Development in Africa (CimDev-Africa) is a joint initiative of the African Union Commission, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and the African Development Bank. The ClimDev Africa partners, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry of the Government of Kenya and with the support of the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) proposed to convene this event. Remarks were made by Anthony Nyong, Director of the African Development Bank, at the 11th Conference on CCDA2023. He mentioned that the bank is committed to addressing Africa's climate challenge. The African Development Bank is ready to support initiatives aimed at addressing this challenge, with a specific focus on youth. They allocate around $10 billion annually to development for climate change. Development and climate action are interconnected, and anything that poses a threat to Africa's development also endangers the African Development Bank's mission. 2023-09-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4403 Interview with Dr. Doreen Kobusingye, National Land Coalition Uganda at the 2023 Conference on Land Policy in Africa The fifth conference of Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) took place in Addis Ababa from 21-24 November 2023 under the theme: “Promoting Sustainable Land Governance in Africa for Accelerating Implementing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)”. CLPA was co-organized by the Government of Ethiopia and the African Land Policy Center, a joint initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the African Development Bank. Participants included experts from government, academia, research, traditional authorities, other non-state actors, the private sector, and development partners. The overall objective of the conference was to deepen commitment and strengthen capacity for land policy development, implementation, and monitoring in Africa through improved access to knowledge and information in support of evidence-based land policymaking. The dialogue also fostered improved networking, resources for land governance and land policy in Africa, and partnerships. During the 2023 Conference on Land Policy in Africa, Dr. Doreen Kobusingye from the National Land Coalition Uganda discussed how women provide most of the labor in agriculture. She emphasized the need for women to benefit from the labor they provide and how this impacts their participation in trade. Dr. Kobusingye also highlighted the issue of women not having ownership rights, especially when their names do not appear on official documents related to land ownership. This lack of ownership makes it difficult for them to make decisions about which crops to grow, and to determine the proceeds from their agricultural produce in the market. 2023-11-21T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4407 Interview with Dr Judy Wambui Kariuki, Economic Affairs Officer, African Land Policy Center, ECA.at the Conference on Land Policy in Africa 2023 The fifth conference of Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) took place in Addis Ababa at AU Headquarters from 21-24 November 2023 under the theme: “Promoting Sustainable Land Governance in Africa for Accelerating Implementing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)”. CLPA was co-organized by the Government of Ethiopia and the African Land Policy Center, a joint initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the African Development Bank. Participants included experts from government, academia, research, traditional authorities, other non-state actors, the private sector, and development partners. The overall objective of the conference was to deepen commitment and strengthen capacity for land policy development, implementation, and monitoring in Africa through improved access to knowledge and information in support of evidence-based land policymaking. The dialogue also helped improve networking, partnerships, and resources for African land governance and policy. Dr. Judy Wambui Kariuki discussed land conflicts in Africa during the session. The focus was on understanding the impact of ongoing conflicts and why new conflicts arise frequently without significant progress being made to address the issue. The discussion also connected this topic to the conference theme, highlighting how land conflicts can affect trade. It was concluded that this area is prime for research, especially concerning the root causes of conflicts in Africa. It was agreed to explore ways to address security for displaced people, whether they have relocated or to ensure that they can return to a conducive environment. 2023-11-21T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4406 Interview with Batanai Clemence Chikwene, Programme Management Officer, African Trade Policy Center, ECA at the Conference on Land Policy in Africa 2023 The fifth conference of Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) took place in Addis Ababa at AU Headquarters from 21-24 November 2023 under the theme: “Promoting Sustainable Land Governance in Africa for Accelerating Implementing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)”. CLPA was co-organized by the Government of Ethiopia and the African Land Policy Center, a joint initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the African Development Bank. Participants included experts from government, academia, research, traditional authorities, other non-state actors, the private sector, and development partners. The overall objective of the conference was to deepen commitment and strengthen capacity for land policy development, implementation, and monitoring in Africa through improved access to knowledge and information in support of evidence-based land policymaking. The dialogue has also led to improved networking, partnerships, and resources for African land governance and policy. Batanai Clemence Chikwene, Programme Management Officer at the African Trade Policy Center, ECA, explained that the center has been supporting African Union member states in negotiating the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). We are currently assisting member states in developing national AfCFTA implementation strategies. We believe that the AfCFTA has the potential to transform the continent and improve the lives of ordinary people in Africa. It is a game-changing initiative. We eagerly anticipate the outcomes of the land policy conference because the AfCFTA alone will not address all the necessary changes. We hope the conference will help in developing effective land governance systems that enable access to land for the private sector, businesses, youth, and women. 2023-11-21T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4404 Workshop on Local Currency and Capital Market Development for Central Banks The Workshop on Local Currency and Capital Market Development for Central Banks was held on June 12, 2024, at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In her opening remarks, Mrs. Sonia Essobmadje, ECA’s Chief of Finance and Domestic Resource Mobilization Section, emphasized the critical importance of local currency financing. She stated, "The significance of local currency financing cannot be overstressed. It is a critical enabler for mobilizing domestic resources, mitigating currency risk, and fostering a stable environment for investment. By prioritizing this form of financing, we are taking a proactive step towards insulating our economies from external shocks and creating a more resilient financial ecosystem." During her presentation on "Introductive Session on Local Currency Market Development," Isabelle Lessedjina, Senior VP of TCX, noted, "Despite the large access to foreign-currency borrowing, emerging markets fund themselves in their currency." In her presentation on "Debt Sustainability, Local Currency Capital Market Development & Risk Management," Economist Felister Kivisi from TBD emphasized the importance of "local currency capital market development" in enhancing financial stability and fostering economic growth. 2024-06-12T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4389 Closing Session of the Fifth Session of the Committee on Social Policy Poverty and Gender The fifth session of the Committee on Social Policy, Poverty, and Gender, themed “Building New Social Contracts in Africa: Choices to Fulfill Development Aspirations,” was held at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa with in-person participation on Thursday and Friday, November 2 and 3, 2023. 2023-11-03T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4405 Interview with Audace Kubwimana, Regional Coordinator, International Coalition Africa at the Conference on Land Policy in Africa 2023 The fifth conference of Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) took place in Addis Ababa at AU Headquarters from 21-24 November 2023 under the theme: “Promoting Sustainable Land Governance in Africa for Accelerating Implementing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)”. CLPA was co-organized by the Government of Ethiopia and the African Land Policy Center, a joint initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the African Development Bank. Participants included experts from government, academia, research, traditional authorities, other non-state actors, the private sector, and development partners. The overall objective of the conference was to deepen commitment and strengthen capacity for land policy development, implementation, and monitoring in Africa through improved access to knowledge and information in support of evidence-based land policymaking. The dialogue also helped improve networking, partnerships, and resources for African land governance and policy. Audace Kubwimana, Regional Coordinator of the International Coalition Africa, emphasized that the Africa Land Policy Conference is more than just a participant - it's an international coalition partner. They have collaborated with the African Union Commission to organize the conference, and this partnership is crucial for their agenda, which focuses on people governance and aligns with the continental free trade area framework. It's important to ensure that land rights are well covered in discussions around intercontinental trade, as trade processes will mostly occur on the ground. This is crucial for the rights of smallholder farmers, women, girls, and youth. They can effectively complete their mandate by partnering with the African Union Commission. 2023-11-21T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4390 Why CLPA 2023 Matters with Joan Cuka Kagwanja, Coordinator, Africa Land Policy Centre (ALPC) The fifth conference of Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) took place in Addis Ababa from 21-24 November 2023 under the theme: “Promoting Sustainable Land Governance in Africa for Accelerating Implementing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)”. CLPA was co-organized by the Government of Ethiopia and the African Land Policy Center, a joint initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the African Development Bank. Participants included experts from government, academia, research, traditional authorities, other non-state actors, the private sector, and development partners. The overall objective of the conference was to deepen commitment and strengthen capacity for land policy development, implementation, and monitoring in Africa through improved access to knowledge and information in support of evidence-based land policymaking. The dialogue also fostered improved networking, resources for land governance and land policy in Africa, and partnerships. Joan Cuka Kagwanja, Coordinator of the Africa Land Policy Centre (ALPC), points out that we are working towards a more inclusive development and a foundation for trade. When we study the African Continental Free Trade Area and the regional integration agenda, we must ask ourselves important questions. For example, we need to address the issue of agriculture, as it forms the basis for trade. Additionally, we should focus on the youth population, as they are a significant demographic that needs to be included in trade agendas. Finally, we also need to examine the issue of corruption. 2023-11-21T00:00:00Z