Land is a crucial resource for agriculture and food systems in Africa and plays a key role in addressing challenges such as habitat loss, biodiversity decline and greenhouse gas emissions. However, inadequate or inappropriate land tenure systems often limit access to land, leading to conflicts, discouraging agricultural investment and preventing the sector from reaching its full potential. Sub-Saharan Africa is highly diverse and both its unique characteristics and commonalities must be carefully considered when shaping policies on land, tenure systems and the future of agriculture.
Agroecology, which emphasises sustainable farming practices that prioritise biodiversity, social equity and economic resilience, offers a pathway for enhancing food systems and sustainable livelihoods, particularly for rural communities. Secure land tenure is crucial for promoting agroecological transitions, as it encourages farmers to use sustainable practices that enhance biodiversity and climate resilience. However, the application of agroecological principles faces challenges owing to entrenched power dynamics and neoliberal development policies in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The interplay of land tenure regimes and reform significantly impacts agricultural productivity, food security and economic development. Many African countries continue to be confronted by the legacy of patterns of colonial land dispossession and land tenure regimes, necessitating reforms that secure land for sustainable food production. The present policy brief explores the relationship between land tenure systems, land reforms and agroecological transitions, offering strategic recommendations that align land governance with agroecological principles.
The intersection of land tenure and agroecology is also highlighted in the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) 13 principles of agroecology, particularly regarding responsible land governance. These principles emphasise participation and fairness, which are crucial for addressing historical injustices in land distribution, particularly in regions affected by colonial legacies. Women, often marginalised in traditional land systems, are central to successful agroecological transitions.
Philanthropic development partners are the precise focus of this text and can play a critical role in supporting land tenure reform and agroecological practices. They have a role in advocating for, and funding, equitable land governance. This is vital for advancing global goals of poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability. To effectively promote transitions to agroecological farming, donor-funding principles and -mechanisms should focus on the following key areas:
- Long-term commitment;
- Locally led approaches;
- Secure land tenure as well as social equity;
- Capacity-building and knowledge transfer;
- Integrated funding approaches;
- Participatory governance; and
- Market development.
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