By Dickson Bandera
ADDIS ABABA — The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) will jointly host the Sixth Conference on Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) from 10 to 14 November 2025 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in a hybrid format.
The high-level gathering will run under the theme “Land Governance, Justice and Reparations for Africans and Descendants of People of the African Diaspora.” It seeks to address the lingering impacts of colonial land dispossession and promote equitable access to land and natural resources across the continent.
According to the organizers, the colonial system “facilitated the subjugation and brutalization of African people,” resulting in the alienation of fertile land and the looting of natural and heritage resources. The conference will explore how land-related reparations can correct historical injustices, particularly in societies where descendants of colonizers still control vast tracts of land.
“The issue of land is central to Africa’s development, justice, and identity,” said a statement from the ECA. “Addressing historical land ownership disparities is key to achieving inclusive growth and social cohesion.”
The 2025 conference will feature policy discussions and research presentations on emerging best practices in land governance, responsive land policies, data monitoring and evaluation, and effective institutional frameworks. Cross-cutting themes will include youth participation, gender equity, climate change, agriculture, and reparations.
A special call for short stories has been issued under the same theme, with a submission deadline of 20 October 2025, inviting creative contributions that highlight land governance and justice issues facing Africans and their descendants.
Since its inception, the CLPA has served as a premier continental platform for dialogue on land policy, bringing together policymakers, researchers, civil society leaders, and traditional authorities to advance sustainable land management and equitable access to resources in Africa.
