The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) promotes good governance of land tenure systems to ensure food security for all.

The inception workshop for the project "Improving land governance and reducing conflicts linked to cross-border transhumance in the Republic of Chad, the Republic of Cameroon and the Central African Republic" began today under the chairmanship of the Ministry of State Property and Land Tenure of the Republic of Cameroon (MINDCAF).

Funded through FAO's Flexible Voluntary Contribution (FVC) instrument, the project aims to build the capacity of national and local stakeholders in the three countries in land governance, within the framework of the Voluntary Guidelines for Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests for Food and Nutrition Security (VGGT).

The aim is to support inclusive land tenure reform processes and share tools and mechanisms that will help reduce conflicts related to cross-border transhumance.

The project is being implemented on an operational level by FAO technical teams, with institutional support from Chad's Ministry of Planning, Housing and Urban Development, Cameroon's Ministry of State Property and Land Tenure and the Central African Republic's Ministry of Urban Planning and Housing.

Stakeholders from the three countries, together with land tenure specialists and regional and international partners, have come together at this workshop to share their experiences of responsible land governance.

In her opening remarks, Constante Clarisse Kamgang, speaking on behalf of Cameroon's Minister of State Property and Land Tenure, underlined the importance of such a project. "The importance of this project does not need to be underlined, because the challenges related to the central theme are numerous and critical, and more than in the past, they deserve action - yes, quick action, but concerted and effective action - for the maintenance of peace, food security, environmental protection and sustainable economic and social development," she said.

Land tenure plays an essential role in the lives of billions of people and can have an impact on their livelihoods by restricting their access to natural resources. Land tenure determines who can use which natural resources, for how long and under what conditions, so access to land and natural resources can mean the difference between having food and going hungry.

In this part of Central Africa, transhumance is particularly affected by recent changes, but also by crises in the governance and management of natural areas and resources in the Sudano-Sahelian zone. These problems affect biodiversity conservation and are a source of conflict.

For each targeted country, the project will help to develop a roadmap for land reform, considering activities related to pastoralism and transhumance, as well as interactions with protected areas. It will follow the example of other countries (Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal) and emphasise the land rights of local communities, particularly women and young people.

With a budget of USD 800,000 (approximately 489,000,000 CFA francs), the project will be implemented over a period of two years.

Since its creation in 1945, FAO has recognised that equitable access to land and tenure security are essential to achieving food and nutrition security and eradicating rural poverty, and thus to achieve sustainable development goals 1 and 2, which are at the heart of its mandate.

Name: Gaëlle Ngando Mbaye

Title: Communications Officer

Office: FAO Cameroon

E-mail: [email protected]

Country X (formerly Twitter) Handle: @FAOCameroun