Concept note Land and Human Security in Africa May 2011 Gauteng, South Africa

Transcription

1 Concept note Land and Human Security in Africa May 2011 Gauteng, South Africa Introduction: During the last ten years Africa s global strategic importance has been completely re- evaluated, following decades of instability and turmoil. This reassessment of the continent s global position was at least partly the result of what has been called the new scramble for African resources. If the intensified fight for the control of strategic energy sources has turned the spotlight on mineral resources (oil, gas and rare earths), another dimension of the scramble has attracted less attention despite its major implications for peace and security in the continent. Attracted by the availability of large portions of unutilized fertile land in the continent, several countries and corporations have secured deals with governments that have been contested because of their ambiguous legitimacy. However, the current growing demand for African land, generally referred to as a land grab, presents both opportunities and threats for African countries.

2 The continent appears to have the cheapest prices worldwide for land but also the weakest regulatory frameworks regarding its ownership, distribution and exploitation. This opens the door for different forms of manipulation that could jeopardize food security at a time when increasing food prices have led to massive citizen protests around the continent. Large scale (legal and illegal) acquisitions of land in Africa will continue to have diverse consequences for the continent. To understand the drivers behind land deals as well as examine the nature, different forms, and the security implications of this development, L Observatoire de l Afrique is organizing an international conference in Pretoria (South Africa) that will attempt to map out the political economy of land acquisitions in Africa. The primary objective of this seminar is to bring together researchers, practitioners and policymakers to reflect critically on land issues in Africa, considering particularly the security implications of unresolved land questions in a rapidly globalizing world. The seminar will seek to generate policy proposals and track progress in the following key areas: 1. Increase knowledge about the nexus between land and conflict, to inform policymaking at government and community level. 2. Increase transparency in the land acquisition processes and the underlying mechanisms of such deals. 3. Discuss land issues in the context of post- conflict reconstruction strategies. 4. Develop a holistic, pro- active and coordinated approach to land and conflict The proceedings of the seminar will be documented in the form of a short policy report and the findings will be widely disseminated both within and outside Africa. Approach: Each session will be facilitated by a Chair; two to three presenters will each have 20 minutes to present, followed by a discussant, who will have 10 minutes for critical reflection and summary.

3 Day 1 SESSION 1: THE LAND ISSUE IN AFRICA: A NEW RESOURCE CURSE? The seminar will open with a predominantly theoretical session, aimed at understanding the link between land and conflict, reconstruction and the larger implications of land alienation. Land is a unique and valuable resource, particularly because it provides the foundation for rural subsistence. Land in Africa has a strong economic value precisely because both wealth and survival are tied to the access and control of land. Changes in these patterns of access and control have a significant effect on conflict. Land issues are not necessarily the root cause of conflict, but can at times sustain a conflict. Tensions around access to land can also be manipulated in a conflict situation, thereby transforming land into a resource of war and complicating any post- conflict reconstruction efforts. Furthermore, the increasing scarcity of land is exacerbating the vulnerability of those dependent upon it for their livelihoods. The historical, cultural and symbolic value of land can be a contributing factor to conflicts when alternative narratives are given for land distribution and management by competing interest groups, and where these issues become entangled with matters concerning identity and belonging. (There have for example been several conflicts between agriculturalists and pastoralists particularly in Northern and Eastern Africa) This session will therefore explore certain key contextual factors of land in Africa and how these relate to conflict. Analysis on how land is linked to livelihoods and identity should contribute towards an understanding of the risks involved in irresponsible acquisitions and use of land in Africa. SESSION 2: THE LAND RUSH IN AFRICA AND THE GLOBAL NETWORK The session will consider African states within the global network with particular emphasis on the increasing demand for African land by foreign actors. The aim of the session will be to identify the interests driving this land hunger, comparing how various actors pursue these interests, and ultimately identifying those interactions which present a security threat. This session will also examine the role of African governments in large land alienation, specifically exploring the short- term economic gains accrued by elites

4 from foreign investors and the long- term effects this could have on national stability. Various factors, including population growth and climate change are having a marked effect on the global food security. In recent years this has led to food riots in several countries. The manner in which African leaders interact with global partners will determine the effect on land development in Africa, and ultimately human security. Day 2 SESSION 3: THE CHALLENGE OF LAND GOVERNANCE The aim of session three will be to examine the myriad of issues relating to land governance in Africa. The successful regulation of land acquisitions and the avoidance of related insecurity heavily depend on the regulatory framework in which these interactions occur, as well as the structures, institutions and processes governing land issues. The coexistence of a multiplicity of legal structures within a state is perhaps a product of Africa s history, and the processes around land regulation and land reform are challenging and time- consuming. Many countries do not have the means or capacity to develop participatory policy- development strategies, yet the failure to do so in an environment where there is an abundance of competing interests, can ultimately result in serious security implications. Case studies: South Africa, Tanzania SESSION 4: LAND AND CONFLICT IN POST- CONFLICT ENVIRONMENTS Many African countries have been affected by intra- state conflicts, it is therefore important to consider the particularities of a post- conflict environment. Prolonged periods of conflict generally result in extraordinary movements of people away from a conflict area, and a return to their homes during the post- conflict period, sometimes following years of absence. Land is often central in the redrawing of ethnic, class and other social boundaries and local allocations of power in the post- conflict context. Post- conflict interventions tend to steer away from complex and politically sensitive land related issues. Issues relating to IDPs, refugees and people who

5 remained in the conflict area can result in a spike in tensions if not properly managed early in the post- conflict stage. The legal pluralism, found in so many African states, presents various complications during the period of deep uncertainty that follows a conflict situation. In such a delicate environments, at a time when the global interest in African land is growing, it would be prudent to emphasize the need for post- conflict land management. The objective of this session is therefore to identify the gaps in the current approach to land in post- conflict environments, with the intention of improving this approach in future interventions. Case studies: DRC, Burundi and Sudan SESSION 5: INTERNATIONAL INTERVENTION: CONSIDERING LAND? The current state of affairs regarding land and conflict in Africa would suggest that there is a significant gap in the response to these issues. This practically oriented session will address international attempts at generating regimes focusing specifically on major inter- state decision making bodies and how these relate to local communities in issues relating to land. There are a large number of inter- governmental and non- governmental agencies that have proposed various sets of principles aimed at making land acquisitions more responsible. Although these are positive steps in creating better land regulations at the international level, it is essential that principles be devised in consultation with the people directly affected, and coordinated at national and regional level if they hope to be effective. The issue of voluntary application of principles should also be addressed if international institutions hope to engage the private sector significantly. This session will assess the current level of engagement of the UN and the AU on land regulation, and the ability of these influential inter- state bodies to incorporate non- governmental and ground level organisations into regulation and monitoring frameworks for land in Africa. The session will identify shortfalls and strengths in the current approach and suggest a way forward.

6 SESSION 6: POLICY ROUND- UP This final session will work towards developing a practical framework for land issues in Africa. SESSION 7: RAPPORTEURS REPORT AND THE WAY FORWARD Three rapporteurs will prepare a summary of the two- day seminar, highlighting key findings from both days and pointing to key lessons learned. They will prepare a draft report of the proceedings that is substantive, policy- oriented, and forward- looking, for review and publication by l Observatoire de l Afrique. The report will be widely circulated to various relevant stakeholders dealing in different capacities with land issues (governments, international organisations, think- tanks, universities, NGOs, and the media.) MELANIE ROBERTS L OBSERVATOIRE DE L AFRIQUE, ISS PRETORIA