Two recent cases of voluntary relinquishment of land by a company offer a rare opportunity to better understand land divestment, and to identify motivations, risks, and good practices to carry out a responsible exit that supports communities’ rights and benefits. The largest forest development and wood processing company in East Africa recently carried out large-scale land divestments under different circumstances and at different scales in Mozambique and Tanzania.
Meet Robert Wayumba, Landesa’s Senior Land Tenure Specialist based in Nairobi, Kenya. Robert began working for Landesa in 2022.
In Liberia’s Bong County, Landesa is helping communities like Diagmah Clan secure formal land rights and adopt climate-smart agriculture, empowering farmers to grow food sustainably and build resilience against climate change.
IPP Media — Landesa Tanzania Country Director Godfrey Massay was quoted in an article about improving inclusivity and participation of youth and small producers in the agricultural value chain.
The Nation profiled Shadrack Omondi, Landesa’s Kenya program director, for his lifelong work and dedication to promote women’s human dignity by advancing their access to, use of, and control over land.
IPP Media — Godfrey Massay, Landesa’s Tanzania Program Director, spoke on a panel at the Fourth International Conference on Youth and Land Governance (CIGOFA 4) about the importance of changing traditional practices that delay youth land ownership, arguing that early ownership is crucial for economic empowerment and sustainable land management.
Rwanda Inspirer — Landesa is partnering with the Rwanda Land Management and Use Authority to deploy 50 specialized land surveyors in Eastern Rwanda, addressing chronic land boundary disputes in Nyagatare, Kayonza, and Kirehe districts. This initiative aims to provide accurate boundary demarcations and empower local authorities to manage land conflicts effectively, fostering peace and reducing future disputes.
IPP Media – Landesa’s Africa Region Director, Everlyne Nairesiae, was featured at the Fourth International Youth and Land Governance Conference (CIGOFA 4), where she emphasized the importance of youth land rights and secure tenure for building sustainable livelihoods and contributing to Africa’s development.
Green Waves Media — Landesa’s Khadija Mrisho spoke at the Rural Women’s Day celebrations hosted by the Dodoma City Council, emphasizing that increased awareness of land rights has enabled many women in rural areas to claim their right to land, furthering economic independence and decision-making power.
Landesa’s Rachel McMonagle was quoted in an article about the need to include rural people in conservation efforts. Failing to safeguard the land and forest rights of Indigenous communities would both jeopardize livelihoods and undermine global efforts to combat climate change.