5th Regional ALIN Conference Ends with the Adoption of the “Freetown Declaration”
The 5th Regional Conference of the African Land Institutions Network for Community Rights (ALIN) came to a close today with the adoption of the “Freetown Declaration” a collective call to action directed particularly at the governments of the 16 participating African countries.
In the Declaration, all participating countries agreed to ensure that at least 30% of women are involved in land administration, policy formulation, and other strategic roles within the land governance sector. This regional commitment aligns with Sierra Leone’s Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act and the Customary Land Rights Act, both enacted in 2022, which already guarantee women’s participation in land governance and leadership positions.
The Declaration also calls for stronger state involvement in land governance and administration, emphasizing the need for robust institutional frameworks and greater government accountability in the management of land and natural resources.
Throughout the conference, representatives from each country presented their national land governance contexts, highlighting progress, challenges, and ongoing reform efforts. While some countries have made notable advances in implementing land-related laws, others, such as The Gambia are only now developing their first-ever National Land Policy.
On the opening day, the National Coordinator of Land for Life, Berns Komba Lebbie, spoke about the organization’s contribution to Sierra Leone’s land governance reform process. He shared key lessons learned and urged national land governance authorities to “fully integrate local-level engagement processes into the existing, legally established land administration institutions.”
The Freetown Declaration stands as a renewed continental commitment to promoting community land rights, gender inclusion, and effective governance across Africa.
