NELGA | PLAAS

Background

The Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA) is an initiative of the African Union, the United Nations Commission for Africa and the African Development Bank. It is a partnership of more than 50 leading African universities and research institutions, to strengthen the training and curriculum development on land governance in Africa.

PLAAS is a special NELGA node focusing on short course training: The Political Economy of Land Governance in Africa. We have developed an endorsed short course on the Political Economy of Land Governance in Africa, under the ‘Building the Next Generation of African Experts in Land Governance’ project. This course is funded through the African Land Policy Centre (ALPC) and GIZ.

The course brings together a number of land professions from various member states and NELGA institutions linked to the African Union to unpack land governance from a political economic lens.

Take a look at our new NELGA  Climate Change and Land Governance in Africa 2025 course, piloting in April.

Course Content

The course addresses the political economy of land governance to include the pre-colonial and colonial histories; statutory and customary tenure rights; land policy and land law; land administration in rural and urban contexts; land corruption; large scale acquisitions, gender and class; and natural resource access and management. The curriculum addresses the continent as a whole, but each course has a regional focus in which it is offered in. So far, we’ve held courses in South Africa (Southern Africa), Tanzania (East Africa), and Ghana (West Africa). The medium of instruction and assessment will be in English.

Who Can Apply?

Land practitioners and policy makers on the continent who have the responsibilities and expertise on the land governance issues. Applicants should hold an undergraduate degree and have at least 3-4 working experience. Applicants without a university degree may be considered, if they have 10-15 years’ work experience. Applicants should be conversant in, write and understand English.

Assessment

Participants are required to complete a pre contact assignment, a virtual field report, a country report on land governance and the final submission of a learning portfolio. Participants would receive either:

• A Certificate of Attendance for those who attend at least 80% of the sessions and participate in 50% of all in-class assignments, but do not complete the assessment activities, or
• A Certificate of Competence for those who successfully complete all assessments.

We’ve conducted a tracer and impact study of our course. You can read that here.

Feedback

Funding

The short course is funded by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), through the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA).  Funding is available for 60 participants to attend the short course training online. Selected participants must ensure they have access to good internet infrastructure to attend the course.

How to apply

To apply, please complete the application form.

Application closing date

The closing date for applications is Friday, 7 March 2025.

Course Coordinators

Enquiries

Enquires may be directed to Ms Carla Henry, the Postgraduate Programme Administrator.

Partners

PLAAS would like to thank our funders and partner institutions for the successful implementation of the NELGA Short Course of the Political Economy of Land Governance in Africa.