Regional joint learning event on innovative ideas and tools in land administration in Africa kicks off at the RCMRD

Nairobi, Kenya - 9th July 2014

On 7th July 2014, a two-week regional joint learning workshop on innovative ideas, concepts, tools and practices in land administration kicked off at the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) in Nairobi, Kenya. The workshop brings together over 40 land officials, including Surveyor Generals and Commissioners and technical personnel, from fifteen member states of the RCMRD.

The objectives of the workshop are, among others, to share challenges, approaches, achievements and information on key land administration cases, to analyze and practically illustrate the innovative concepts, tools and practices in land administration and joint learning through the exchange of information, knowledge and expertise, including practical illustration and application.

The workshop is jointly organized by UN-Habitat/GLTN, the University of Twente - Faculty of Geo-Information Science & Earth Observation (ITC), Dutch Kadaster and RCMRD.

On behalf of Kenya's Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development, Mariam El Maawy, the Director of Survey, Caesar Mbaria, delivered a keynote speech, pointing out that most challenges, including poverty, food security and severe environmental degradation facing many people in society are directly related to land administration and management issues.

During the first two days, there were slots for participants from each country to make succinct presentations that highlighted the most pressing land administration challenges and opportunities, innovations, obstacles and success stories from each of the countries represented.