News in 2024

FIG African Community attends the 1st African Woman Land Professional Associations Conference

24 - 28 November 2024, Tanzania

“Women Land Professionals and the Struggle for Inclusive Land Governance in Africa: Reflections on the Past, Present, and the Future’.

The FIG Africa Regional Network is at the forefront of establishment of the 1st African Women Land Professional Associations (AWLPA).  The association was inaugurated at a conference that took place in Tanzania at the APC Hotel and Conference Centre, Dar es Salam, Tanzania from 24-28 November 2024.

President D Dumashie participated in the two-day AWLPA conference at the invitation of Mr. Mohammed Mamman Kabir, mni, Chair FIG Africa Regional Network (FIG-ARN).  Whilst in transit to and from Tanzania, D Dumashie took the opportunity to meet with President Eric Nyadimo, Institution of Surveyors Kenya (FIG member) and Mussa Kombo Bakari, Permanent Executive Secretary Zanzibar Land Commission and a Commissioner Board member.

1. African Women Land Professional Association (AWLPA)

The aim of the AWLPA is to establish a purposeful network of women professionals in land and the built environment working across the African continent.  Although conceived by FIG ARN, it has been positively embraced by a range of professionals in the disciplines of surveyors and geospatial experts, town planners and architectures.   All wishing to work to advance women’s land rights and good land governance in Africa. The conference marked the successful beginning of the network but also highlighting key discussion focus for the future.

The AWLPA conference was co- hosted by ARN, and Network of Excellent on Land Governance in Africa-East African node (NELGA-EA) and Ardhi University of Tanzania.    Thanks also to sponsors; GIZ, Leica, Dansel and URES.

The theme “Women Land Professionals and the Struggle for Inclusive Land Governance in Africa” was thoroughly addressed throughout the conference, attracting men and women from across African continent.   The theme drew upon the support of FIG Commission 7.5 (Working group) Women’s Land Rights and Women in Surveying led by Marisa Balas.

Some key members of the organising committee counting from left to right: 2 Surv Amina Dierye, 4 Surv. Izuegbu Ogochukwu Uju 6 M.M Kabir 8 Agnes Nkundwe Mwasumbi 9 Rose Mwaura

The Opening session included addresses from the guest of Honour, MP Deogratius J Ndejembi, Minister for Land, Housing and Human Settlement Development (MLHH) and Prof Evaristo Liwa Vice Chancellor Ardhi University. 

The master of ceremonies, Rose Mwaura ably conducted the welcoming speeches provided by Mr. Mohammed Mamman Kabir, Chair FIG Africa Regional Network (FIG-ARN), Dr D Dumashie, President FIG, Dr Janet Edeme, Head of Department African Union Commission, Ms Lucy D Kabyemera, Deputy Permanent Secretary in MLHH, and Dr Agnes Mwasumbi Senior Lecturer Ardhi University.  Key note presentations were delivered by Dr D Dumashie, President FIG, Hans Ni, CEO Beijing iSpatial Co, Ltd, Prof Yanmin Shuai, GE College, Zhejian Normal University, China.

The conference theme was addressed through a well-designed combination of plenary panel session, policy dialogues and thematic technical sessions.  These covered issues such as challenges faced in achieving gender responsive land governance and strategies to minimise gender disparities; building capacity for female land professionals along with session on leveraging technology and the role and benefits of regulation in the profession.


plenary stage view

Plenary presentation from Dr Desiree Nam GIZ

It was impressive to see that Ardhi University students embedded into the conference, not only through their participation at plenaries, but also with the program accommodating special sessions.  These sessions ranged from the practical aspect of how to get young people into the workforce to the theory & practice and soft skills such as adaptability needed in the workplace.  The merits to volunteer were highlighted, bringing to mind the FIG young surveyors volunteering initiatives (e.g. VCSP) as well as the recent FIG collaboration with the Youth Initiative for Land in Africa (YiLA)

Ardhi Students in Plenary

Ardhi students in special session with NELGA presenter

Further, the representation from FIG ARN community was insightful, with delegates attending from all compass points of the African continent as the photos (below) on the red carpet demonstrate.  Further, the audience greatly appreciated a video recording from Nape Mojapelo, Chair FIG LOC Cape Town, South Africa (picture above), showcasing the FIG 2026 Congress to be held in Cape Town May 2026.


  At the closing, a Conference Statement was adopted, resolving that AWLPA members have a leading influence on the land and built environments of todays and tomorrow’s communities.  Key highlights That ARN wishes to support from the 11 resolutions include:

  • Support the processes of developing a Strategic Capacity Development Framework for African Women Land Professionals.
  • Collaborate with relevant stakeholders such as the African Union in its AU Land Governance Strategy on the advocacy for implementation frameworks for gender equality in land governance
  • Empower women land professionals and promote the integration of industry and education in Africa with African Universities and institutions of higher learning
  • Encourage coordinated support to African countries to successfully implement a fit-for-purpose approach to land administration that ensures affordable land recordation and facilitates registration of continuum of land rights particularly on issues that are of critical concern to women
  • Call on African women land professional associations to foster close collaboration and partnerships with international, regional, and community women land rights groups e,g as FIG has done with Stand for Her Land Campaign
    And,
  • To hold the 2nd African Women Land Professional Associations Conference to be held at the African Union Commission Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2025

In overview, this statement of resolutions means that the conference is an important step in putting the surveying profession at the forefront of ensuring diversity in the land and property sector and that this will underpin sustainable development in Africa.

Available for viewing:

  • The speaker papers from the 2 day conference are soon to be added to the ARN website 
  • President D Dumashie’ s keynote presentation (to be added soon)

2. Meetings pre and post conference

President D Dumashie took the opportunity to meet with the land and built environment community while on route to and from Tanzania.

Pre conference: Kenya, President ISK and Former FIG Commission chair Wafula Nabutola

D Dumashie seated with Permanent Secretary Mussa Kombo Bakari

2.1 Pre conference meeting with Nairobi Institution of Kenyan Surveyors (ISK)

A meeting with President Eric Nyadimo, ISK (FIG member) and Surv Wafula Nabutola (ISK) former FIG Commission chair.  ISK have been long time members of FIG and their increase in activity in FIG is very much welcomed.  This also includes their active participation in the GLTN Professional Cluster (co-chaired by President D Dumashie with Arab Union of Surveyors) and commission activity (especially Commission 3 and Commission 8) along with administration activities.

2.2 Post conference meeting with the Zanzibar Land Commission

AWLPA conference organised a special tour to Zanzibar Island.  This enabled President D Dumashie to accept an invitation to visit the Zanzibar Commission for Lands in addition to meeting with colleagues from the wider land community

Left picture: post conference tour to Zanzibar.

 

Right picture:
D Dumashie seated with PES, Mussa Kombo Bakari and , Commissioner Mr Talib Khatib Shaaban, Standing ZLC Directors and Senior managers

D Dumashie seated with Permanent Secretary Mussa Kombo Bakari

In Stone Town, Zanzibar, President Dumashie was hosted by the Permanent Executive Secretary Mussa Kombo Bakari, on day one at a familiarisation meeting along with S M Juma, Land Director.  The following day a full meeting accompanied by FIG Chair Africa Regional Network, Mr. Mohammed Mamman Kabir, met with the four Directors of the Land Commission and Commissioner Mr Talib Khatib Shaaban representative from the Land Commission Board and other managers from within the ZLC to hear about the particular challenges faced by Island survey agencies.

It was also an opportunity to broker connections on behalf of FIG Commission Valuation (Commission 9) and a pleasure to connect Peter Arche Chair, with the Zanzibar Chief of Valuation Mr Tahir to facilitate them to explore future collaboration opportunities.  Noting that FIG is pleased that the Tanzania Registration Board is a FIG Member.

As a closing reflection, the FIG Africa Regional network continues to provide opportunities for knowledge enhancement and sharing, to build capacity for FIG members and importantly reach out to collaborate and partner across the spectrum of all professionals working in land, built and natural environments.  The direction of ARN is truly aligned to the Vison and Mission of FIG 2023- 2026.

 

 

President D Dumashie RICS
December 2024