WEBINARS: Capturing Knowledge from the Implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Governance of Tenure (VGGT)

27 October 2021 to 28 October 2021

Over the past nine years, the project on Supporting Implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGT)has helped countries make political commitments towards the eradication of hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, with the explicit outcome of increasing awareness among decision makers, development partners, and society at large regarding access to natural resources. The project enhanced global processes to improve governance of tenure through collaborative partnerships for longer lasting impacts, while promoting the application of VGGT capacity development tools and materials. This initiative addressed tenure rights of vulnerable groups, gender equality, conflict prevention, increased participation, and multi-stakeholder processes. The geographical coverage of the project included countries and regions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Land Portal are holding two webinars, on Wednesday, October 27th from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM CEST and on Thursday, October 28th from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM CEST, to showcase the results achieved, learnings gained and key challenges to improving governance of tenure in different countries during the implementation project. These events aim also to document best practices for interventions in improving governance of tenure and securing tenure rights to feed into future project designs.

The event on October 27th will focus on project activities in Asia and Africa, where English - French interpretation will be provided. The event on October 28th will focus on project activities in West Africa and Latin America, where interpretation will be provided in English, French and Spanish.

We look forward to your engagement and participation.

Background

The Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT) were endorsed by the Committee on World Food Security in May 2012. These Voluntary Guidelines have been described as a catalyst leading to improvements in conditions under which land is held or occupied in agricultural sectors. The Voluntary Guidelines address problems of weak governance of tenure and the growing pressure on natural resources, providing the basis for countries to achieve food security for all.

Since 2012, the FAO has provided technical assistance, training and capacity development, as well as support to the assessment, formulation, and implementation of relevant national policies and laws in nearly 60 countries. In these processes, FAO has been working in close collaboration with the national authorities, civil society, pastoralist organizations, traditional chiefs, and other technical and financial partners to build a participatory approach for improving governance of tenure.

Capturing Knowledge from the Implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Governance of Tenure (VGGT): Africa and Asia

Agenda

27 October, 2021

*Activity*	*Description/Panelist*
Opening
Welcome address	Darryl Vhugen Land Tenure Expert
Opening plenary	Adriano Campolina FAO Land Tenure Team Leader
Introduction to Mekong Region with country examples (Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Viet Nam)	Louisa J.M. Jansen FAO Land Tenure Officer
Introduction to Africa with country examples (Malawi, Namibia and Pan-Africa)	Mackay Rigava FAO Land Tenure Officer
Panel Discussion: Recognition and protection of customary tenure right systems
Panel commentary with inputs from Event participants: - Recognition and protection of customary tenure right systems - Strengthened policy, legal and institutional frameworks for enhancing tenure rights, and safeguarding tenure in context of land-based investments.	H.E. Kim Nong Deputy Director of the General Directorate of Administration for Nature Conservation and Protection of the Ministry of Environment, Cambodia
	Khitlaxay Kokmila Deputy Director General of the Department of Land of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Lao People's Democratic Republic
	Devie Chilonga Project Manager, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Developement, Malawi
	Dr. Mark West Landesa Myanmar Programme Director
	Eugene Kanguatjivi FAO, Project Coordinator, FAO Namibia
	Dr. Phong Ahn Nguyen Director of the Information Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (AGROINFO) of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD)
Q&A session
Break/video

Second Thematic Session: Integration of VGGT principles
Integration of VGGT principles to UNCCD convention	Sasha Alexander Policy Officer with the secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
	Aurélie Brès FAO Land Tenure Officer
Q&A session
Conclusions and closing
Key takeaways	Javier Molina Cruz FAO Senior Land Tenure Officer
Event Closure	Darryl Vhugen Land Tenure Expert

Capturing Knowledge from the Implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines: West Africa and Latin America

Agenda

28 October, 2021

*Activity*	*Description/Panelist*
Opening
Welcome address	Darryl Vhugen Land Tenure Expert
Opening plenary	Benjamin Davis ESP Director, FAO
First panel: Support for the improvement, revision and implementation of the policy and legal frameworks
Introduction	Jean-Maurice Durand Member of High Council French Ministry of Agriculture and Food
New Land Policy: Niger	Dr Abouba SAIDOU Former SGA Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Niger
National reform process in Senegal	Tanor Meissa Dieng Conseiller technique du ministre de l’Agriculture et de l’Equipement rural, Senegal
Implementation: Colombia	Juan Manuel Noguera Martínez Director (encargado) de la Agencia Nacional de Tierras Colombia, ANT
Regional frameworks: Sahel	Dr Bio Goura SOULE Technical Assistant/livestock and pastoralism Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) ECOWAS Commission
Q&A session
Second panel: Successful experiences and lessons learned on formalization and regularization of tenure rights in local contexts
Introduction	Alejandra Vega Senior Land Tenure Officer, FAO Colombia
Colombia: Hoja de Ruta meth participativa e incluyente	Alvaro Diaz Guerra Local Mayor, San Juan del Cesar - Colombia
Senegal: In favor of women and youth	El Hadji Faye Chargé de projet, ONG Enda-Pronad
Q&A session
Break/video
Presentations: Capacity development activities through participatory decision making process
Introduction	Francesca Romano FAO Land Tenure Officer
Regional programme for pastoral land	Wissal Gharbi Deputy Director Tunisian Agricultural Land Agency
The experience of using Technical Guide 6 in local context, experience from Niger	Amadou Halilou President of ROPEN, Niger
Colombia: strengthening capacities of government institutions and CSOs in tenure rights	Manuel Correa Ibarguen Leader of Association of Community Councils of Bajo Atrato and Community Council of the Salaquí River, Chocó, Colombia
Q&A session
Third panel: From VGGT support to more inclusive approach on natural resource management and climate change
Introduction	Sofia Espinosa FAO Land Tenure Specialist
Fortalecimiento de capacidades institucionales y de sociedad civil para la gestión territorial en áreas protegidas. Case Study: Colombia	Carolina Jarro Subdirectora General de Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia
Integration of VGGT principles to UNCCD convention	Sasha Alexander Policy Officer with the secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
Knowat initiative: inspired from the VGGT to fight water scarcity	Benjamin Kiersch Project Design Specialist NSLD-FAO
Q&A session
Conclusions and closing
Conclusions	Javier Molina Cruz FAO Senior Land Tenure Officer
Closing	Darryl Vhugen Land Tenure Expert