7 July 2014: The Land Policy Initiative (LPI) organized an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework and the implementation plan for piloting the Framework, an area that is highlighted in the African Union (AU) Declaration on Land Issues and Challenges. During the meeting, Stephen Karingi, Regional Integration and Trade Division, UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), said the Declaration states the need for an appropriate M&E mechanism, and that it mandates governments to build human and technical capacity on land. He stressed the importance of mechanisms “to hold ourselves and each other accountable,” and to monitor results in land policy development and implementation.

The M&E Framework was first examined during a September 2013 workshop, and recommendations were provided for its review and finalization. The EGM then provided inputs to finalize the document, and guidance to pilot the Framework in selected African countries. The EGM recommended: creating a technical advisory group to guide the process and exercise quality control; that an expert be appointed as the lead writer in crafting the final document, under LPI supervision; the establishment of a mechanism for ongoing feedback from stakeholders and partners, such as regional economic commissions and civil society organizations; and that the LPI prepare guidelines for piloting the M&E Framework at the country level, which is expected to take place within a six-month to one year timeframe.

The EGM also dedicated one day to discussing modalities to advocate for the inclusion of land issues and indicators in Africa in the post-2015 development agenda. Participants agreed that ECA/LPI and UN-HABITAT should work to ensure that land issues are included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including through organizing consultations, forums and side events at SDG-related meetings. They also encouraged working with other institutions to implement and follow-up on the SDG process and identify mechanisms and strategies to convey key messages on land issues in Africa.

The EGM convened from 30 June to 2 July 2014, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and brought together approximately 30 land experts and representatives of regional economic communities, development partners, civil society, farmers’ and women’s networks, and the private sector.
 The LPI, a joint programme consisting of the AU Commission (AUC), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and ECA, facilitates implementation of the AU Declaration on Land Issues and Challenges in Africa. [30 June ECA Press Release] [7 July ECA Press Release]