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Land Governance in French-Speaking Africa: Comparative Analysis of Legal and Institutional Reforms for Sustainable Management of Community Lands

Author

Listed:
  • Idiatou Bah

    (Faculty of Forestry, Geography and Geomatics, Laval University, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada)

  • Kossivi Fabrice Dossa

    (Faculty of Forestry, Geography and Geomatics, Laval University, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada)

Abstract

In July 2009, African leaders adopted the Declaration on Land Issues in Africa, reaffirming the commitment of African Union member states to effective land management. The declaration emphasizes the protection of land rights for all, with particular attention to women and marginalized groups. Land governance in Africa, which spans various aspects of society, remains a critical issue and is often a source of conflict and instability across the continent. This study examines the legal and institutional reforms of land governance in Francophone Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Mali, and Senegal), analyzing their objectives, outcomes, and the challenges associated with their implementation. In addition, this study highlights examples of both effective and ineffective reform implementations based on case studies from countries with notable successes (Ethiopia, Rwanda, Mauritius, Ghana, and Madagascar) and failures (South Africa and Zimbabwe). Finally, this study offers recommendations for improving sustainable land management while considering social, economic, political, and environmental dimensions. The methodology employed is based exclusively on a systematic review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) approach, applied to the ROSES (Reporting Standards for Systematic Evidence Syntheses) protocol. This approach facilitated the selection of 57 relevant documents retrieved from databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Land governance in Francophone Africa varies significantly from country to country and cannot be comprehensively addressed in a study of this scope. Nevertheless, this research study identifies common challenges, opportunities, and measures that could inspire reflection in other countries. In several cases, administrative and customary authorities play central roles in land management. However, their overlapping responsibilities, often marked by corruption, extend procedures and exacerbate local conflicts.

Suggested Citation

  • Idiatou Bah & Kossivi Fabrice Dossa, 2025. "Land Governance in French-Speaking Africa: Comparative Analysis of Legal and Institutional Reforms for Sustainable Management of Community Lands," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-30, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:2:p:276-:d:1579445
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jean-Louis Combes & Pascale Combes-Motel & Sonia Schwartz, 2016. "Un survol de la théorie des biens communs," Revue d’économie du développement, De Boeck Université, vol. 24(3), pages 55-83.
    2. Abdourahmane Ndiaye, 2011. "La réforme des régimes fonciers au Sénégal : condition de l'éradication de la pauvreté rurale et de la souveraineté alimentaire," Working Papers halshs-00653556, HAL.
    3. Klaus Deininger, 2003. "Land Policies for Growth and Poverty Reduction," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 15125.
    4. Mhlangabezi Slayi & Leocadia Zhou & Kgabo Humphrey Thamaga & Patrick Nyambo, 2024. "The Role of Social Inclusion in Restoring Communal Rangelands in Southern Africa: A Systematic Review of Approaches, Challenges, and Outcomes," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-25, September.
    5. Jongwook Kim & Joseph T. Mahoney, 2002. "Resource-based and property rights perspectives on value creation: the case of oil field unitization," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 23(4-5), pages 225-245.
    6. Chris D. Arnot & Martin K. Luckert & Peter C. Boxall, 2011. "What Is Tenure Security? Conceptual Implications for Empirical Analysis," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 87(2), pages 297-311.
    7. Jean-Pierre Cling & Mireille Razafindrakoto & François Roubaud, 2002. "La Banque mondiale et la lutte contre la pauvreté : tout changer pour que tout reste pareil ?," Working Papers DT/2002/09, DIAL (Développement, Institutions et Mondialisation).
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