LANDac, the Netherlands Academie on Land Governance for Equitable and Sustainable Development, is a partnership between Dutch organizations working on land governance. The partners are the International Development Studies (IDS) group at Utrecht University (leading partner), African Studies Centre, Agriterra, the Sociology of Development and Change (SDC) group at Wageningen University, the Land Portal Foundation, HIVOS, the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Enclude Solutions.
Mission and Vision
A just world, without poverty. That is our mission. We believe that people can build independent livelihoods, provided their rights are respected. That is why we help people around the world to stand up for their rights.
Every hour of every day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs promotes the interests of the Kingdom abroad. The Ministry coordinates and carries out Dutch foreign policy at its headquarters in The Hague and through its missions abroad. It is likewise the channel through which the Dutch Government communicates with foreign governments and international organisations.
The Netherlands’ Cadastre, Land Registry and Mapping Agency – in short Kadaster – collects and registers administrative and spatial data on property and the rights involved. This also goes for ships, aircraft and telecom networks. Doing so, Kadaster protects legal certainty. We are also responsible for national mapping and maintenance of the national reference coordinate system. Furthermore, we are an advisory body for land-use issues and national spatial data infrastructures.
Agriterra is an agri-agency, an organisation for international cooperation that was founded by civil society organisations in rural areas and the agricultural private sector.
ActionAid is an international anti-poverty agency whose aim is to fight poverty worldwide. Formed in 1972, for over 30 years we have been growing and expanding to where we are today - helping over 13 million of the world's poorest and most disadvantaged people in 42 countries worldwide.
Together with environmental justice and human rights groups from poor and developing countries, Both ENDS works towards a sustainable, fair and inclusive world.
The vision of Both ENDS is a world where long-term environmental sustainability and social equity take priority over short-term profits.
Many women around the world are working to improve their land rights. Yet the access to their land is often insecure. During this evening, you will hear stories by women who are involved in different initiatives at the grassroots level – from the Netherlands to Malawi. What lessons can we learn and how can they generate ideas that lead to more action on the ground?
The recognition and protection of women’s equal rights to use, access and control land are crucial for women’s empowerment, increased food production, healthy families and better educated children. However, systematic structures of oppression are often expressed through land relations.
This evening we will present stories, film and photography from successful grassroots movements in Africa and the Netherlands on women’s rights to land. With the audience and the Dutch Council of Women, our speakers will discuss their experiences and the lessons we can learn from the role of local champions and the importance of building movements and international solidarity.
Speakers
- Ellen Matupi. Rural Women Assembly & National Smallholder Farmers Association, Malawi. She was at the forefront of the successful Women2Kilimanjaro Initiative, a mobilization of rural women from across Africa to guarantee and strengthen their land rights. Ellen shares her experience from the Dutch funded Women’s Land Rights in the Africa program.
- Willemien Koning. Dutch Representative for UN Women 2018. Chair of the Dutch Federation of Agriculture and Horticulture ‘Women and Business’. In October, she addressed the UN General Assembly to argue for gender equality and empowering rural women. Willemien is nominated for the Women of Europe Awards 2018 in the category ‘Women in Action’.
- Jolke de Moel from Future Farmers. She runs a vegetable farm in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, She will talk about the difficulties that new farmers in the Netherlands face to secure access to land and the collective efforts by farmers and citizens to change the situation.
- Imke Greven. Policy Advisor Land Rights and coordinator for ‘Land learning journey on women’s land rights in Myanmar’ at Oxfam Novib. Imke reports back about this event which showcases the impact of strong solidarity across continents and the need for platforms for women to share their lived experiences.