This webinar will present findings from research conducted by the Mekong Region Land Governance (MRLG) Program and its partners on the recognition and formalization of customary tenure rights across the Mekong region. It will highlight key themes from two important regional publications: "The Recognition and Formalization of Customary Tenure in the Forest Landscapes of the Mekong Region: A Polanyian Perspective" and the "State of Land Brief: Recognition of Customary Tenure in Forest Landscapes of the Mekong Region."

Indigenous women’s knowledge is rooted in ancestral understanding of the natural world and the accumulation of observations of local phenomena. The most significant aspect of Indigenous women holding and preserving these traditional knowledge is their holistic approach, which encompasses a wide range of domains beyond mere specialization. They possess an intricate understanding of various species, considering their nutritional value, medicinal properties, and ecological roles. This knowledge, passed down through generations, not only enriches their communities but has been crucial for western science. Indigenous women's insights have often informed Western understandings, leading to the development of medicines and a deeper understanding of climate phenomena such as droughts, floods, and biodiversity migration.

This webinar will explore this intersection with stories from across the continent. Speakers will show how corruption undermines land equity programs designed to address the concentration of wealth and inequality in the land sector in South Africa, and how corruption exacerbates the historical marginalization of the Nubian community in Kenya, among other examples. Speakers will also explore how governments and civil society can effectively respond to the research findings, with a focus on policies and campaigns that promote accountability and information transparency in land governance. 

Young Indigenous Peoples are facing unprecedented challenges as they grow up in a world where climate change imperils their community’s cultural heritage and ways of life. In response, many are becoming new leaders in climate activism, championing land rights as a pivotal measure in combating environmental degradation and preserving traditional lifestyles.

The Urban Knowledge Exchange is currently presenting a series of webinars to showcase evidence-based knowledge platforms.

In this fourth webinar we focus on international, multi-dimensional land knowledge and information platforms, and the partnerships that underpin their success.

Join us in a webinar that will shine light on two groundbreaking reports concerning gender and land governance in the Mekong region. The reports, "Outlook on Gender and Land in the Mekong Region" and "Towards Gender-Equitable Land Policy and Law Making in the Mekong Region," were produced in Phase II of the Mekong Region Land Governance (MRLG) program. This is the first webinar in the series ‘State of Land in the Mekong region.’ This series highlights the evolving environment of land governance in this dynamic region.

This webinar will explore what access to remedy might look like for communities in the global carbon market system, with a focus on issues of land and resources tenure. Hearing from communities impacted by carbon markets and experts in grievance mechanism design, the webinar will highlight the key features necessary for accessible, dependable, and credible grievance mechanisms. The discussion will offer critical input to the proposed grievance mechanism for markets established under Article 6.4 of the UNFCCC Paris Agreement. 

Having secure land tenure, ensuring people's confidence in accessing, controlling and utilizing their land, is crucial for promoting sustainable land management practices. It also plays a key role in building resilience against the impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and increased desertification due to higher temperatures.

On the opening day of #COP28, we hosted a thought-provoking webinar that delved into the intricate relationship between land governance and climate resilience, a critical area of immense importance in the context of global climate challenges and sustainable land use practices. This event aimed to unpack the crucial role of inclusive land governance in building climate resilience.

The UN’s past two global climate summits have been big on promises for Indigenous Peoples. At COP26 in 2021 governments and private philanthropies pledged nearly $2 billion for Indigenous Peoples and local communities to fight deforestation. Last year’s COP27 led to the creation of a new “loss and damage” fund to help vulnerable communities respond to climate disasters.

Climate-change induced disasters and communities’ responses to protect themselves and design solutions have become a top priority on the climate agenda. At the center of mitigation and adaptation discussions have been urban populations, particularly in informal settlements. At the same time, the rural poor with limited or no secure access to land tend to be overlooked.

By examining the landscapes of multiple African countries, we will unearth the myriad experiences of traditional leaders, emphasizing the variances in their legislative authority and the weight of their word. By drawing upon actual case studies, the discourse will underscore potential friction areas between traditional leaders, governmental entities, and local populace, especially when the spotlight turns to the management of land based investments within ancestral domains.