Speakers

Anna Locke - Head of Programme, Agricultural Development and Policy, ODI

Chris Penrose-Buckley - Senior Advisor, Land Policy Lead, Department for International Development (DFID)

The meeting of the high-level political forum on sustainable development in 2018 convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council will be held from Monday, 9 July, to Wednesday, 18 July 2018; including the three-day ministerial meeting of the forum from Monday, 16 July, to Wednesday, 18 July 2018.

Large-scale acquisition of land in the global South has received a great deal of interest in the last few years. Especially following the food crisis (2003-08), and stimulated by the growing demand for biofuels, pressure on land continues to increase. This course provides a multidisciplinary analysis of the ‘land rush’ within the more general context of land governance in Africa, Asia and Latin America: the history and drivers, the diversity of stakeholders and networks involved, the urgency of current challenges, and innovative governance solutions.

"Transforming Africa's Development Through Innovation, Youth & Technology" - There has been some progress on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa since their introduction in 2015, but to achieve the equitable and prosperous future that the continent strives for, progress must be transformational. Technology, innovation and youth will be key drivers in this transformation and impact investment and innovative finance will help to catalyse growth.

Over a billion people worldwide, predominately smallholder farmers, lack secure land rights, which are crucial for obtaining loans and providing the long-term visibility necessary for planning successful agricultural operations. Open data technologies enable mapping and access to information on land rights, which in turn can lead to more protection for community and smallholder farmers.

The conference will provide a platform for agricultural information and knowledge specialists in Africa to discuss and strategize their contributions to the global 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the African Union's Agenda 2063, focusing on the conference theme and sub-themes. 

Embracing our smart world  where the continents connect:

Join us online on February 7th to discuss the Practice Guide for Environmental Justice Paralegals and learn how paralegals and communities can use the law to address environmental harms.

Climate change is amongst the most prominent developmental issues today. As a result, large amounts of capital are being made available to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity of climate-vulnerable people, particularly in the global South.

Women account for 60–80 per cent of smallholder farmers and comprise the largest percentage of the workforce in the agricultural sector. Inequalities between women and men in access to land, productive resources, income-generating activities and public consultation spaces seriously undermine women’s capacity to contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).