Dutch embassy officials visit RCMRD to Disburse EALAN Equipment

 

Officials from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands presented equipment to some members of the EALAN (Eastern Africa Land Administration Network) at a ceremony at RCMRD.

First Secretary - Water, Ms. Noeke Ruiter, accompanied by Ms. Rose Makenzi, Policy Officer Water & Food Security presided the handing over of the equipment. Dr Monica Lengoiboni of ITC, the Faculty of Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation of the University of Twente was also present in the ceremony held at RCMRD and attended by Dr Emmanuel Nkurunziza, the Director General of RCMRD, Prof. John Kiema the Director of Technical Services at RCMRD,  and Byron Anangwe the Business Development and Marketing Officer, RCMRD.

Dr Lengoiboni gave a history of collaboration between EALAN network and ITC as well as history of collaboration between ITC and RCMRD. She emphasized that the NUffic project has not only strengthened collaboration between the EALAN member institutions, but has also increased visibility of the EALAN network to other partners like GIZ and the Africa Land Policy Centre (formerly Land Policy Initiative), who are now also engaging with EALAN member institutions influencing land governance through curricula, short courses for land professionals as well as through research to influence policy.

Ms. Noeke Ruiter noted the relevance of the activities and outputs of the SEALAN project enhancing land governance in the Eastern Africa region, and especially in support of access to land for women and other vulnerable groups. She appreciated that through the Nuffic support, EALAN network has sustained its platform for interaction which has also increased  collaboration not only between its member institutions, but also with institutions from the Netherlands i.e. ITC. 

Dr Nkurunziza, the Director General of RCMRD itemized the importance of fit for purpose (FFP) land administration in Africa.  His observations were that countries in the region embracing FFP land administration approaches with examples of Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Kenya (Makueni as pilot area).

He acknowledged the role that ITC and the Dutch Kadaster were playing in advocating for fit for purpose approaches.  As such, land governance and fit for purpose approaches for land administration through this the SEALAN project have come at the right time. He said that the equipment being presented to EALAN institutions will go a long way in supporting the delivery of activities of the SEALAN project through Education, Short courses for land professionals and through research.  He emphasized it is through the SEALAn project that EALAN staff are playing a major role in land governance.

Dr Nkurunziza reminded the EALAN staff present at the ceremony that “now that we have the equipment, they must be used in the delivery of the work packages they are meant to support, because their countries need the knowledge that is coming out of the EALAN network and partnership.” He appreciated the presence of the Embassy and the support of the Netherlands Government.

In January 2016 the EALAN network kicked off a project under the name “Strengthening the Eastern Africa Land Administration Network (SEALAN), funded by EP-Nuffic by the Netherlands Government. The project is jointly implemented by Eastern African Land Administration Network (EALAN) and ITC, the Faculty of Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation of the University of Twente in the Netherlands. The project kicked off in January 2016 and will be completed in January 2020. Three thematic topics are of focus in this project i.e. Land Administration; Land Governance and Conflict Resolution and Access to Land for Women and other Vulnerable Groups.

On 8 February,  the three (Ms. Noeke, Ms. Makenzi and Dr Lengoiboni presided over the disbursement of equipment. To support the project activities, each EALAN member institution received equipment ranging from Laptops, Tablets, Mobile Mappers and Projectors.  Kenyan based EALAN institutions i.e. the Technical University of Kenya (TUK), the University of Nairobi and the RCMRD received their equipment.

Ms. Ruiter stated that with the Dutch government supporting this platform for interaction, EALAN staff must work together to realize the project outcomes and emphasized that the research work package is of great importance to inform policy reforms and implementation. Further, she commended the network for not only expanding on their collaborative efforts through engagement in training and research activities, but also expansion in terms of visibility and collaboration with partners outside the network such as GIZ and ALPC.  

The Dutch Embassy is keen in engaging further with the progress and on outcomes of the SEALAN project and on the impacts this is anticipated to have in land governance at EALAN member countries as well as in the Eastern Africa region.

The Eastern African Land Administration Network (EALAN) was established with a view to create a platform for academic and knowledge exchange. The network’s ambition is to create a harmonized or similar land administration programs that embrace among others international and regional documents. The East African Land Administration Network EALAN aims at providing a platform to its members for exchange of knowledge and experience for provision of quality services to achieve sound land policies and governance.

EALAN envisions a society where people-centered land reforms are implemented. The members strive to improve and strengthen their capacity to provide their products and services to clients in the Great Lakes Region of Africa.

The three thematic topics are implemented through four work packages i.e.: Work Package 1 (Network & Secretariat). Concerns the management, coordination, & assessment of the network activities; Work Package 2 (Short Courses for Land Professionals) seeks to enhance professionalism by EALAN offering Tailor Made Trainings (TMT) in the region. Work Package 3 (Education), concerns the development of and updating of Curricula; and Teacher & Student Exchange program among EALAN member institutions. Work Package 4 (Comparative Research), concentrates on the acquisition, implementation & dissemination of research & consultancy in the region. Member institutions undertake collaborative and comparative researches across the eight countries in Eastern Africa. Outcomes of the researches will enable cross border learning as well as inform policy reforms. 

The EALAN Network constitutes of 12 member institutions i.e. Ardhi University- Tanzania,Bahir Dar University-Ethiopia, University of Rwanda-Rwanda, INES Ruhengeri-Rwanda, Makerere University-Uganda, Technical University of Kenya-Kenya, University of Nairobi-Kenya, Université Evangelique en Afrique-DRC, University of Burundi-Burundi, University of Juba-South Sudan, University of Woldia –Ethiopia and RCMRD-Kenya.


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