Each conference day 25-28 May 2026 will start with a plenary session with key topics under the overall theme of "The Future We Want - The SDGs and Beyond".
Speakers:
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Janet Edeme, Head Rural Economi Division Africa
Union Why Land and Soil Matter for Achieving the Goals of the CAADP Kampala (2026–2035) Declaration on Building Resilient and Sustainable Agri-Food Systems in Africa The Presentation highlights the land and soil are the foundation of resilient agri-food systems in Africa. Read more. |
| Mika-Petteri Torhonen, Lead Land Tenure, World Bank |
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Diane Dumashie, FIG President From Vision to Action: People & Planet in the FIG Sustainability Agenda 2023–2026 Listen to how the FIG community has continued to provide innovative and adaptive professional leadership in society responding to the urgency to tackle the global challenges. Read more. |
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Ignite Presentation: Paula Dijkstra, Task Force
Chair FIG and the SDGs Achieving the future we want -
sharing our call to action |
Speakers:
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Ward Anseeuw, Senior Land Tenure Team Leader,
UN-FAO The Status of Land and Governance report This first global report on the Status of Land Tenure and Governance offers a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of land tenure systems worldwide. Read more |
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Clarissa Augustinus, FIG Ambassador and Chair of
FIG Climate Compass Task Force Surveyors and climate resilience: Practical climate actions Elaborate on how humanity is dealing with a global climate crisis. Read more |
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Luigi Sinapi, Director General, International
Hydrographic Organisation IHO The S-100 Standard: Enabling a New Digital Vision of the Marine Environment How will the future of global development will be shaped by the capacity to manage spaces that connect people, economies, and ecosystems in a coherent and integrated manner Read more |
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Nicholas Maclean, President RICS, UK Navigating the future: Surveyors,
Public Interest and the Data to Decision Gap |
Speakers:
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Victor Khoo, Chief Surveyor & Director, Survey and
Geomatics Singapore Land Authority Applications of Geospatial Solutions and Technologies for Climate Resilience Elaborating on climate change and its impacts are inherently spatial, dynamic, and multi-scalar, demanding responses grounded in location-based evidence and continuous insight. Read more |
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Lena Halounova, President ISPRS Land Cover, Remote Sensing and Artificial Intelligence The presentation will analyse these decisions in the relation with the artificial intelligence input. Read more |
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James Norris, International Policy Lead
at Ordnance Survey, UK |
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Craig Hill, Vice President Marketing & Services,
Leica Geosystems Transforming data chaos into digital clarity for land and beyond A compelling plenary exploring how nations across Africa and beyond are converting disconnected land data into integrated, digital clarity. Read more |
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Ignite Presentation: Georg Gartner, President ICA Actionable Cartography: The Atlas of Sustainability What if maps didn’t just show us the world, but helped us change it? We’will explore how spatial visualization turns abstract numbers into stories people can see, question, and respond to together. Read more |
Speakers:
| Andre Nonguierma, Chief, GiMS Section, United
Nations Economic Commission for Africa, ECA |
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| Nomfundo Ntloko, Chief Land Claims Commissioner
Commission on Restitution of Land Rights, South Africa |
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Beth Roberts, Director, Global Lead of Stand for
Her Land, Landesa Women's land rights - a movement for tomorrow, an invitation for today This plenary presentation will highlight momentum and opportunity for the women's land rights movement, and the power of partnership. At a time of unprecedented challenge, if we invest in women's land rights, we can ensure we leave no one behind. Read more |
| Emmanuel Nkurunziza, Director General, Regional
Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development RCMRD |
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Ignite Presentation: Innocent Antoine Houedji,
Founder and Director, Youth Initiative for Land in Africa YILAA Partnership and Knowledge as a Catalyst for Inclusive and Innovative Land Governance Impact This presentation shows how collaboration between governments, communities, and youth combined with smart use of knowledge can drive inclusive, innovative land management. Read more |
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Janet Edeme, Head Rural Economi Division Africa Union Why Land and Soil Matter for Achieving the Goals of the CAADP Kampala (2026–2035) Declaration on Building Resilient and Sustainable Agri-Food Systems in Africa The Presentation highlights the critical role of land and soil in achieving the goals of the AU CAADP Kampala (2026–2035) Declaration on Building Resilient and Sustainable Agri-Food Systems in Africa. It emphasizes that secure land tenure, effective land administration, and sustainable soil management are foundational to advancing food security, climate adaptation, and inclusive agrifood transformation across the continent. Degraded soils, land fragmentation, and weak governance systems continue to constrain agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods, while increasing climate variability further intensifies pressure on fragile ecosystems. By integrating geospatial innovation, improved land administration systems, and evidence-based soil management practices, countries can strengthen planning, enhance equity in resource allocation, and support sustainable land use and restoration. The presentation underscores that land and soil are interdependent pillars of sustainable development, requiring coordinated action among policymakers, geospatial professionals, and agricultural stakeholders to accelerate resilient agrifood system transformation under the CAADP Kampala 2026–2035 agenda. Dr. Janet Edeme is presently the Head of Rural Development Division and Acting Head of the Agriculture and Food Security Division in the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment of the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She has a B.Sc. in Botany from the University of Calabar in Nigeria, an M. Sc. In Agricultural Biology with specialization in Plant Pathology from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry of the University of Ibadan, and a P.hD from the Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology of the University of Ibadan in conjunction with Texas A&M University, College Station, USA and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria. Over a career spanning more than 25 years, Dr. Edeme has worked and garnered experience as a Plant Pathologist, an Agricultural Development Specialist and a Policy Formulation and Development Analyst. From August 1988 to 1989, she worked as an assistant lecturer in one of the Universities in Nigeria. Between August 1998 and 2000, after her Ph.D. she worked as a Post-Doctoral Scientist (Plant and Seed Health) in the Forage Genetics Resources Unit of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She has worked as a consultant for various international organizations ranging from UNAIDS, UNESCO-IICBA (International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa) and FAO. As a consultant for the FAO, she was seconded to the AU-Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union to strengthen the capacity and facilitate the establishment of the Department. As Acting Head of the Agriculture and Food Security Division she coordinates the implementation of the CAADP Malabo and the 2026 – 2035 CAADP Kampala Declaration, Strategy and Action Plan, the AU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Programme, Implementation of the Sustainable Africa Mechanisation for Africa to mention a few. The Rural Development Division which she heads in a substantive capacity is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the African Union Agenda on Land and its challenges, AU Policy Framework on Pastoralism, Post-Harvest Loss Management, Empowerment of Women and Youth in Agriculture, AU Agribusiness Youth Strategy in addition to coordinating the implementation of the African Union Digital Agricultural Strategy and Rural Infrastructure Policy Framework to mention a few of some of the programmes of the Division. |
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Diane Dumashie RICS, CEDR, President of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) From Vision to Action: People & Planet in the FIG Sustainability Agenda 2023–2026 FIG’s agenda for the period 2023 to 2026 is underpinned by the need for a sustainable profession that delivers services in a sustainable manner and address the global sustainable development agenda and to act now to address the climate agenda. Listen to how the FIG community has continued to provide innovative and adaptive professional leadership in society responding to the urgency to tackle the global challenges. Dr. Diane Dumashie RICS, CEDR, is an internationally respected leader in the land and built environment sector and currently serves as President of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG). Known for her strategic clarity and inclusive leadership, she is committed to advancing a sustainable and resilient future. With a career spanning corporate real estate, international development and high‑level engagement, Diane brings deep expertise in land management, across the functions of land use, land value, land tenure and economic development. As FIG President, she champions generational inclusivity, diversity, and global collaboration. Her leadership focuses on empowering young surveyors, embedding equity and inclusion in professional practice, and aligning the surveying profession with the Sustainable Development Goals. Her presidency is marked by a focus on climate resilience, digital transformation, and ensuring that no one is left behind in the rapidly evolving geospatial landscape.
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Ms. Paula Dijkstra Task Force Chair FIG and the SDGs Achieving the future we want - sharing our call to action 2030 is approaching fast and we have to take collective and
decisive action. With more than 70% of SDG targets relying on geospatial data, our profession is uniquely positioned to drive real impact: from climate resilience to digital transformation, land governance, and inclusive partnerships. This is a call to be involved to achieve the future we want. To:
In five minutes, discover how FIG’s new framework unites and mobilises the profession to deliver a sustainable, resilient, and equitable future
Ms. Paula Dijkstra, Director of Kadaster
International. Paula collaborate globally to help secure land
rights, empower communities, and support sustainable development
through reliable geo-information. With a background in Social Geography and expertise in GIS and cadastre and land management, she is passionate about turning knowledge into impact. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the UN-GGIM Expert Group on Land Administration and as Chair of the FIG Task Force on the SDGs—roles that allow me to help shape global frameworks and foster meaningful change. |
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Ward Anseeuw Senior Land Tenure Team Leader, UN-FAO The Status of Land and Governance report This first global report on the Status of Land and Governance generates, compiles and critically assesses innovative data, in view of documenting the state and tracking progress with regards land tenure systems and governance frameworks. By bringing together tenure- and sex-disaggregated data and analyses from a wide range of sources — including governments, civil society and academia — and across multiple levels, from local to global, it establishes a robust evidence base for action. The report supports progress toward numerous Sustainable Development Goals, promotes the uptake of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGT), and contributes to the implementation of other key international frameworks, including the CFS Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI) and the Rio Conventions. It is intended to serve policymakers, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, the private sector and academia as a clear and authoritative reference point on land tenure and governance data and analysis. Above all, the report seeks to underscore and mainstream the central importance of secure and equitable land tenure for inclusive and sustainable development. Dr Ward Anseeuw, a development economist and policy analyst, is a senior land tenure officer and lead of the Land Tenure Team at the Food and Agricultural Organization of the Unites Nations (FAO).Previously, as a senior research fellow at the Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), he was seconded from 2016 to 2023 to the International Land Coalition as the Global Lead Technical Specialist responsible for Data, Research, Knowledge Management and Learning; and from 2005 until 2016, he was seconded to the University of Pretoria, as a senior research fellow to the Post-Graduate School of Agriculture and Rural Development and as the co-director of the Center for the Study of Governance Innovations (GovInn) – which he founded in 2012. His work focuses mainly on issues of land and policies, agrarian and land reforms, large-scale land acquisitions as well as to participatory approaches of data generation, governance and advocacy regarding land. He has published extensively on these issues in scientific journals and with renowned publishers; including Land, transition and compromise (with Chris Alden, Palgrave, 2009), The struggle over land in Africa – Conflicts, politics and change (with Chris Alden, HSRC Press, 2010), South Africa’s Agrarian Reform (In French, Editions Universitaires Européennes, 2011), South Africa’s Agrarian Question (HSRC Press, 2016) and Inclusive Businesses in Agriculture (SunMedia Press, 2017). |
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Dr Clarissa
Augustinus, Chair of FIG Climate Compass Task Force Surveyors and climate resilience: Practical climate actions Humanity is dealing with a global climate crisis. Surveyors are already playing a major role dealing with the impacts of climate, and this will increase. New technologies have enhanced the surveyors’ critical role in the management of these impacts. The presentation focuses on practical surveying actions, methods and tools for climate resilience, for land, water and marine. Surveyors are working on 16 major climate actions from new technical approaches, to ethics, to environmental sustainability, to climate resilient fit-for-purpose land administration, natural disaster impacts and more. The environmental crisis is creating new markets for surveyors, and new business models are emerging to support climate resilience. This is a growing industry able to support multiple workflows going beyond business as usual. Solutions need to cross the digital divide of the global north and global south to ensure global and national environmental goals are met for people and the planet. Dr. Clarissa Augustinus - Bio:
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Rear
Admiral Luigi Sinapi IHO Director The S-100 Standard: Enabling a New Digital Vision of the Marine Environment How will the future of global development will be shaped by the capacity to manage spaces that connect people, economies, and ecosystems in a coherent and integrated manner. Oceans, seas, and coastal zones—once considered peripheral to land-based planning—have become central to global challenges related to climate change, security, trade, energy, and sustainable growth. In this evolving landscape, authoritative marine geospatial information is increasingly recognized as a strategic enabler for governance, resilience, and informed decision-making. The S-100 Universal Hydrographic Data Model represents a decisive step toward a fully digital, integrated, and interoperable representation of the marine environment. Rear Admiral Luigi Sinapi - Bio: Rear Admiral Luigi Sinapi was born in Grosseto (Italy) on August 27 1967. He joined the Naval Academy in Livorno (Italy) in 1985. From 1st September 2020, Rear Admiral Sinapi has been elected International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) Director for six years, as responsible for coordinating the IHO’s program. Among the many medals and decorations he was awarded in the course of his career, RAdm Sinapi received the Commemorative Medal for the 11th Italian Expedition to Antarctica, NATO Medals for the former state of Yugoslavia and Kosovo operations, and the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (Knight). |
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Nicholas
Maclean, OBE, RD, FRICS President and Chair of Governing Council, RICS Navigating the future: Surveyors, Public Interest and the Data‑to‑Decision Gap With GIM International's interview with RICS President Nick Maclean, this plenary sets out plainly and practically how we convert professional and technical capability into trusted decisions, market confidence and better public policy. The presentation will connect the dots between our profession’s immediate pressures—skills pipelines, AI and digital ethics, marine and climate‑driven land risk—and the surveyors’ role as a standard‑bearer at the frontline of the built and natural environment. This plenary will move beyond ‘tools and tech talk’ to the judgement, education reform and cross‑disciplinary collaboration required to make spatial data actually matter to governments, investors and communities. It will also outline a simple agenda for the next 12 months: evidence‑led influence with lawmakers, ethical use of AI, purposeful capacity‑building and a renewed commitment to the public interest that keeps surveyors, land, property, construction and beyond, at the heart of delivery. Nicholas Maclean is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and is the President and Chair of Governing Council of RICS. In this role, Nick utilises his experience to provide leadership that continues to drive the Institution’s priorities of raising the influence of the profession with lawmakers and regulators; ensuring that the initial and continuing development of skills in surveying remains fit for purpose; and that the value of being a Chartered Surveyor is fully appreciated by clients, the members and the general public. He has previously served as an elected member, then interim Chair, of the RICS Governing Council, and as an interim RICS Board Member and Chair of the RICS Membership Services Committee. Prior to taking up his previous position on Governing Council, he was a member, then Chair, of the RICS MENA Market Advisory Panel. Nick now lives and works in the United Kingdom, having previously served as Co-Chairman & Managing Director of the CBRE Middle East Region, which he established in 2004. He left the business at the end of 2024, after 37 years, to concentrate fully on the RICS Presidential role. He is a GlobalScot; the Scottish Government’s Trade & Investment Envoy to the United Arab Emirates; and received the First Minister’s Award for Services to Trade and Bilateral Relations in 2023. He was made OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List in 2024. Nick is also a member of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) and an Honours Member of the Institute of Revenue, Rating & Valuation. He is the former Chair of the Lillian Sutton (SoC) Endowment Charitable Trust. He holds the Reserve Decoration and has been named by Arabian Business as one of the 100 most influential people in the UAE and, in 2023, as one of the Top 100 Executives in the UAE. |
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Victor
Khoo Chief Surveyor & Director, Survey and Geomatics Singapore Land Authority Applications of Geospatial Solutions and Technologies for Climate Resilience Climate change and its impacts are inherently spatial, dynamic, and multi-scalar, demanding responses grounded in location-based evidence and continuous insight. This plenary examines how geospatial solutions—integrating Earth Observation (EO), GEOAI, digital twin technologies, and positioning infrastructure—provide an end-to-end framework to support climate action through five structured approaches. First, authoritative geospatial information, EO data, and 3D digital representations establish robust baseline studies, enabling decision-makers to understand existing conditions, identify risks, and visualise what is at stake. Second, GEOAI and spatial analytics support the formulation of mitigation and adaptation solutions by integrating multi-source data, detecting patterns, and modelling climate risk scenarios. Third, continuous mapping, GNSS-enabled monitoring, and automated analytics facilitate the monitoring of change, capturing climate impacts such as sea-level rise, land subsidence, deforestation, and urban heat dynamics. Fourth, time-series analysis of geospatial information enables the measurement of effectiveness, providing objective assessment of interventions against defined targets. Finally, immersive 3D visualisation and digital platforms enhance communication, translating complex climate intelligence into actionable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and communities. Together, these geospatial solutions position the surveying and geomatics profession at the forefront of delivering climate-resilient and sustainable outcomes Dr.Victor Khoo Hock is the Chief Surveyor and Director for Survey and Geomatics at the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), where he leads transformative mapping programmes and geospatial strategies supporting agencies and industry across Singapore. In his statutory appointment as the Chief Surveyor, he is responsible for the determination of legal property boundaries and cadastral survey information. He oversees the establishment of national positioning infrastructure, digital transformation in cadastral survey, and the Singapore National 3D Mapping Programme. In 2017, Victor initiated the Digital Underground project to develop a comprehensive ecosystem for the mapping underground utility networks. Currently, he serves on the Singapore Land Surveyors Board, United Nations Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence (UN-GGCE) International Advisory Committee and Vice-Chair of the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) Asia Pacific regional committee He has a Bachelor of Surveying (Land) from the University Technology Malaysia (UTM), and received his PhD and Master in Engineering from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. |
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Lena
Halounova President ISPRS Land Cover, Remote Sensing and Artificial Intelligence Remote sensing is a science that is fully based on physical conditions of the measurement and reaction of this object to the electromagnetic radiation. These conditions specify two parameter types: internal and external. Internal parameters of the given object are formed by its consumption and conditions in the moment of the measurement. The external parameters are determined by the geometric and atmospheric situation. Classification of the land cover is a complex task that combines several decisions if the user decides to use remote sensing. The presentation will analyse these decisions in the relation with the artificial intelligence input. Prof. Ing. Lena Halounová, Ph.D. Since graduation
from the Czech Technical University in Prague (Faculty of Civil
Engineering), Lena Halounová remained within its walls during her
Ph.D. at the Department of Hydrotechnics, and then moved to the
Remote Sensing Laboratory of the Department of Mapping and
Cartography. In her research, Lena pays special attention to issues
of using optical and SAR remote sensing data and GIS applications
for solving problems of water engineering, erosion, reclamations,
landslides, land subsidence, detection of vegetation in urban areas,
change detection in urban areas, etc. Numerous works and
publications of Lena Halounová as well as her lectures in Prague
universities are dedicated to these topics. Lena Halounová was deeply involved in EARSeL for 12 years in various positions including Chairperson. During the XXII ISPRS Congress in Melbourne, Lena was elected the Director of the 2016 ISPRS Congress, which was held in Prague, July 12-19. Since 2016 she served as ISPRS Secretary General for the next ISPRS inter-congresses periods. She was elected ISPRS President by General Assembly during the XXIV ISPRS Congress in Nice in June 2022. |
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James
Norris Head of International Affairs, Ordnance Survey, and UN-GGIM: Europe Executive Committee Member Are we map makers in a modern world Our world is constantly changing, and people have always needed to know how these changes impact them. We are all part of a global industry that is segmented into separate disciplines, and all have a role to play in capturing, mapping, modelling and sharing information about the world around us. The accelerating pace of technological change touches every part of this ecosystem. As the world changes, so does our definition of the modern map. This talk will explore what it means to reflect our changing human and physical geographies in the digital world and vice versa. It will focus on the changing requirements of users and the environment that the modern map maker operates in today, and consider how these pressures reshape our tools and our understanding of what a map can be It won’t provide all the answers, it will draw us further along the path towards building a connected digital future. James Norris is Head of International Affairs at Ordnance Survey where he works to promote the vital role that geography and geospatial data has in transforming economies, sustaining the environment and using location insights for positive impacts. James is a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and is a Chartered Geographer. He joined Ordnance Survey in 2008 and has a variety of roles including corporate governance, domestic policy analysis, international policy and international relations. James currently leads OS’s International Affairs activities. This includes developing, maintaining and enhancing bilateral relationships between OS and other National Mapping Agencies, representation and leadership in intergovernmental forums such as the UN and the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM). He also currently holds a leadership position within the UN-GGIM Regional Committee for Europe. Throughout his career, James has been an advocate for early career professionals and DEI initiatives across all aspects of his work. |
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Dr. Craig
Hill Vice President in the Geomatics Division at Leica Geosystems (Heerbrugg, Switzerland) Transforming data chaos into digital clarity for land and beyond See how nations across Africa and beyond are converting disconnected data into digital clarity. Through real-world examples, discover how modern surveying and mapping technologies are driving transparency, efficiency, and sustainable land management Dr. Craig Hill With a PhD from RMIT University and academic foundations in land surveying and the design of new technologies for surveying professionals, Dr. Hill brings both deep technical expertise and real-world perspective. Since joining Leica Geosystems in 1995, he has been a core contributor to numerous global development projects—helping deliver innovative technologies and services that significantly improve surveyor efficiency worldwide. As Leica Geosystems’ representative to the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), Dr. Hill is a familiar and respected voice at FIG Working Weeks and Congresses. |
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Georg
Gartner, President ICA Actionable Cartography: The Atlas of Sustainability What if maps didn’t just show us the world, but helped us change it? Actionable Cartography: The Atlas of Sustainability explores how modern mapping can move beyond visualization to become a tool for decision-making, collaboration, and measurable impact. Communication that can translate complex environmental data into shared understanding and collective action. In this fast-paced Ignite talk, we’ll explore how spatial visualization turns abstract numbers into stories people can see, question, and respond to together. Rather than overwhelming audiences with charts and reports, sustainability atlases use geography as grammar and layers as vocabulary, revealing relationships between climate, resources, infrastructure, and communities at a glance. When data is mapped, patterns become arguments, proximity becomes evidence, and place becomes context. Through compelling examples, you’ll see how maps can align stakeholders, bridge disciplinary silos, and accelerate decisions—from local planning to global strategy. The talk makes the case that in a world saturated with information, the most effective way to communicate sustainability is not just to explain it, but to map it. Georg Gartner is an Austrian cartographer and geographer. He studied geography and cartography at the University of Vienna and later received his PhD and habilitation from the Vienna University of Technology. He is Professor of Cartography and Geo-Mediatechniques at TU Wien, where he leads the Research Unit Cartography. He served as President of the International Cartographic Association (ICA) from 2011 to 2015 and was re-elected President for the term 2023–2027. He also plays a central role in the International Master of Science in Cartography—a joint program of TU Wien, TU Munich, TU Dresden, and the University of Twente. In addition, he has contributed significantly to scientific publishing as Editor of the Lecture Notes on Geoinformation and Cartography as well as the Journal of Location-based Services. In recognition of his contributions, Gartner has received numerous awards and honours. These include Honorary Doctorates from Eötvös Loránd University (Budapest), the ICA Honorary Fellowship, and an Honorary Professorship from the Chinese Academy of Surveying and Mapping. |
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Beth
Roberts Director, Landesa Center for Women's Land Rights Women's land rights - a movement for tomorrow, an invitation for today We have made enormous collective progress toward gender equality in land rights and governance over the last several decades. Yet for individual women around the world, law, policy, and commitments have not yet translated into practice. FAO's Status of Land Tenure and Governance report, released this year, confirms the stark disparities women continue to face in rights to agricultural land and housing. Closing this gap between global commitments to women's land rights and realities on the ground is the shared purpose of the Stand for Her Land global advocacy initiative and of FIG. This plenary presentation will highlight momentum and opportunity for the women's land rights movement, and the power of partnership. At a time of unprecedented challenge, if we invest in women's land rights, we can ensure we leave no one behind. Beth Roberts is a law, policy, and gender expert who works to strengthen gender-equal and socially inclusive rights to land and natural resources. In her role as Director of Landesa's Center for Women's Land Rights, Beth leads a team of gender experts and specialists across the organization; provides technical support on gender equality and social inclusion to Landesa’s program teams; leads Landesa’s work on the Stand for Her Land campaign as well as on human rights agendas, and contributes to Landesa’s work on climate action and global advocacy more broadly; and works to collaborate with, strengthen, and expand the network of practitioners focused on gender and natural resource justice worldwide. |
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Innocent
Antoine Houedji Founder and Director, Youth Initiative for Land in Africa YILAA Partnership and Knowledge as a Catalyst for Inclusive and Innovative Land Governance Impact Effective land governance requires collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and innovation. This presentation explores how partnerships across stakeholders government, communities, and youth combined with the strategic use of knowledge, can drive inclusive and innovative approaches to land management. Attendees will learn how shared purpose and collaborative action can enhance land access, strengthen rights, and create sustainable solutions for equitable land governance. Innocent Antoine HouedjiI is a seasoned expert with over 10 years of experience in the land and land governance sector across Africa. He is the founder and Director of the Youth Initiative for Land in Africa (YILAA). Prior to founding YILAA in 2019, he worked on the Millennium Challenge Corporation's Land Access Project in Benin. He previously held various management positions in Benin, most recently as office head of the National Agency for Domain and Land (ANDF) of Benin As a recognized land governance expert, Innocent is a member of the Regional Working Group of the West African Regional Rural Land Observatory (ORFAO) under the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). He also facilitates the Youth and land Multistakeholder Platform in Africa, a continental initiative Initiated by the African Union, the International Land Coalition (ILC), IGAD, Landesa, and YILAA. In recognition of his impactful work for youth in Africa, Innocent Antoine HOUEDJI was honored by the Royal African Young Leadership Forum as one of the 100 Most Influential Young Africans in the category of Youth Land Rights. They are called him land banker. |
 
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