This paper is a summary of a regional case study on gender, land and decentralisation. The main study has two parts: three portraits of women showing different examples of access to natural resources and local leadership; and a general report based on the portraits and on interviews carried

Ce dossier examine le développement d'un cadre économique pour l'évaluation du pastoralisme en Afrique de l'Est'economique du pastoralisme en Afrique de l'Est.

In Burkina Faso, undeveloped rural lands, especially fertile wetlands, are being appropriated by a new type of farmer known as the ‘new actor’. Supported by government policy in an attempt to modernize agriculture through agribusiness, these new actors are made up of officials from the public and private sectors and others from mainly commercial backgrounds. By making these new actors key players in rural land relations, the government strategically avoids direct engagement with customary land management rules that proved so controversial in the past. This latest encounter between modern and customary land regimes is an opportunity to re-establish a rapport between urban and rural citizens and between modern and traditional agriculture.

Many policy makers in East Africa have preconceptions about the value of pastoralism as a land-use system believing it to be economically inefficient and environmentally destructive. Yet, this is not evidence-based. Not only is there no consensus on what is a dynamic economic model of pastoralism, no mechanisms exist to inform government decision-making of its comparative advantages over alternative land uses. This paper argues that pastoralism does make a significant contribution to society and that, with better understanding, planning and data collection, its value can be demonstrated. The paper presents a preliminary framework for assessing the benefits of pastoralism that goes beyond conventional criteria relating to livestock and their by-products. While the paper focuses on East Africa, much of the analysis is applicable to pastoral systems in other regions of Africa.

African ministers, policy makers, opinion leaders and researchers concerned with land issues gathered in London with international agencies and experts for Land in Africa, a two-day Conference in early November, 2004, to explore current thinking and experience with land tenure issues across the continent. Participants debated how land policies and programmes for land management can best promote secure rights, investment and economic growth. This document highlights the findings and key policy messages emerging from the Conference.

Land tenure and shelter are insecure for many ordinary Africans in both urban and rural areas. Property rights are weak or unclear, and this is widely regarded as a major obstacle to African development. In this dynamic and challenging context, a conference entitled Land in Africa: market asset or livelihood security? Organised by IIED , NRI and the Royal African Society in November 2004, the conference brought together a wide range of interest groups including, African policy makers, academics and civil society representatives, as well as representatives of the private sector and international agencies to debate the way ahead for land rights and land reforms in Africa. This document brings together the proceedings from this conference.

This paper traces the history of Scotland’s once extensive and diverse forms of common land. It provides an insight into why very littleof this common land is still in existence today. It shows how powerful landed interests were able to appropriate the bulk of these lands into their own substantial land holdings by the early nineteenth century. A description of surviving common lands is provided together with a brief insight into current management arrangements and a summary of the key lessons from the Scottish experience. In the concluding part of the paper, a brief overview is given of the new patterns of community ownership which are now emerging and the new legislative and financial instruments that are being developed to assist this process. A set of references and internet websites are provided for those wishing to further explore the topic.