Land Tenure, Land Reform and Agroecological Transition

The document argues that secure land tenure is a prerequisite for agroecological transitions in Africa, as it provides the security necessary for farmers to invest in long-term sustainable practices. It highlights how colonial legacies of land dispossession continue to create systemic inequalities and tenure insecurity across different African regions. The brief provides specific analysis of land systems in countries such as Kenya, South Africa, Benin, Uganda, and Malawi, noting that while some national policies recognize agroecology, institutional support often remains tied to industrial, input-intensive agriculture. It concludes with recommendations for donors to shift toward long-term, locally led, and gender-sensitive funding models that prioritize land rights and social equity.

• Secure land tenure is essential for the adoption of agroecological practices because farmers are reluctant to invest in long-term soil health and biodiversity if they risk losing access to their land.
• Colonial legacies continue to shape contemporary land ownership in Sub-Saharan Africa, creating a dual tenure system in East and Southern Africa where secure titles were granted to settlers while indigenous populations were left with insecure rights.
• In South Africa, Community Property Associations (CPAs) intended for collective land ownership have largely failed due to poor governance; a 2022/2023 report showed only 81 of 1,410 CPAs were fully compliant with regulations.
• Agroecological transitions are hindered by a systemic bias toward industrial agriculture, where government support and research are dominated by synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, and hybrid seeds.
• Women and youth face systemic barriers to land ownership, which limits their ability to implement sustainable farming, despite women constituting the majority of Africa's food systems.
• Regional land tenure dynamics vary by colonial history: East and Southern Africa were 'labour reserves', West Africa focused on cash crops under customary tenure, and Central Africa was dominated by corporate concessions.

APA

Onyango, G. M., Dagoudo, B. A., Fobosi, S., Makwenda, B., & Neves, D. (2025). Land Tenure, Land Reform and Agroecological Transition. African Climate Foundation. https://africanclimatefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/801023_S-Land-tenure-regime_WEB-1.pdf

Chicago

Onyango, George Mark, Bienvenu Akowedaho Dagoudo, Siyabulela Fobosi, Beatrice Makwenda, and David Neves. Land Tenure, Land Reform and Agroecological Transition. African Climate Foundation, 2025. https://africanclimatefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/801023_S-Land-tenure-regime_WEB-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Onyango |first1=George Mark |last2=Dagoudo |first2=Bienvenu Akowedaho |last3=Fobosi |first3=Siyabulela |last4=Makwenda |first4=Beatrice |last5=Neves |first5=David |title=Land Tenure, Land Reform and Agroecological Transition |publisher=African Climate Foundation |date=2025 |url=https://africanclimatefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/801023_S-Land-tenure-regime_WEB-1.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{onyango2025land, author = {Onyango, George Mark and Dagoudo, Bienvenu Akowedaho and Fobosi, Siyabulela and Makwenda, Beatrice and Neves, David}, title = {{Land Tenure, Land Reform and Agroecological Transition}}, institution = {African Climate Foundation}, year = {2025}, url = {https://africanclimatefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/801023_S-Land-tenure-regime_WEB-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }