Reflections from the Third Arab Land Conference and the LAND-at-scale Regional Day
Land is more than just a resource—it is the foundation of livelihoods, economic stability, and social justice. Responsible land governance plays a crucial role in sustainable development, conflict prevention, and climate resilience. These themes were central to the Third Arab Land Conference which took place the 18-20th February 2025 in Morocco, where policymakers, experts, and civil society organizations gathered to discuss pressing land challenges in the region.
During the conference, the LAND-at-scale programme was happy to join with four of its partners in the region, Egypt, Iraq, Palestine and Somalia, and the Netherlands Enterprise & Development Agency (RVO) and KIT. As a key initiative supporting fair and just land governance, LAND-at-scale aims to strengthen tenure security, equitable land access, and sustainable land management in 12 countries.
This blog aims to reflect on two key moments; (1) A dedicated session held during the conference to reflect on the role of knowledge management in advancing land governance reforms, and (2) A dedicated regional exchange across the four LAND-at-Scale partners in the region and their key take-aways from the conference.
Conference session: The role of knowledge management in advancing land governance reforms
In the LAND-at-scale programme, particular focus is given to facilitating knowledge generation and reflection on learnings in projects, across country projects, and with broader land stakeholders. Partners from Egypt, Iraq, Palestine and Somalia reflected on how shared knowledge and exchange between countries can be a tool and inspiration for adaptive programming. The session reflected on examples of adaptive programming through findings in longitudinal studies, working with academia, and gaining new insights from exchanging with land experts across the globe. Watch the session here.
Regional Day: Take-aways from the conference & reflections on institutionalization of projects
With four out of 12 country partners gathered in Rabat, LAND-at-scale held its first Regional Day alongside the conference. Discussions aimed to (1) reflect on the conference themes, and (2) answer the central question of “how do you institutionalize knowledge generated within the project?” and touched on legal plurality, the role of academia, and responsible private sector engagement etc.
Conference take-aways
During the Regional Day the partners also had the opportunity to critically reflected on key lessons from the Third Arab Land Conference.
A key theme was the digital transformation of land administration. Several countries showcased their progress in adopting digital land registration systems to improve transparency and accessibility. Iraq has advanced its automated land registry, while Palestine has pursued digitizing records despite challenges. These efforts show technology’s potential, however so is to ask the question why are we digitizing and for whom?
Another major discussion centered on the role of land governance in stability and peacebuilding. Weak governance exacerbates conflicts and inequalities, making tenure security crucial in preventing disputes. Experts stressed integrating land governance into broader peace and transitional justice frameworks
Climate change and land tenure security were also a focus. With climate-induced displacement rising, securing land rights is more urgent than ever. Representatives from Somalia and Libya had emphasized the need for climate-informed policies to prevent conflicts over resources.
Women’s land rights were discussed as a cross-cutting priority. Gender disparities continue to hinder economic and social development, making legal reforms and community engagement essential. Strengthening women’s tenure security was identified as key to economic empowerment. Although it is positive that these themes were included and centered in several sessions, they could have been further strengthened by also sharing concrete examples.
Institutionalization of projects
The LAND-at-scale Regional Day explored how national projects contribute to broader regional goals. Discussions emphasized aligning national and regional agendas, where country-specific initiatives—whether in Iraq, Somalia, Egypt or Palestine—can inform and benefit from regional frameworks. Strengthening regional synergies was identified as a crucial next step.
Participants examined ways to scale innovations. Successful models, such as digital land registries, can be adapted across multiple countries for greater impact.
Ensuring sustainable land governance projects requires robust financing, including public-private partnerships and donor collaboration. Aligning national policies with international development goals is key to long-term success.
A recurring theme was the role of land rights in social justice. Land tenure security is linked to human rights, making it essential to prioritize marginalized communities, including displaced populations and women.
The Role of Cross-Country Learning
Clear from the LAND-at-scale Regional Day is that each partner approaches the institutionalization of knowledge in their own unique way. While Iraq and Palestine focus on academic integration, Egypt prioritizes farmer engagement, and Somalia navigates legal pluralism. Despite differences, common themes include digital tools, standardized training, and collaboration. Moving forward, cross-country learning will be essential in sustaining institutional reforms.
The Third Arab Land Conference and LAND-at-scale Regional Day reaffirmed that land governance is not just a technical issue—it is a pillar of stability and development. Continued collaboration and innovation will be critical in unlocking land governance’s potential for positive change.
The LAND-at-scale programme is financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and managed by the Netherlands Enterprise & Development Agency (RVO).
