Faced with challenges in land governance, Colombia, Sierra Leone, and Senegal felt the need to share their experiences. Meeting in Saly, the three countries are participating in an interregional workshop, organized with FAO support, to exchange practices, strengthen multi-stakeholder dialogue, and consolidate their national land governance platforms.

This three-day workshop, focused on the theme "Common Ground - Sharing Experiences in Collaboration on Land Governance," is organized with the support of the FAO. It aims to strengthen multi-stakeholder dialogue and consolidate national land governance platforms.

In a context marked by increasing pressure on natural resources, climate change, urbanization and population growth, land governance remains a major challenge for many countries.

According to Dr. Makhfousse Sarr, assistant to the FAO representative in Senegal and program officer, multi-stakeholder platforms are now "essential mechanisms for promoting dialogue, transparency, and inclusive participation." They also facilitate the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Land Tenure, adopted in 2012.

The workshop will allow delegations to share the results obtained, analyze the success factors, strengthen their skills in consultation and develop recommendations to inform the FAO's future global guide on multi-stakeholder platforms.

"This interregional workshop is the result of structuring work carried out within the framework of the project 'Promoting multi-stakeholder platforms in support of the adoption of CSA policy products', and we are delighted to bring together here three rich experiences: Colombia, with its strong tradition of community participation and its innovations in dialogue mechanisms; Sierra Leone, engaged in deep and exemplary land reforms at the African level; and Senegal, where local and national platforms play an increasingly central role in the dynamics of land governance and securing rights," explains Mr. Sarr.

Thus, for Francesca Romano, an FAO expert based at headquarters in Rome, the choice of the three countries is not accidental. "These are the ones where multi-stakeholder platforms have seen the most significant progress after more than fifteen years of support," she says.

Despite different contexts, several challenges remain common: poor knowledge of land laws, limited access to land for women and young people, and difficulties in implementing policies.

Representing the Minister of Agriculture, Tanor Meissa Dieng, who is also the president of the National Land Governance Platform, welcomed the holding of this workshop in Senegal.

He recalled the key role played by the national platform in fostering ongoing dialogue between the various land stakeholders.

According to him, land governance in Senegal "is doing well," thanks to a solid legal framework and the proliferation of regional and departmental platforms. He nevertheless emphasizes the need to continue improving access for vulnerable groups, particularly women, young people, and people with disabilities, and to strengthen modern management tools such as land use and allocation plans (POAS).

The interregional workshop marks a major step towards strengthening cooperation between the three countries and consolidating achievements in land governance. For FAO, this meeting will directly contribute to the development of comprehensive tools and the sharing of best practices that will benefit all member states.