Plurality of Knowledge: The future of land governance in shifting global contexts

Utrecht, the Netherlands | 2-4 July 2025

Call for Sessions opens 18 December 2024

Les pays du Sud connaissent des processus forts d’exclusion foncière et d’exposition à des risques environnementaux, souvent liés à des logiques extractivistes particulièrement brutales. Face à ces situations, on observe une mobilisation croissante des concepts de justice socio-spatiale et environnementale dans les travaux de recherche visant à les décrire et à analyser les différentes formes de résistance ou de contestation qu’elles suscitent. Mais ces concepts reposent implicitement ou explicitement sur des théories de l’État et de la citoyenneté supposées universelles. Le colloque a pour objectif de confronter ces concepts aux relations sociales spécifiques entre l’Etat et les citoyens, dans différents contextes du Sud global.

Young Indigenous Peoples are facing unprecedented challenges as they grow up in a world where climate change imperils their community’s cultural heritage and ways of life. In response, many are becoming new leaders in climate activism, championing land rights as a pivotal measure in combating environmental degradation and preserving traditional lifestyles.

By examining the landscapes of multiple African countries, we will unearth the myriad experiences of traditional leaders, emphasizing the variances in their legislative authority and the weight of their word. By drawing upon actual case studies, the discourse will underscore potential friction areas between traditional leaders, governmental entities, and local populace, especially when the spotlight turns to the management of land based investments within ancestral domains.

This webinar discussed the implications of the Maledu judgment, the importance of recognizing and protecting informal land rights, the power of access to information and the positive outcomes tenure security can have for mining-affected communities. It will look at the impacts of the judgment for the community and explore how the community members have engaged with the mining company. 

The webinar will: hear from donors about their experience and challenges in making grants more inclusive;  give insights in measuring inclusiveness; and ask and discuss questions on how donors can use data-driven information to inform their decisions in financing land governance investments. 

Le thème de la sixième édition de l'ILDC en 2022 est "Global Pulls on Local Lands : Southern Perspectives". L'objectif est de poursuivre et d'élargir la portée des échanges Sud-Sud autour des conversations et des coopérations sur les terres, qui ont débuté lors du dernier épisode, tandis que l'accent des délibérations continuera d'être mis sur l'Inde.

The theme of the sixth edition of ILDC in 2022 is “Global Pulls on Local Lands : Southern Perspectives”. The objective is to further and expand the scope of South-South Exchange around land conversations and cooperations, that began during the last episode, while the focus of the deliberations will continue to be on India.

In September 2022, Sierra Leone enacted unprecedented laws related to land, climate, and sustainable development. This new law transforms communities’ ability to protect their land rights and pursue sustainable development. This webinar will discuss the processes, the experiences, the challenges, and the context of this new law, highlighting the new responsibilities in Sierra Leone.