Ouagadougou: Land governance in Ziro: a provincial framework for consultation towards sustainable solutions. The Ziro province held a provincial consultation forum on land governance, chaired by the High Commissioner, Mr. Saba Zorome. The meeting brought together the presidents of special delegations (PDS), the general secretaries of the municipalities, civil society actors, as well as traditional and religious authorities.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the heart of the discussions was the land issue, recognized as a major concern for public authorities, as it lies at the intersection of the challenges of economic development, social cohesion, and stability within local communities. Organised with the support of the Multi-stakeholder Platform on Land (PMAF) and the Land for Life programme, the workshop aimed to establish an inclusive dialogue framework between the different actors in order to improve land governance in the Ziro province.

In his presentation, the program coordinator, Mr. Blaise Bama, introduced the PMAF and the Land for Life program, noting that the platform, created in 2019, works to promote responsible land governance through three core values: commitment, respect, and transparency. Its areas of intervention include knowledge production to inform land policies and capacity building for stakeholders and communities. The Land for Life program operates in four countries and contributes to food security.

A second presentation by Mr. Salifou Ouedraogo provided an overview of land tenure security in the Ziro province, in relation to Law No. 034 concerning rural land tenure. This analysis highlighted mixed feelings of concern, hope, and mistrust among the population regarding land issues. The discussions that followed helped to identify several difficulties, including insufficient training of actors, particularly customary leaders, as well as the lack of popularization of existing texts.

At the conclusion of the work, recommendations were formulated, including strengthening the capacities of customary authorities, better dissemination of legislative and regulatory texts, and increasing consultation frameworks to prevent and manage land conflicts. Closing the proceedings, the High Commissioner of Ziro, Mr. Saba Zorome, welcomed the holding of this consultation framework and called on the various stakeholders to take collective responsibility.

This consultation framework thus marks an important step towards the establishment of more inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable land governance in the Ziro province.