UTG and ALPC Validate Land Governance Assessment Report
A significant milestone in land governance reform has been achieved as the University of The Gambia (UTG) and the African Land Policy Center (ALPC) validated the land governance curriculum needs assessment report. This comprehensive assessment, which gathered insights from senior government officials, academics, development partners, and regional institutions, highlights the pressing need for a tailored land administration curriculum in The Gambia.
The workshop's primary objective was to ensure the assessment accurately reflects the nation's and region's priorities. It identified skill gaps, institutional challenges, and emerging opportunities that the new program must address. Once validated, the findings will guide the final curriculum design, leading to key outputs such as an updated assessment report, enhanced institutional ownership within UTG, a clear roadmap for implementation and accreditation, and a draft program structure for the proposed land administration curriculum.
Dr. William Jabang, representing UTG Vice-Chancellor, emphasized the urgency of building national capacity in land administration. He described land issues as one of The Gambia's most sensitive governance challenges, citing persistent disputes, fragmented systems, and limited professional training as major obstacles to development. Dr. Jabang reaffirmed the university's commitment to establishing a comprehensive academic pathway in land administration, starting with a bachelor's degree and tailored training for community leaders, including alkalos and chiefs. He stressed that effective reform must include both technical experts and traditional custodians who directly manage land at the community level.
Dr. Joan Cuka Kagwanja, ALPC Coordinator, praised UTG and the Government of The Gambia for their strategic steps to improve land governance. She noted that ALPC continues to support African countries in developing sustainable land policies and modernizing curricula that have long relied on Western models, often overlooking customary systems that govern most land across the continent. Dr. Kagwanja reiterated ALPC's commitment to supporting UTG throughout the curriculum development process, highlighting the participation of technical experts from Kenya, Senegal, Nigeria, and other states who shared comparative experiences and regional best practices.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Lands, Deputy Permanent Secretary Mamudou Manjong, described the initiative as timely and fully aligned with the National Land Policy. He said the proposed academic program will directly address long-standing barriers such as poor documentation, limited technical capacity, unplanned settlements, and tenure insecurity. He emphasized that the development of an academic program dedicated to land administration is an investment in national stability, social cohesion, and economic transformation, and the Ministry remains ready to provide technical expertise and support the curriculum's roll-out.
The validation workshop is part of a broader national effort to modernize land governance and strengthen transparency, equity, and sustainable land use. Stakeholder consultations and technical sessions will continue throughout the week as UTG, ALPC, and government partners work towards finalizing the assessment and shaping the future of land governance training in the country.
