This Web Site is the result of Africa Land Grab Conference (Johannesburg - 13 May 2014) and the platform for the second already announced Conference. Therefore it relates the 1^st  Conference, offers a gallery of photos, contacts, news, and its vision and mission. Taken in account the members of the organizations supporting it, this blog is worthy of all trust.

Self Presentation (In the section About us)

Vision

The initial partners of the coalition include Gravitazz Continental Initiative (GCI), Thabo Mbeki Leadership Institute, The Centre for African Renaissance, The UNISA School of Law, Anglia University, The Walter Sisulu University School of Law, Brilliance of Hope and Human Rights Institute of South Africa. Together our vision to have a democratic and accountable government in place where all land deals are made with the consent and involvement of communities directly concerned to ensure transparency and therefore eradicate land grabs on the continent.

Our Slogan: Transparency, Accountability and Beneficiation!

Mission

To identify, document and review country-specific land transactions, build credible evidence for advocacy on the impact of land grabs on communities and ensure capacity strengthening of land-dependent communities by facilitating and organizing opinion and global solidarity of African organizations, land activists and allies committed to the eradication of land grabbing on the continent.

 Objectives

a. Develop credible and country-specific evidence on the impact of land grabs on communities and ordinary citizens in Africa;

 b. Hold our national governments, regional, continental and world governing bodies accountable for land grabbing and intend to make use of well researched evidence, strategic lobbying and advocacy and popular mass action at local, national, regional and continental levels.

c. Contest and Review all land transactions which have taken place on the continent over the past twenty years;

d. Link with other like-minded civil society groups, including: traditional leaders, local movements, researchers, and faith based groups in rural and urban communities to fight against land-grabs in Africa;

 e. Strengthen the capacities of affected communities in defense of their rights and sovereignty over their land and resources;

f. Advocate for the upholding of the rights of women over land and natural resources in affected communities and countries;

g. Use different media to sensitize the public on the long term impact of land grabs and the potential crises it is creating for all societies;

h. Build alliances across different communities, sectors, constituencies, regions, countries to mobilize respective societies to stop land-grabbing through legal tenets and solidarity action; and,

 i. Build Global Solidarity in the face of a global onslaught against the continent and ensure that the friends of Africa play a key role in addressing land grabs.

Governance

The coalition is functioned by, a steering committee, continental membership, continental working groups, regional working groups, country focal points and lastly the secretariat, who is responsible for coordinating the coalition, and will coordinate the day to day coalition operations, and liaise with all coalition working groups.

The Africa Coalition Against Land Grabs (ACALG) is a non-profit organization, registered in South Africa and is currently managed by the board members listed above. In due course, the management of the coalition will transit from board to independent registration of the coalition.

Then in Home page presents its vision of Land Grabbing

Evidence suggests that large-scale land acquisitions are on the rise in Africa. In late 2012, a number of civil society organisations started a discussion around a recent trend on the African Continent. This was the acquisition of large tracts of arable land by foreign entities. By the end of 2013, there was a reported 60 million hectares of arable land leased or sold to foreign companies or individuals by African governments. Shady land deals continue to persist, usually lacking transparency due to corrupt government officials. Such deals however lack long term planning and have detrimental effects, starting with forced displacement.  The First Africa Conference on Land Grabs – a brainchild of Africans – was held in Midrand, South Africa in November 2014. It brought together Africans from all sectors and all walks of life and was wholly supported by Africans as each contributed personal time and personal resources to ensure the success of the conference. The Africa Coalition Against Land Grabs was formed on the 29th of October 2014 as a first step towards addressing the issue of land grabs within the continent. It has given hope in the face of an uncertain future of an anxious continent. A continent whose well being, whose future and whose land is decided upon in faraway lands and by faraway stakeholders.

Consequences of land grabs include among others loss of livelihood, food insecurity and displacement. Women are particularly vulnerable as they face challenges in land ownership, regardless of the fact that they are major producers of food consumed in their countries. This inequality in land ownership persists and impedes their ability to participate in decision-making and exercise their rights. In light of these happenings,

The coalition board is made up of land activists, organizations across the African continent that are concerned with land grabs.  The main areas of interventions of the Africa Coalition Against Land Grabs include:

1. Equality, food security and agriculture

2. Displacement of communities from customary farms.

4. Social instability

5. Unequal power relations between African governments and foreign investors

Board Structure:

The board structure consists of 10 members who constitute the Steering Committee made up mostly of land activists, academics, law experts and policy makers from across the continent. They provide technical oversight and support to the organisation. The membership is made up of over 60 members, mainly NGOs, universities, etc, across the African continent. However, it is the Steering Committee with a one year mandate renewable that plays an active role in the organisation’s oversight and accountability.