Rwanda Initiative for
Sustainable Development

Rome, 31 May 2011 The International Land Coalition’s (ILC) biennial International Conference and Assembly of Members (AoM) in Tirana, Albania concluded on May 27th 2011. The AoM is the supreme governing body responsible for establishing the overall strategies and policies of the ILC and, concomitantly, to ensure that the organisation remains in compliance with the intentions of the members. Key outcomes from this year’s conference included the approval of the Tirana Declaration, election of new members, and the discussion and approval of the new Strategic Framework 2011-2015. The Tirana Declaration, approved by 150 participants from more than 45 countries present at the Assembly, consists of 7 resolutions that strongly reiterate the need to promote secure and equitable access to and control over land for the poor to reduce poverty, promote sustainable development and contribute to identity, dignity and inclusion. Furthermore, the Declaration soundly denounces the growing practice of “land grabbing” and includes a commonly agreed upon definition of this phenomenon, which Madiodio Niasse, Director of the ILC Secretariat, characterised as “one of the most memorable and important moments of this Assembly, as it shows a widening consensus among ILC members and partners on what pro-poor land governance really means and entails.” In addition, the Assembly admitted 36 new members to the Coalition, ranging from some of the largest regional farmers organisations, major international NGOs, leading academic and research organisations, and civil society organisations – from Asia (10), Africa (8), Latin America (7), IGOs (3), and Non regional CSOs (8). Madiodio Niasse, Director of the ILC Secretariat said: “The last four days have been filled with insightful and challenging debates. This conference has captured issues that are of utmost importance to all of us. We are extremely pleased with the approval of the new Strategic Framework (2011-2015), and of the Tirana Declaration, as well as the admission of new members to the Coalition. We look forward to working with them.” “We would like to thank all of the members, donors, and partners whose support made this 2011 Assembly of Members and Conference possible, and to give a special thanks to the National Association of Communal Forests and Pastures of Albania (NACFPA), an ILC member, for co-hosting the event, as well as to the Government of Albania for their commitment to working toward further decentralising forest management responsibilities to local communities and households in Albania,” concluded Niasse. In an atmosphere of mutual exchange, ILC members presented practical lessons from international land reform experiences, and learned first-hand from the achievements of Albanian community forestry groups. The conference explored current global challenges to securing land access for the poor in times of intensified natural resource competition. Participants shared their work and gave input on ILC activities. Members in the Africa, Asia and Latin America regions met in groups to further their regional activities and governance.