Context and background Digital land governance, which complementarily resonates with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has great potential for increasing equity and inclusiveness using digital technologies such as land information systems, mobile devices, drones, and blockchain platforms. Goal and Objectives: This desk study explores the literature available to establish the equity and inclusivity elements of using these technologies, with a specific interest in how these technologies impact the disadvantaged sections of society, including women, the poverty-stricken, and the rural population. Methodology: The study employed a qualitative content analysis methodology, drawn from academically published literature, institutional publications, and published policies from countries across Sub-Saharan Africa Results: The study establishes that although digitalisation may result in easy access to the service in the land sector, the use of digitalisation often worsens the existing inequalities because of the existence of digital divides that have geographical, economic, and demographic characteristics, ill-fitting structural development, and the absence of public consultation in the development processes of digital applications. The study highlights that digital programmes initiated by local bodies fare better compared to digital programmes initiated from outside that take a one-size-fits-all approach. The study recommends resolving structural challenges to digital transformation to ensure that the land governance of all its citizens becomes sustainable, equitable, and inclusive.
Context and background Land continues to shape the economic, political and social identities of Sub-Saharan African countries. Accordingly, the World Bank (2025) notes that almost 50 per cent of the Sub-Saharan African population relies on agriculture for their livelihoods. This trend is also evident in Zimbabwe, where agriculture contributes 53 per cent of the country's GDP (World Bank, 2025). Although there have been efforts to diversify the economy, land continues to drive the country's development trajectory. It is against this backdrop that land governance is critical in shaping the socio-economic and political stability of Zimbabwe in particular and Africa in general. Goal and Objectives The article examines the evolving land governance architecture in Zimbabwe. Fundamentally, the article narrows its focus to unpack the policy perspectives and institutional pathways for reforming land governance to address challenges such as institutional fragmentation, tenure insecurity and inconsistent policy implementation. Methodology The article relies on qualitative document analysis to understand the evolving land governance in Zimbabwe. It reviews constitutional and legislative architecture, government reports and policy pronouncements. Results The findings show that the contemporary land issues confronting Zimbabwe, particularly post the fast-track land reform, are evolving from simply redistribution issues to complex governance issues such as institutional fragmentation, tenure insecurity and uneven policy implementation. Against this backdrop, the article contributes to ongoing debates on land governance post land redistribution by synthesising contemporary legislative and policy developments within a land governance framework. In practice, the article identifies reform pathways to strengthen the institutional and policy architecture of land governance in Zimbabwe. The proposed integrated framework is grounded on improving coherence, transparency, inclusion and administrative effectiveness within Zimbabwe’s land governance architecture. The framework conceptualises land governance as a system of interdependent institutional, legislative, policy, administrative and participatory processes. This is a clear departure from treating institutional and policy reform pathways as a series of isolated interventions.
Context and Background The Impoverishment Risks and Reconstruction (IRR) Model has been one of the most widely adopted frameworks for planning, predicting, and researching risks inherent in displacement and resettlement. Since its formulation in the 1990s, the model has been subjected to critique by researchers for several reasons. Goal and Objectives This study reconceptualizes the risks of landlessness and homelessness as differentiated land-rights-based risks. Methodology Employing a semi-structured interview, primary data for this study were primarily obtained from fifty (50) respondents, made up of forty-four (44) resettled persons, three (3) resettlement consultants, two (2) traditional authorities, and representatives of mining companies. Results The study extends the IRR model by empirically demonstrating how mining-induced displacement and resettlement create uneven impacts on allodial title holders, leaseholders, tenants, communal property owners, and women by proposing a land rights-based risks and reconstruction model.
Context and Background Urban agriculture has become a prominent yet contested feature of contemporary East African cities, shaped by rapid urbanization, food insecurity, informal livelihoods, and uneven urban governance. Increasing population pressure, rising food prices, persistent unemployment, and climate-related stresses have compelled many urban households to engage in food production within and around urban spaces. Goal and Objectives This paper presents a systematic review of empirical research examining the opportunities and challenges associated with urban agriculture in East Africa, with particular emphasis on livelihoods, spatial governance, and urban planning. Methodology The systematic review of this study employed a structured and comprehensive method for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, peer-reviewed empirical studies published between 2018 and 2025 relevant studies to urban agriculture were identified, screened, and synthesized. Results The review demonstrates that urban agriculture contributes significantly to household food security, income generation, employment creation, and urban resilience, especially among low-income and informally employed populations. However, its potential remains constrained by insecure access to land, water scarcity, limited institutional recognition, exclusion from formal planning systems, and inadequate technical skills by practitioners. Conclusion and Recommendations. The paper argues that urban agriculture should be recognized not merely as a coping mechanism but as a structural component of urban food systems and informal economies requiring deliberate integration into urban governance frameworks.
Context and background Access to secure land is vital for socio-economic development and human dignity, especially in Africa where millions rely on subsistence farming. Globally, an estimated 25% of the population, particularly rural dwellers, lack secure land rights, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and forced displacement. In Kenya's Coast region, this insecurity is compounded by a unique system known as "tenancy at will", where households own structures but lack formal rights to the land they occupy. This predicament is a direct result of unaddressed historical injustices, including colonial land alienation and post-independence failures to rectify these issues. The "tenancy at will" system, often called "houses without land," has deep historical roots. Colonial legislation, such as the East Africa Land Regulations of 1897 and the Crown Lands Ordinances of 1902 and 1915, reclassified vast territories as "Crown Land," dispossessing indigenous populations. Even after independence, agreements recognizing existing freehold titles in the coastal strip perpetuated the vulnerability of native populations, turning them into squatters on their ancestral lands. This issue is not unique to Kenya; similar historical land injustices rooted in colonial and feudal systems have been seen in England, Ireland, and India, where they created widespread insecurity and exploitation. The ongoing challenge of "tenancy at will" highlights a critical policy vacuum in Kenya. This informal tenure system, which is not recognized by existing land laws, leads to constant threats of eviction and persistent disputes between landowners and house owners. Settlements under this system often lack essential services, degenerating into informal, underserved environments. The National Land Commission recognized the need for a deeper understanding of this issue to inform future policy and administrative interventions, aiming to ensure land justice for all and reparations for the long-standing impacts of historical injustices. Goal and Objectives: The main objective of the study was to examine the tenancy at will, its sustainability and place in Kenya’s policy and legal framework. The specific objectives for the study were to examine tenancy at will tenure system in Kilifi, Lamu and Mombasa Counties, to establish the challenges and successes of the tenancy at will tenure system, and to provide recommendations on sustainability of the tenancy at will tenure system and its place in Kenya’s legal frameworks. Methodology: The study used household questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions, key informant interviews and observations. Household questionnaires were administered in Mombasa (Mwembe Kuku Ndogo, Mwembe Kuku Kubwa and Majengo locations), Kilifi (Mtwapa and Mtondia locations), and Lamu (Bombay, Kashmir, India, Kandahari and Pakistan villages). Results: This research revealed that affordability and convenience drives the prevalence of tenancy at will, but at the cost of profound tenure insecurity, precarious living conditions, and incessant land disputes. Formal agreements are often absent, leading to eviction threats and stalled urban planning.
Context and background Deeds registration in Zimbabwe is largely manual and paper based. The shift to digital deeds registration remains sluggish yet urgent. Goal and Objectives: This paper discusses the proposed urgent need for digitalizing deeds registration in Zimbabwe. Emphasis is on both the challenges and opportunities presented by this transition. The study answers the question: what are the implications of the Deeds Registries Act Chapter 28:01 and Statutory Instrument 76 of 2025 (Deeds Registries Regulations) on digitizing deeds registration and existing conveyancing practices and laws in Zimbabwe. Methodology: The study used a blend of the legal doctrinal research approach or “black letter” law and a systematic literature review research approach, a largely qualitative approach, to examine two primary Deeds registration laws and relied on analysing and synthesizing existing legal rules, principles, and doctrines found in authoritative legal and digitalization publications using content analysis. Results: Using the above research approach, the study found that a legal foundation for electronic deeds registration exists, but there is a significant gap between theory and actual implementation of digital deeds registration. The paper further found that deeds registration in Zimbabwe relies heavily on a manual centuries-old paper-based system and records. Accordingly, converting these records into a digital format is necessary to facilitate efficient ownership verification and smart search capabilities. The study further underlines benefits that flow from the proposed digital transition and the notable obstacles that still hinder a swift transition to a fully digital system. The study also cautions that a rushed implementation could result in a deeds administration system that discriminates against those with limited access to the digital system due to lack of adequate preparation. This paper proposes recommendations to accelerate the transition to digital deeds registration in Zimbabwe that may assist in achieving substantial positive transformation of the country's transition to digital deeds registration.
Context and background Colonisation of Zimbabwe was accompanied by the displacement of indigenous people from rich agricultural land and their relocation to marginal areas of production. The Lancaster House Agreement of 1980 was the first official effort to return white-owned farm land to indigenous Zimbabweans. Resistance by white commercial farmers, and political bickering, slowed meaningful progress. Early in 2000, war veterans and assorted political allies began random invasions of white farms, many farm families escaped and most left Zimbabwe for good. This wave of invasions, sanctioned by the state, came to be known as the Fast Track Land Reform Programme. A large amount of white-owned land was returned to black families, but much of the land has remained vacant and underutilised. The social and economic costs of this situation are unsustainable. Goal and Objectives: The paper aims to offer a way forward concerning the revitalisation of the agricultural sector, and thus of the economy of Zimbabwe. Methodology: The research methodology uses a case study design, and data collection consists of literature and documentary review complemented by empirical data from statistical reports. Results: The results highlight the need for active state support beyond land redistribution and control. Needed is deliberate, inclusive government support and collaboration with reform beneficiaries for enhanced livelihoods.
Les aires protégées (AP) fournissent aux humains de nombreux biens et services. C’est pour cette raison que cette étude a pour objectif de voir l’état de gestion des AP au Burundi afin d’éviter leur dégradation. A l’aide de l’analyse documentaire, des enquêtes de terrain et des entretiens, il a été constaté que le Burundi possède 14 AP, dont la responsabilité de conservation et de gestion est confiée à l’Office Burundais pour la Protection de l’Environnement (OBPE) malgré l’existence d’autres institutions concernées par les questions de conservation d’AP et de leurs ressources biologiques. Au niveau légal, le Burundi s’est doté de plusieurs outils juridiques pour assurer la conservation et la gestion efficace des AP, en complément à la Constitution de la République du Burundi. En plus, les communautés riveraines commencent à participer dans la conservation des de certaines AP. Toutefois, l’organe de gestion (OPBE) devrait être renforcé en personnel, en moyens humains et matériel, aussi les populations riveraines devraient-elles être associées à l’élaboration du plan de gestion d’aménagement et de gestion des AP.
ABSTRACT Context and background The need to have a strong and independent judicial system that deals with land conflict settlement was one of the driving factors that guided land reforms in Tanzania in 1990s. The current institutional framework which deals with land conflicts in Tanzania was established by the Land Dispute Courts Act in 2002 and was made operational in 2003. It is now over two decades since the Land Dispute Courts Act was made operational in Tanzania. The Act was the response to the call that sought the establishment of an independent, expeditious, and just system for adjudication of land disputes, as echoed by the National Land Policy of 1995 as amended in 1997. Goal and Objective: The objective of the paper is to carry out an assessment of land courts in Tanzania over the twenty years since they have been established. Specifically, the paper answers the following questions three questions- First, what kind of reforms have taken place and their implication to the administration of justice? Second, what is the status of establishment of the District Land and Housing Tribunals (DLHTs)? And what is the outlook of cases in the DLHTs? Methodology: The paper is mostly based on desk research and uses reports from the Ministry of Lands, newspapers, commissioned government reports, and the literate on the subject. Additionally, the paper is informed by extensive review of the Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) Acts. Results: Firstly, in the two decades since the establishments of DLHTs, there have been more than eight amendments of the law establishing the land courts which have direct bearing on the DLHTs. Even for experienced land rights practitioners, it is difficult to be up to date on all these changes, and as such, this has contributed to the miscarriage of justice. Secondly, the overall establishments of DLHTs in each district in Tanzania has been very slow and, to date, not all districts in Tanzania have DLHTs. Tanzania has 139 districts and as of May 2025, 115 DLHTs have been established. Therefore, there are many people who still have difficulties accessing DLHTs because they are far and therefore costly to access. Thirdly, the DLHTs have a backlog of cases and that over 40% of newly instituted cases and pending cases exist in 10 out of the 115 DLHTs. Thus, twenty years since the establishment land courts, Tanzania has yet to achieve the envisioned principle of having an independent, expeditious, and just system for adjudication of land disputes.
Context and Background Urban streams play a significant role in sustaining ecosystem services vital to city dwellers’ life. However, there is a notable lack of comprehensive understanding of their characteristics, spatial connectivity to other urban green infrastructure elements, status of water flow, and their uses in Sub-Saharan African cities. In filling this gap, this paper examined urban streams and their connection to other urban green infrastructure elements. Goal and objectives The overall objective of this study is to examine the nature, connectivity, uses and ecosystem disservices of urban streams in relation to other urban green infrastructure in Dodoma City. Specific objectives are: To examine the nature of urban streams in the study area; To assess connectivity of urban streams with other green infrastructure; To explore uses of urban streams; and To determine ecosystem disservices emanating from urban streams before presenting conclusion and recommendations. Methodology A mixed research approach was used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data whereby a random sample of 423 households were interviewed. Data collection methods involved household interview, Focus Group Discussions, observation and document review. Statistical Package for Social Science and Microsoft excel were employed to perform descriptive analysis whereby thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data from key informants while Arc GIS Software was employed to spatially determine the extent of encroachment into urban streams. However, the urban landscape ecological theory through the patch-corridor-matrix model provided the necessary lens to analyse how urban streams are connected to other urban green infrastructure. Results Originating from nearby hills, built up areas and wetlands urban streams exhibit intermittent, ephemeral and few year round water flow. Moreover, urban streams are connected to other urban green infrastructures resulting into spatial, hydrographic and social connectivity. Dams along the course of the stream play significant role in storing large volumes of water, and improve peak flow reduction during heavy rains. Urban streams are useful in providing water for various uses, but also helps to convey storm water away from residential areas. The study further revealed that despite uses, urban streams are characterized by ecosystem disservices. The study underscores the need to enhance governance of urban streams so as to improve city resilience against ecosystem disservices but also to continue providing useful ecosystem services.
Context and background Land registration is a crucial component of land administration that ensures tenure security and facilitates sustainable land management. In many developing countries, the process of land registration suffers from inefficiencies, delays and inconsistent in service quality. This erodes public trust in the land administrative process for swift delivery despite the necessity for land registration. This study assesses service quality perceptions in the land registration process in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. Ilorin is a fast-developing city with increasing land market activities. The land transactions through the formal land market require interaction with the land registry for land documentation. Goal and Objectives: The study assessed how land registration applicants perceive the actual service quality delivered at the land registry during the land registration process. This helped to determine the service quality dimensions that significantly predict overall satisfaction among land registration applicants. Methodology: A descriptive survey design was employed, and data were collected from land registration applicants of the Kwara State land registry through a structured questionnaire. The 5 dimensions of the SERVQUAL model which are: Tangibility, Reliability, Empathy, Responsiveness and Assurance, were used to compute mean gap scores between expected and perceived service quality. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis was used to determine how the five service quality dimensions influence the applicants’ overall satisfaction with the land registration process. Results: The findings reveal that land registration applicants in Ilorin have high expectations for service quality, particularly regarding document security, staff competence, and prompt service delivery. However, actual perceptions indicate moderate satisfaction, with cleanliness and ICT availability rated highest. On the other hand, timely completion and responsiveness scored lowest. It was noted that significant service quality gaps exist across all the SERVQUAL dimensions, especially in reliability and responsiveness. Overall, the results highlight the need for improved transparency, efficiency, and client-centered services in the land registration process.
Context and background As, Zimbabwe is an agro-based country, farming activities in Zimbabwe have been largely affected by climate change, thereby contributing to agricultural fragility in most A1 farms. Agricultural fragility under climate induced impacts has greatly impacted women in the Post Fasttrack Resettlement Farms (PFTRFs). This fragility shows the lack of resilient mechanisms by women farmers who are now occupying the farms. Hence the need to understand how women farmers are responding to this crisis in PFTRFs. Goal and Objectives: The central focus of this study is to examine how women smallholder farmers are navigating and building resilience to climate change in Zimbabwe’s Post-Fasttrack Resettlement Farms (PFTRFs). The study seeks to understand the various innovative ways that women farmers have crafted in response to climate change in PFTRFs in Zimbabwe. Methodology: The study was conducted in three selected PFTRFs in Zvimba East district, Mashonaland West Zimbabwe. District. The study employed the mixed methodology hinged on the use of the survey method of 337 households, in-depth interviews (15), FGDs (3) and observations conducted across three farms which facilitated an analysis of how women farmers responded to climate change in PFTRFs. Data was analysed through both the Thematic Analysis Model and descriptive statistics Results: The study found that that in an era punctuated by climate change women are no longer just passive victims of it but are actively responding to the both the effects and impacts of climate change in different ways. The study demonstrated how women have crafted various innovative ways to respond to climate change However, building women farmers’ resilience to climate change is complex in nature as it requires a multifaceted approach.
Context and background Land banking involves acquiring large land parcels for future development or speculation, and has become popular among real estate developers in Lagos, Nigeria, due to rapid urbanisation and population growth. While offering high investment returns, it carries diverse risks, including regulatory, market, political, environmental, and financial risks. These risks are influenced by legal changes, oversupply, instability, degradation, and shifts in interest rates. Despite its increasing use and importance, little research exists on these risks, motivating this study to explore the risks faced by Lagos developers. Goal and Objectives: This paper assesses the risks associated with land banking by residential real estate developers in Lagos, to provide real estate investors with guidance on mitigating them. To achieve this aim, the study identified the risk factors in land banking practice; examined the likelihood of their occurrence; determined the severity of the risks to the land banking investment; and evaluated the risks associated with land banking practice. Methodology: This paper adopts a quantitative approach, using survey data from Lagos Real Estate Developers. The population comprises 251 registered developers, of whom 100 were selected via purposive and random sampling. Data were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, and probability. Results: The study revealed that land banking practice in Lagos is very profitable. The average profit margin ranges from 21% to 40%. The study further revealed that the probability of occurrence of the identified risk factors ranges from 0.40 to 0.67, the impact of their occurrence ranges from 0.45 to 0.63, and the risk weights for all identified risk factors range from 0.19 to 0.41. However, the most critical risks include title risks, fund life completion risk, liquidity or exit risk, currency volatility risk, cash flow risk, location selection risk, and customer default risk. The least critical risk is natural disasters.
RESUME Contexte et justification: Au XXIᵉ siècle, Casablanca connaît une transformation urbaine majeure portée par l’émergence des Grands Projets Urbains (GPU), devenus des instruments centraux de modernisation et de reconfiguration métropolitaine. Dans un contexte de métropolisation accélérée et de compétitivité internationale croissante, ces projets redéfinissent les centralités urbaines et l’image globale de la métropole. Cette recherche interroge la capacité des GPU à concilier attractivité internationale et justice sociale. Objectifs et finalité de la recherche : L’objectif principal est d’analyser le rôle des Grands Projets Urbains dans la transformation métropolitaine de Casablanca, en mettant en évidence leurs effets sur la structuration socio-spatiale et les dynamiques de gouvernance urbaine. L’étude vise à montrer comment ces projets, tout en renforçant l’attractivité territoriale, participent également à la production de nouvelles formes de fragmentation urbaine. Méthodologie : La recherche adopte une approche qualitative combinant une analyse documentaire approfondie, des études de cas emblématiques (Casa Marina, Casa-Anfa, Éco-Cité de Zenâta), cinq entretiens semi-directifs avec des acteurs institutionnels, ainsi qu’une observation directe des espaces concernés. Cette démarche permet d’appréhender à la fois les logiques de conception, de gouvernance et les effets socio-spatiaux des GPU. Résultats : Les résultats montrent que les Grands Projets Urbains contribuent fortement à la valorisation de l’image internationale de Casablanca et à l’émergence de nouvelles centralités métropolitaines. Toutefois, ils accentuent les fragmentations socio-spatiales en favorisant la création d’enclaves élitaires et en marginalisant les populations vulnérables. La gouvernance urbaine, marquée par une logique centralisée et néolibérale, privilégie l’attractivité et la compétitivité au détriment de l’équité sociale.
Background and context: The establishment of university campuses is often associated with positive social and economic changes, including rural-to-urban migration, which contributes significantly to urban growth. Goal and Objectives: This study examines the expansion of Osun State University (UNIOSUN) campuses in Osogbo, Okuku, Ipetu-Ijesa, Ikire, Ifetedo, and Ejigbo over a 20-year period (2000–2020) using remotely sensed datasets and geospatial techniques. Methodology: The research focuses on identifying the spatial pattern of urban growth within the campuses, measuring the rate and magnitude of change, analyzing growth trends, and projecting the spread of urban development into surrounding host communities by 2030. Landsat satellite imagery from 2000, 2010, and 2020 was classified into four land-use categories: open land, vegetation, built-up areas, and water bodies. For this analysis, only the built-up (urban) class was retained, as it serves as the primary indicator of urbanization. Results: Urban growth increased across all campuses after the 2010 baseline, with the most pronounced change at the Ipetu-Ijesa campus, where the built-up area rose from 3.3% in 2010 to 24.3% in 2020. Urban growth rate analysis revealed varying rates of expansion across campuses, with values of 0.017, 0.0089, 0.025, 0.0005, 0.0007, and 0.0024 sq km/year for Osogbo, Okuku, Ipetu-Ijesa, Ikire, Ifetedo, and Ejigbo, respectively. Projections for 2030 indicate continued increases in urbanization around most host communities, except in Ejigbo, where urban settlement is expected to decline slightly. Conclusion: The findings provide valuable guidance for planners, university administrators, and policymakers on how to promote sustainable urban development and ecosystem protection.
Context and background Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, was designed to embody inclusivity and planned development. However, it has evolved into a city marked by exclusion and inequality over the past four decades. Goal and Objectives: This paper interrogates the crisis of affordable housing in Abuja through the lens of urban justice theory, arguing that current policies and market structures have systematically dispossessed low-income residents of their right to the city. Methodology: The study employs a mixed-method design comprising policy analysis, quantitative data review, and qualitative field interviews. Primary data were gathered from the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), the Family Homes Fund (FHF), and field interviews conducted between January and April 2025. Quantitative data includes housing targets, delivery records and affordability ratios. Qualitative insights were drawn from 42 respondents, including policymakers, developers, and residents. Results: The findings indicate a housing deficit of 1.7 million units in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with a 686 per cent rise in housing prices between 2023 and 2025. More than 58 per cent of respondents earn below ₦200,000 monthly, excluding them from formal mortgage financing. Land allocation practices and speculative development have turned public housing schemes into elite enclaves. This paper concludes that Abuja’s affordable housing crisis reflects a structural failure of justice rather than market inefficiency. The study recommends inclusionary zoning, transit-oriented development, and decentralised land governance as critical reforms for equitable and sustainable housing delivery in Nigeria. This paper contributes to the localisation of urban justice theory in African housing studies and proposes policy directions for equitable housing governance in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.
Context and background Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city, is experiencing an acute urban land and housing crisis driven by rapid urbanization, socio-economic inequality, and persistent institutional constraints. A significant proportion of the city’s population resides in informal settlements characterized by inadequate infrastructure and insecure tenure, while formal housing remains largely inaccessible to low- and middle-income households. Despite the existence of legislative and policy instruments such as the Flexible Land Tenure Act, the Local Authorities Act, and the National Housing Enterprise Act, land delivery mechanisms have struggled to respond effectively to escalating demand. These challenges reflect deeper structural issues, including fragmented governance, market-driven land allocation, and historical spatial inequalities. The study is premised on the assumption that inefficiencies in urban land delivery are a central determinant of housing unaffordability and socio-spatial exclusion in Windhoek. Goal and Objectives: The primary goal of this study is to examine the factors contributing to inadequate urban land delivery and housing unaffordability in Windhoek. The study aims to analyze the policy and legislative framework governing land delivery, assess the effectiveness of institutional and administrative processes, and explore the socio-economic and governance factors influencing access to land and housing. It further seeks to capture stakeholder perceptions of land and housing delivery systems and to generate evidence-based recommendations to improve affordability, equity, and sustainability in urban land and housing provision. Methodology: The study adopted a qualitative case study approach focusing on Windhoek as an urban context. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires administered through face-to-face interviews. A purposive sampling strategy was employed to engage 73 participants drawn from four stakeholder groups: City of Windhoek officials, property developers, real estate agents, and members of the public. Thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data, allowing for the identification of recurring patterns and key themes. Quantitative data from closed-ended questions were analyzed using descriptive statistics to support qualitative insights. Ethical clearance was obtained, and confidentiality and informed consent were maintained throughout the research process. Results: The findings reveal a systemic crisis in urban land and housing delivery in Windhoek, characterized by fragmented governance, bureaucratic delays, and weak coordination between national and local authorities. High land and construction costs, limited access to finance, and income inequality were identified as major drivers of housing unaffordability. Infrastructure deficits and the peripheral location of serviced land contribute to spatial inequality and exclusion. The study also highlights the disproportionate impact of the housing crisis on youth, women, and low-income households. Community-based housing initiatives emerged as effective alternative models, demonstrating the potential of participatory and grassroots approaches to enhance affordability and tenure security. Overall, the study underscores the need for integrated governance reform, inclusive housing strategies, and strengthened support for community-led land delivery mechanisms.
Context and background This bibliometric review examines the research that has been done on the problem of gender inequality in land access amongst women within the year 2014 to 2025. It is targeted at identifying the trends, power distribution, dominant nations, keywords, and journals in the field through a science mapping method. The study is performed in the form of the bibliometric methodology that applies mathematical and statistical methods to the examination of scientific papers. The themes upon which the Scopus database is queried are gender, women and land access. Forty-nine articles that were published between 2014 and 2025 have been selected, and the network is visualised with the help of the VOSviewer software. Goal and Objectives: The purpose of the review is to evaluate the development of the research on gender inequality in land access among women over the period of 2014 to 2025. It determines the trends in publications, the principal countries and networks of contributions, the essential thematic focus groups, and the repetitive keywords that define the field. Methodology: Published materials in Scopus on gender, women, and land access (2014-2025) were filtered to get 49 studies of interest. The analysis of co-authorship, keywords and thematic clusters was performed with the help of VOSviewer. Results: In 2014-2025, gender inequality studies in the access to land by women reached their highest levels in 2019 and 2021, with the United States being the most significant international partner. The subject matter is multidisciplinary, encompassing Social Sciences, Agricultural and Biological Sciences, and Environmental Science, the main themes being gender disparity, women status, land, agriculture and food security, which reflects changing trends in research and thematic areas.
Context and background: Land Information Management Systems (LIMS) are essential computer-based tools for managing land parcel data and ensuring effective land administration. However, implementation efforts in Zimbabwe remain limited and fragmented. This deficiency is particularly critical in Epworth, a peri-urban area near Harare, where a weak land administration framework has resulted in unplanned developments, land disputes, and insecure tenure within informal settlements. This research aimed to leverage GIS and modern web technologies to enhance land administration, support urban planning, and promote sustainable development. Goal and objectives: The primary objective was to create a centralized platform for managing spatial and non-spatial land data to facilitate informed decision-making for Epworth’s development. The a Design Science Research approach and Agile methodology were used, combining qualitative stakeholder interviews and questionnaires with quantitative spatial data collection. Parcel boundaries, road networks, and land use classifications were captured using KoboCollect and satellite imagery, then processed within a GIS environment. The resulting LIMS architecture utilizes a three-tier client-server model to enhance data security and scalability. Development was guided by a PostGIS geodatabase and several conceptual frameworks, including Fit-for-Purpose Land Administration (FFPLA) and the Social Tenure Domain Model (STDM). Results: Results indicated that the fragmented nature of the existing system was the primary driver of tenure insecurity. The developed LIMS successfully consolidated land rights onto a transparent, updatable platform, allowing for efficient land searches and verifiable records. This system empowers communities through participatory mapping and enhances governance by providing a secure land ownership database. The study concludes that the LIMS effectively improves transparency and accessibility. It recommends full-scale deployment and integration with local authority systems to ensure real-time data flow, thereby fostering sustainable urban growth and aligning with Zimbabwe’s national development agendas.
Context and background: The growth of urban structures in Ibadan, Nigeria, is a major challenge to urban renewal and good governance, which has led to the urban erosion, economic wastage and social decline. Goal and objectives: The current research evaluates the spatial distribution, physical conditions as well as governance aspects of abandoned structures in Ibadan so as to come up with evidenced based strategies to revitalize the urban areas. Methodology: Using mixed-methodology, the research combines spatial analysis with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), field surveys and statistical analysis in mapping 30 abandoned public buildings in ten Local Government Areas (LGAs). Results: The results indicate a great concentration of the number of abandoned buildings in the center cities, especially Ibadan North, North East and North West with administrative buildings (30%), and residential facilities (20%), being most affected. About 66.7 percent of these buildings are completely vacated with 56.7 percent in bad structural conditions which is a systemic problem in the management of the public assets. Some of the reasons that lead to the abandonment of some facilities are poor maintenance practices, evolving priorities of the state and poor institutional structures. They include creation of Urban Renewal Authority, incorporation of adaptive reuse policies, and creating a GIS-based asset management system, which will improve governance and transform abandoned buildings, which the study suggests the creation of. The objective of these interventions is to convert the forsaken buildings into a useful asset to grow the cultures, economies, and neighborhoods, and to provide a precedent to the sustainable urban renewal in Ibadan and other urban settings of developing countries.
