Adoption of the Morocco Declaration for Land Governance at the Third Arab Land Conference

The Third Arab Land Conference, held over three days from 18 to 20 February 2025 in Rabat, Morocco, marked a pivotal moment for land governance in the Arab region. An important outcome of the Conference was the adoption of the Morocco Declaration for Land Governance , which lays out the collective commitments and actions needed to improve land governance in the Arab world. The Declaration urges all stakeholders to adopt inclusive land policies aimed at achieving adequate housing for all, improving land data systems and fostering sustainable rural transformation. It emphasizes the importance of supporting women’s land rights, facilitating private sector involvement to modernize the land sector and regularizing informal settlements to strengthen land tenure security. 

The Declaration outlines an agenda for action consisting of twelve concrete measures that states, regional and international organizations and other actors can take. These include enhancing regional cooperation and forming new partnerships to address land issues; designing sustainable, inclusive and conflict-sensitive land-based investment strategies; developing policies and legislation for sustainable and affordable housing; innovating land administration systems through digital transformation; providing support for recovery and reconstruction in countries in need; developing integrated land use policies to support food security and rural development; advocating for gender-responsive land governance; creating legal frameworks to facilitate private investment while protecting land rights; integrating land professionals into decision-making processes; strengthening collaboration between governments and civil society; and increasing the role and capacity of academic institutions and researchers.

The Morocco Declaration for Land Governance underscores the need for collective responsibility and urgent action to achieve sustainable development, social inclusion and responsible land use in the Arab region. The Declaration represents a significant step forward in advancing land governance in the Arab states, and the collective commitments made by participants will be used as a roadmap to guide future initiatives in the region.