Nairobi 12 November 2015-- The sixth Partners’ meeting of the Global Land Tool Network was successfully held in Nairobi in early November, in an event that saw the 70 Partners of the network as well as other stakeholders in the land sector across the world gather to deliberate on various issues affecting the network and the land sector general. There were various pre and post events as well as side events running concurrently to the main partner’s events. The first day had the opening session where various high-level representatives graced the ceremony and speakers included Chilean ambassador to Kenya Konrad Paulsen who chairs the International Advisory Board of GLTN, Dr. Joan Clos, Executive Director of UN-Habitat and his deputy, Dr. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat.

The key-note address was delivered by Marie France Mubenga Kamwanya, Senior Lands Advisor to the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Other speakers at this session included Joan Kagwanja from the Land Policy Initiative (LPI) and Louisa Jansen from the Food and Agriculture Organization. A session of the meeting sought to review its objectives against the expectations of the various participants. This was followed by various presentations from the five GLTN cluster leaders. Other areas discussed were land and tenure security question which was put in the context of the current global development processes. As the meeting progressed, the delegates shifted focus towards GLTN’s regional and country level work, with discussions revolving around how Partners could engage and achieve change in the land sector at the country level. Mr. Oumar Sylla the newly appointed GLTN head brought the meeting to a close in an address that highlighted  his vision for the network and an appeal for support as he takes over the leadership from the outgoing Clarissa Augustinus who has led GLTN since its inception in 2006. The meeting was officially closed by Ambassador Paulsen.