Land is a critical resource in many developing countries, and poor land governance can lead to tensions and conflicts. Land acquisition for development projects across Africa involves navigating complex institutional frameworks that recognize private ownership, customary rights, and traditional land governance structures. The process requires coordinating across multiple institutions, from finance and public works ministries to lands and sector-specific departments, each bringing different mandates and expertise. Population growth, climate change, and rising demands for resources drive intense competition for land, creating tensions within communities, between communities and investors, and between farmers and herders. When development projects require land, these existing tensions become even more critical. Land acquisition processes are inherently interconnected with cultural heritage preservation and the protection of vulnerable populations, including women, youth, pastoralists, traditional communities, and people living under customary land tenure systems. Effective implementation requires strengthened capacity and collaborative partnerships to ensure that land governance processes are transparent, equitable, and support inclusive development while safeguarding cultural assets and traditional livelihoods. Course Overview In this joint AfDB-ITCILO initiative, you will explore how to develop and implement land acquisition and resettlement procedures throughout project preparation and implementation phases in MDB and IFI financed projects. The course addresses how operational safeguards on land acquisition and involuntary resettlement apply to sovereign operations across Africa's diverse legal and institutional contexts. Land acquisition encompasses the physical transfer of property and assessment of impacts on livelihoods, heritage, and affected populations. The course addresses implementation challenges while exploring how multilateral development banks have streamlined compensation procedures through loan agreements to ensure timely payment and avoid project delays.