LEAD AFRICA recently attended the World Social Form (February 6-11^th) and in collaboration with LEAD Francophone Africa, ran an exhibition stand as well as organising two panel discussions; one on land grabbing and another on pesticides in Africa.

LEAD Africa weighed in on the debate on land grabbing through a discussion organised on Monday the 7^th of February with the following heading: The sudden rush for land: Using Participatory Geographic Information Systems (P-GIS) as a tool for better land management?

LEAD Africa Coordinator Mass Lo introduced the panel discussion with a presentation on LEAD as a ground-breaking initiative to promote a new type of leadership in Africa. Other presentations focused on land competition in Sengal, using P-GIS as a tool for better land management and using P-GIS in the field. Participants also heard from different stakeholders involved including the State, local communities, civil society and researchers. Details on this discussion which is also an ongoing LEAD Africa Pan-African project can be found (in French)here

The second LEAD Africa panel was held on Wednesday the 9^th of February and was entitled:Pesticides in Africa: Between Agricultural productivity and health. After an introductory talk centred on the question ‘Can people be healthy in an unhealthy environment?’ other panelists presented on the risks of pesticides, producing ‘bio crops, pesticides and equitable trade as well as community based alternatives.

The World Social Forum was held in Dakar and was well attended by LEAD Francophone Africa Fellows who are actively engaged in the theme of Ecohealth in Africa. The Forum brought together thousands of committed people from across the world advocating on a wide variety of human rights issues.

Release date: Thursday, March 10, 2011