Women Empowered by knowing their land rights

Land is the single most important asset in most of rural Africa. Yet, 90 percent of the land in rural Africa is undocumented. Insecure land rights leave many African communities and households vulnerable to exploitation and displacement, particularly women who are least likely to have formally documented or recognized rights to the land they rely on. Insecurity of land rights for women, men, and communities in sub-Saharan African countries creates conflict, undermines conservation efforts, and reduces food security. As demand for land rises across the continent, land tenure security becomes a more pressing challenge.

 

Recognizing the fundamental importance of secure land rights to stability, poverty alleviation efforts, food security, and broad-based economic growth, a growing number of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have launched ambitious initiatives to strengthen their land laws and policies to ensure land rights for women, men, and communities.

Landesa targets one of the root causes of poverty and insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa: insecure and inequitable land tenure. We partner with African governments and civil society organizations, as well as regional organizations, to address insufficient recognition and protection of rural peoples’ land rights, women’s lack of control over assets, weak land management and conflict resolution institutions, and gaps and contradictions between customary and formal law.

(Source: https://www.landesa.org/what-we-do/sub-saharan-africa/ )

Liberata’s Story

Liberata lives in Kabushinge, Rwanda, with her husband and six children.  Five years ago, a partnership between the Government of Rwanda and Landesa meant she became aware of her right to legally own the land her family had farmed for generations.

 

Having a title deed meant she didn’t have to worry about neighbours trying to take her land, and began to invest in better fertiliser.  Her harvest of corn and sweet potatoes has improved, and she also grows beans and bananas.  Her children are getting a balanced diet and she can afford to send them to school.

(Source: https://www.one.org/international/blog/share_the_secret/ )