Describes how community-level dialogues uprooted harmful gender norms that hinder women’s rights to land. Showed that shifting harmful gender norms at the community level is crucial in supporting women to access land rights. Customary leaders like indunas and village headpersons are a key entry point for that shift. Change can be slow. But spaces for dialogue;critical reflection and support for action-planning enabled the indunas to not only change their own beliefs;but also begin to see their role and their communities in a different light.

The restitution of ancestral land rights in Namibia has  divided opinions since independence. Some argue it is a fitting process in dealing with colonial era land dispossessions;others are concerned about the complexity of implementing this kind of restitution. At independence;the Namibian government adopted the viewpoint of the latter group;arguing that the restitution of ancestral land rights is not possible because of historical complexities in establishing land occupancy by indigenous people at the time of Namibia’s colonisation.

For the past few decades;efforts to strengthen women’s land rights in many sub-Saharan African countries have primarily focused on a single approach: systematic registration through individual/joint certification or titling. While registration – individually or with a spouse – may support tenure security in specific contexts;the sheer complexity of land governance practices and tenure arrangements across the continent (both formal and customary) often render an emphasis on systematic titling inadequate.

Pressures on land and natural resources are growing;and many communities affected by land rights violations struggle to assert their rights. In this interview Rachael Knight talks about how IIED’s legal tools team supports grassroots advocates and communities impacted by large-scale land acquisitions. Includes a 5.40 minute video on drafting community by-laws.

Aminata K Fabba is the Chairlady of the Malen Land Owners Association;(MALOA) and a frontline grassroots land rights defender in the southern provincial district of Pujehun. Describes her criticism of an unfair land agreement with SOCFIN details of which were not fully explained to the landholding families.

Despite Tanzania’s progressive legal framework on land rights and governance;many women are often left out of community decision-making due to social and cultural norms that persist in some areas of the country. The author discusses a participatory initiative that is helping women make their voices heard when it comes to land governance.

Describes how inclusive technology;a gender-responsive documentation process and shifting gender norms are empowering women through secure land rights. Includes recognising women as landowners;leading by example;securing land;securing futures.

Explores what the Prindex 2020 dataset tells us about land rights in sub-Saharan Africa. One in four people in Africa live with the fear of being evicted day-to-day: one of the highest rates in the world. Across 34 countries surveyed in sub-Saharan Africa;a staggering 121 million people said they felt insecure. Compared to other regions of the world;people in sub-Saharan Africa place far less weight on legal documentation when considering how secure they feel in their rights.

For decades food insecurity has been a challenge in Cameroon’s Far North region;mainly due to extreme weather and weak land legislation. Now the problem is escalating. The current humanitarian crisis caused by the Boko Haram insurgency has resulted in over 87,000 refugees and 340,000 internally displaced people in the region. Humanitarian agencies are responding with food aid but little attention is given to underlying challenges;notably access to land. The reform of land legislation is an opportunity to strengthen land rights for local communities and marginalised groups.

A recent wave of large-scale commercial investments in agriculture;extractive industries and other land-based sectors has compounded the ‘global resource squeezein low- and middle-income countries. But many communities affected by land rights violations struggle to assert their rights or obtain redress. Demand for legal support outstrips resources and what is available is not always appropriate. Pursuing litigation often presents significant obstacles and risks to the communities involved without offering any certain outcomes.

For more than five years;Ardhi Yetu Programme through its partners (HAKIARDHI;Tanzania Natural Resources Forum (TNRF);and PAICODEO) has been working with communities to advocate for land rights;gender equality and climate change adaptation. AYP’s main goal is to ensure that national level advocacy;policy dialogues and campaigns are driven by community voices;actions and realities. This report documents individual and collective efforts by project beneficiaries;particularly women.

An options paper for raising awareness on responsible land governance for combatting desertification, land degradation, and drought.