Women's Land Rights and Africa's Development Conundrum- Which Way Forward?

Dec 12, 2014 | Eric Yeboah
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How can African countries use land policies to ensure agricultural development and inclusive growth? Particularly in countries which are dominated by patriarchal land ownership systems? These were among the key issues facing experts who gathered at the maiden Land Conference for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in November.

Patriarchal land ownership systems in many African countries can mean that women are often dependent on men for access to land. While several countries have ratified international treaties such as the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, and introduced national laws seeking to address gender inequalities, in many countries, the prevailing customs are often discriminatory along gender lines.