Women access to urban land and property in sub-Sahara Africa: policies, practices and the role of the informal land supply sector

Abstract

Drawing upon the changes in the policy and legislative framework in a number of countries in sub-Sahara Africa, this paper examines current practices and trends in women’s access to and ownership of land. It provides a brief review of the policy and legislative reforms which have been undertaken in some sub-Saharan African countries to promote gender justice in access to urban land such as statutory provisions which outlaw the use of customary rules which discriminate against women access to land. Also reflections are made on a number of critical social, economic and other development factors which influence women’s access to, and ownership of urban land.

Women’s access to and ownership of land is discussed on the basis of empirical studies undertaken in two informal settlements and data collected from the 20,000 Plots Project implemented since July 2002, and is still going on in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The discussion unveils the modes and challenges women face in their struggle to access and own a property in the city. It reveals that most women who have opted for the land supplied by the informal system did so because largely it responds to their varying needs including affordability. Furthermore it is noted that although many countries in the region including Tanzania have made commendable progress in reforming the institutional frameworks and creating an enabling environment necessary to promote women access to land and other resources, mechanisms and instruments to monitor, ensure compliance and deal with the emerging challenges are wanting.

It is concluded that equality in access to and ownership of urban land and property is very much a question of power relations demanding more strategic intervention, empowerment and considerable efforts to support the initiatives displayed by the poor including women who own property in informal settlements. Besides, the formal land and housing supply system has to be re-examined with a view to make it deliver to the urban poor also.

Keywords: Women, land and property, institutional reforms and informal housing land supply