ECA Hosts High-Level Workshop to Advance Gender-Responsive Land Reform

“For women, land is far more than property—it is a foundation for independence, social protection, and economic resilience,” said an ECA spokesperson.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is convening a two-day high-level regional workshop from July 22 to 23, bringing together stakeholders from across the continent to advance gender-responsive land governance. Held under the auspices of the Multi-Country Initiative on Gender-Responsive Land Governance in Africa, the workshop is part of a broader drive to transform land governance systems and secure equitable land rights for women across Africa.

This landmark event, attended by government officials, civil society leaders, traditional authorities, development agencies, and regional policy experts, underscores the growing recognition that inclusive and equitable land tenure systems are central to Africa’s sustainable development, food security, and gender equality aspirations.

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Land as a Gateway to Empowerment and Resilience

In Africa, land is not merely an economic asset—it is a source of identity, security, power, and social inclusion. Yet, for millions of African women, access to, control over, and ownership of land remain elusive due to deeply entrenched customary practices, legal pluralism, and discriminatory social norms.

Despite playing a crucial role in agriculture, natural resource management, and family livelihoods, African women often face structural barriers that limit their ability to inherit land, claim ownership, or make land-related decisions. These challenges are further compounded in contexts where statutory and customary laws coexist, often in contradiction.

“For women, land is far more than property—it is a foundation for independence, social protection, and economic resilience,” said an ECA spokesperson. “Ensuring women’s land rights is critical to achieving inclusive growth and sustainable development.”

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COVID-19 and Climate Crises Highlight Urgency

The urgency of gender-sensitive land reform became even more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed and worsened existing land inequalities. Lockdowns and economic disruptions saw women being disproportionately evicted from land, losing tenure security, and falling deeper into poverty. Similarly, ongoing climate shocks are reinforcing the need for resilient and adaptive land tenure systems, especially for women-led households and smallholder farmers.

In response, ECA and partners launched a targeted initiative in four African countries—the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Guinea, Malawi, and Tanzania—to develop and implement inclusive, gender-responsive land policies, legal frameworks, and action plans. The current workshop builds on the groundwork laid through this initiative.

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A Collaborative Platform for Reform

The regional workshop offers a participatory space for countries to:

• Validate national policy outputs and gender frameworks developed under the initiative

• Share lessons and innovations from diverse legal, cultural, and political contexts

• Engage in technical training, including application of analytical tools and alignment with African Union land policy instruments

• Strengthen stakeholder coordination and capacity-building to drive reforms

The event draws on landmark AU frameworks such as the Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy in Africa, co-developed by the African Union Commission (AUC), ECA, and the African Development Bank (AfDB). These tools promote a shared understanding of land governance challenges and offer structured pathways for gender integration in policy reform.

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Targeted Outcomes: From Policy to Practice

Expected outcomes from the two-day workshop include:

• Strengthened capacity among policy-makers and local leaders to integrate gender in land governance

• Validated national action plans and legislative proposals tailored to country-specific contexts

• Enhanced monitoring and evaluation tools to track gender impact in land reform

• Increased political momentum and commitment to advance the rights of women and marginalized communities

The workshop is a step toward fulfilling international and continental agendas such as:

• Agenda 2063: The AU’s blueprint for Africa’s development

• The Maputo Protocol: A landmark human rights instrument for African women

• The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Especially Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 1.4 (Access to ownership and control over land)

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Inclusive Land Governance: A Pan-African Priority

At its core, the ECA initiative acknowledges that land governance reform is not just a legal or technical challenge—but a social and political imperative. It requires reshaping power dynamics, addressing gendered inequalities, and empowering women not only as land users but as landholders, decision-makers, and drivers of development.

“Africa cannot achieve true transformation if half its population remains landless in law or in practice,” remarked one civil society delegate. “This workshop helps us reimagine what a just and inclusive land system looks like.”

With mounting pressures from urbanization, climate change, and resource competition, the ability to govern land equitably has become a defining issue for the continent’s future. ECA’s multi-stakeholder approach represents an important contribution to reclaiming land as a shared resource, not just an asset of the privileged.

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Toward a Continental Movement

As the workshop concludes, participants will leave with not only new tools and action plans but a renewed commitment to systemic change. The ECA has pledged continued technical support and engagement with Member States beyond the pilot phase, with the aim of scaling up gender-responsive land governance across all regions of Africa.

By building momentum at both the national and regional levels, the initiative aligns with growing demands from African women, communities, and policymakers alike: to ensure that land governance serves everyone, equitably and justly.