Differentiations in Women’s Land Tenure Experiences: Implications for Women’s Land Access and Tenure Security in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Most literature on land tenure in sub-Saharan Africa has presented women as a homogenous group. This study uses evidence from Ghana, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe to show that women have differentiated problems, needs, and statuses in their quest for land access and tenure security. It illustrates how women-to-women differences influence women’s access to land. By investigating differentiations in women’s land tenure in the three countries, the study identifies multiple and somewhat interlinked ways in which differentiations exist in women’s land tenure. It achieved some key outcomes. The findings include a matrix of factors that differentiate women’s land access and tenure security, a visualisation of women’s differentiation in land tenure showing possible modes for actions, and an adaptable approach for operationalising women’s differentiation in land tenure policies (among others). Using these as evidence, it argues that women are a highly differentiated gender group, and the only thing homogenous in the three cases is that women are heterogeneous in their land tenure experiences. It concludes that an emphasis on how the differentiation among women allows for significant insight to emerge into how they experience tenure access differently is essential in improving the tenure security of women. Finally, it makes policy recommendations.

Unravelling the Multifaceted Development Consequences of Agricultural Land Grabbing on Rural Migrant Women in Ghana

“…As ascertained in this study and in commensurate with the perspectives of studies conducted by Chigbu et al (2019) and Paradza (2011), migrant women's experiences and extent of vulnerability in the phase of agricultural land grabbing have been intense. Dragging this group of women out of vulnerability and 'inferiorisation' will therefore require specific interventions geared towards them in addition to dealing with the complex net that surround the 'cultural space' they find themselves in (Chigbu, 2015).…”

“…Resultantly, impacts of efforts on all groups of women have been paralysed, disjointed and genuinely shortchanged. In fact, we are unable to make profound impacts on women's land rights and access to productive resources such as land because of our failure to categorise women and provide context-based interventions that meet the divergent needs of differing women's group (Chigbu et al, 2019). Therefore, in the quest of empowering women, strengthening their land tenure security and protection, migrant women per se, have received very fragile or to some extent no gains from the several interventions put forth.…”

Visually Hypothesising in Scientific Paper Writing: Confirming and Refuting Qualitative Research Hypotheses Using Diagrams

“…The study agrees "that one only rarely encounters explicit (post)positivist principles, but we can ascertain the existence of a hidden frame of reference and an implicit epistemological position" [35] (p. 5). For instance, positivist and post-positivist paradigms commonly agree that the purpose of research (whether qualitative or quantitative in approach) include the testing of theories, prediction of outcomes, and determination of relationships between events, or variables or causes and effects [78][79][80][81][82][83][84], as shown in various research studies with mixed approaches [85][86][87][88][89]. The post-positivist perspective of this study has distinguished itself from positivist studies through its implied views that the quantification (particularly through the use of sophisticated statistical methods and mathematical models) do not necessarily "enable the attainment of scientifically relevant insights" [35] (p. 6).…”

Handbook for Gender-Inclusive Urban Planning and Design

“…For example, land tenure in rural Ghana is customary by nature (owned and managed by tribes, clans, and families), whereas in periurban areas, the pluralistic mixture of customary and statutory acquisition processes are particularly difficult for women to navigate. In both Nigeria and Ghana, women in periurban areas have indicated lower perception of tenure security than those in rural areas (Chigbu et al, 2019;Gyamera et al, 2018). This is likely compounded by rural-to-urban migration, with women often arriving in cities without spouses or families, as single heads of household, and without effective decision-making influence in the community (FAO, 2002).…”