Women Land Rights

Improved access to land and economic participation for women and people with disabilities. This is intended to promote gender equality.

The project works with 4.208 residents (2.159 women and 2.049 men) in the Biharamulo district. In particular, women, local leaders, civil servants and members of the village council and district court. 162.500 people (97.500 women and 65.000 men) are indirectly involved.

In Tanzania, particularly in Biharamulo district, agriculture is one of the major economic activities. Access to land is particularly necessary for women in order to meet the family's food needs and earn an income. The majority of Tanzanian farmers are women. However, due to patriarchal systems and customary laws, women rarely own land, even though land laws clearly provide equal rights for women and men. Women with disabilities who need more economic support are particularly affected by the problem. Due to customary laws, women often have to gain access to land through male relatives. When they lose connection to male relatives, whether through death, divorce or emigration, women are particularly at risk of losing their land. Women's small income goes to family expenses, while husbands' share goes to investments. If women had secure property rights and could control their land, this would have a positive impact on agricultural yields and reduce families' risk of poverty.

• Raising the project community's awareness of gender equality in relation to land and economic rights
• Raise awareness of the role and importance of effective participation of women in decision-making bodies
• Women and people with disabilities are supported to obtain low-interest loans from the local government and increase their incomes
• Support is provided in the form of training and advocacy on social, political and economic rights and responsibilities, as well as legal advice for survivors of gender-based violence