Ensuring Women’s Participation in Land Governance: “Bringing the Law Home” in Tanzania

Jan 20, 2021 | Isabella Nchimbi
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Despite Tanzania’s progressive legal framework on land rights and governance, many women are often left out of community decision-making due to social and cultural norms that persist in some areas of the country. Isabella Nchimbi discusses a participatory initiative in Tanzania that’s helping women make their voices heard when it comes to land governance. Tanzania has a progressive legal framework when it comes to women’s land rights and women’s participation in land governance. The Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania recognises equality to own property for all citizens. The 1999 Land Act, revised in 2019, establishes several principles that help to safeguard women’s land rights, and the 1982 Local Government (District Authorities) Act establishes the village council which requires that a minimum of one-fourth of village council members be women.