Across the developing world, rural women suffer widespread gender-based discrimination in laws, customs and practices cause severe inequalities in their ability to access, control, own and use land and limit their participation in decision-making at all levels of land governance.

Land lies at the heart of social, political and economic life in much of rural
Africa. It provides a major source of livelihoods, income and employment; a
basis for social and political relations; and has major historical, cultural and