Gender and access to land

FAO Land Tenure Studies 4

Women, the elderly, minorities and other sometimes marginalized groups can be at risk in land reform and land administration projects. Very often, when land values increase as a result of external investments, women become marginalized in the process, and risk losing former benefits and accommodating situations. Women can be at risk even if it is intended that they share the benefits. For example, improving irrigation on women's fields may have the unintended effect that these newly valuable fields are reclaimed by men in the community. Enhancing housing in a community or peri-urban area may have similar unintended results when the units become more marketable. Children and the elderly may also suffer although the original intention was to provide inclusion. The purpose of these guidelines is thus:

to provide background information to land administrators and other land professionals on why gender issues matter in land projects; and
to provide guidelines to assist development specialists and land administration agencies in ensuring that land administration enhances and protects the rights of all stakeholders.

(Also available in French and Spanish)

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FAO Land Tenure Studies