Grassroots on women's land rights using digital technology

In 2022, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) formed a partnership with Amplio Network to launch a pilot initiative utilizing the Amplio Talking Book as a means to address various barriers in the West Nile subregion. This initiative aimed to enhance knowledge regarding women's land rights and their roles in agriculture, raise awareness about restrictive social norms hindering women's land ownership, and support the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries, and Forests for National Food Security.

The pilot initiative was conducted in the Adjumani and Moyo districts, chosen due to FAO's existing presence in the area and established relationships with local farmers' associations. To ensure the initiative’s success, FAO and Amplio collaborated closely with a local expert in social- and behavior-change communications (SBCC) in Uganda. They initiated formative research, engaging with key stakeholders, including traditional leaders and community development officers, to comprehend community issues, barriers, and concerns. A participatory approach was prioritized throughout the content design process.

The messaging strategy began by illustrating the connections between land rights, agriculture, and economic impact, emphasizing the benefits to the entire community when women's land rights are upheld. The content covered topics such as women's agricultural roles, the legal framework for land rights, dispute resolution, access to resources, customary land rights, decision-making, and gender-based violence prevention. Content was creatively delivered through songs, dramas, and poems, featuring both men's and women's voices, all recorded in the local language of Madi.

The working team continuously monitored device usage, offered technical support, and gathered Talking Book usage statistics and user feedback, providing insights into which topics resonated most with the community. In total, the Talking Book pilot reached 11 020 people across 2 755 households in the West Nile subregion, effectively increasing awareness of women's land rights. The pilot initiative demonstrated the Talking Book's effectiveness as a gender-responsive tool for engaging rural communities and reshaping perceptions about gender norms, highlighting its potential as a social- and behavior-change communications strategy.