In Côte d’Ivoire, only 12% of women own their land, according to official data from the Ivorian government. This alarming finding highlights the persistent inequalities related to access to land ownership for women in the country. It is in this context that the Support Project for Women’s Access to Land Ownership (AFPF) was launched, in partnership with several Ivorian associations and the support of USAID, in order to raise women’s awareness of their rights and to work for equal access to land.
A concrete example of the impact of this project is that of Marie Guei, a widow from the small village of Yaoudé. After losing her husband, she was stripped of her land by her in-laws. Thanks to an awareness session organized by the AFPF, she was able to plead her cause and regain her share of rubber trees in production, ensuring a means of subsistence for her and her children. This case shows how crucial it is to make women aware of their rights and to support them in defending their land interests.
One of the major problems lies in the application of existing laws. Indeed, although Ivorian law guarantees an equal right to land for men and women, in practice women are often excluded from the game of land governance. They are dependent on the men of their family and do not have the possibility of transmitting their land. Moreover, they are often relegated to low-value plots of land, destined mainly for subsistence activities such as vegetable cultivation.
To remedy this situation, the AFPF has implemented several strategies. First of all, it is a question of sensitizing the customary authorities on the equality of land rights between men and women, in order to promote a change of mentality within the communities. Then, it is essential to promote the equitable sharing of land between children, whether boys or girls, to avoid inheritance disputes. Finally, it is necessary to strengthen the protection of the rights of widowed or divorced women, by encouraging them to formalize their union by marriage in the prefecture.
The Support Project for Women’s Access to Land Ownership is a pilot initiative that started last year and will continue until 2024. The first results are encouraging and point to the possibility of a national roll-out. in the future. It is essential to continue to raise awareness and support women in their struggle for access to land ownership, in order to bridge this significant gender disparity in Côte d’Ivoire.
In conclusion, women’s access to land ownership is a crucial issue in Côte d’Ivoire.. Faced with persistent inequalities, the Support Project for Women’s Access to Land Ownership is mobilizing to make women aware of their rights and to promote equal access to land. It is essential to strengthen awareness-raising actions, put in place favorable policies and ensure the effective application of laws to enable women to become full landowners