Supporting Land Rights and Women’s Access

The overall objective of this project is to support the implementation of the land rights reform process in 17 municipalities in the regions of Kaffrine and Kaolack.

Although women and men are equal under formalised law in Senegal, and both women and men are allowed to acquire land use and land ownership rights, traditional law still determines the economic system and access to land in rural areas of the country. According to traditional law, the land is owned by the family, but ownership and utilisation rights are reserved for men. Women usually gain access to land use rights through marriage, but even then, these rights are temporary. As women potentially change family affiliation through marriage (or divorce), they rarely receive permanent rights to land.  

The activities provided by Dorsch Impact in this GIZ project are aimed at strengthening women’s land rights. The goal is to improve the governance of land policy, strengthen local and regional capacities, and enhance the legal and regulatory framework to secure land rights. A key focus is to improve women’s land rights and empower vulnerable groups, such as pastoralists and young people, to claim and utilise their land effectively.