KAS strengthening women’s land rights

For the past six years, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) has been implementing the ‘One World No Hunger’ project.In partnership with Women’s Action for Development, the project aims to improve access to resources, communal land and communal land-use rights for women in order to increase food security in Namibia.The project, which took place in the Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Omusati regions, reached more than 4 000 traditional leaders, political leaders, rural women, youth and men.KAS country representative Natalie Russmann said, in Namibia, subsistence farming provides a livelihood for around 40% of the population and it is important to take note that most of the responsibility falls on women. According to the Namibian Statistics Agency, 54% of agricultural households are headed by women.“Looking at history, one realises that women are indeed capable of producing food and if they are accorded equal opportunities as enshrined in the Namibian legal framework, then we can expect growth of our economy,” she said.Respect, protect women’s rightsRussmann said Namibia is one of the countries with the best designed legal and policy frameworks, however, citizens’ awareness levels are very low. This, she said, makes it difficult for laws and policies to be adhered to and implemented accordingly.“During the implementation of the project, women in the regions did not have a right to own land in the traditional communities they resided in and if the husband who owns the land dies, the widow is to pack her few belongings and leave the homestead.“Women were not allowed to inherit [land] because they were regarded as minors and subjects of their husbands,” she said.The project’s focus was concentrated in these areas to ensure that women’s rights are respected and protected by the local communities and that traditional authorities enforce the law accordingly, she said.– tuyeimo@namibiansun.com

KAS strengthening women’s land rights

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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KAS strengthening women’s land rights

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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