Catch-22: The Role of Development Institutions in Promoting Gender Equality in Land Law - Lessons Learned in Post-Conflict Pluralist Africa

In post-conflict Africa, land title registration, a major emphasis of the World Bank, has failed to spur economic growth. A uniform approach to land rights, ignoring the plurality of African culture, has resulted in systemic discrimination against women. As under-utilized economic agents, the empowerment of women is key in post-conflict nations. However, the author describes a "Catch 22", where local authorities, with power and legitimacy to implement formal gender-neutral laws, tend to enforce gender-discriminatory customary practices. Pointing to successful initiatives in Rwanda, Mozambique and Uganda, the author encourages a proactive approach to enforcing women's land rights. Successful approaches will consider and address the gender bias present in customary power structures and practices and will ensure women have access to property and its corresponding economic opportunities.