Transformative Rural Land Governance For Gender Empowerment In Ethiopia: The Case Of Amhara Regional State Rural Land Policy

Governance of resources like land in Ethiopia lacks mainstreaming gender issues. Most of the rural people specially women are affected negatively by access and control over land due to economic, cultural, and other interrelated factors. This study is primarily focused on a gender-based analysis of the rural land policy of the Amhara regional state, Ethiopia. Specifically, this research identifies how the right to access and control land is stated in the policy document, the productive and reproductive roles of women stated in the regional rural land policy, gender stereotypes, norms, and judgments that exist about access and control over land and the social norms (about inheritance, marriage, and divorce) affecting the regional land policy in terms of access and control of land. In this study, a qualitative research methodology is applied. Secondary data sources are used for the analysis. Gender-aware policy appraisal as a tool for the analysis of the rural land policy of Amhara regional state is used. This study concludes that several gaps, contradictions, and ambiguities exist in the rural land laws of the Amhara regional state. In particular, gaps in regulations related to related to inheritance, donation, rent in relation to women’s land right are visible. Both in the federal and regional land policy document no provision gives attention and provides guidelines to ensure how stakeholders’ coordination minimizes the implementation problems. Women also face the conditions of losing ownership rights due to administrative bias. As a recommendation, the law needs revision in a way that primarily focuses on gender differences and collaborative work for an efficient land administration system. In terms of access and control of land in the Amhara regional state land policy; priority should be given to rural women who are economically poor and culturally affected.