Certified to Stay? Long-Run Experimental Evidence on Land Formalization and Widows’ Tenure Security in Benin

In settings where women’s land rights are informal, the death of a husband can severely limit a widow’s access to land and her ability to remain in her home— especially in the absence of a male heir. This paper examines whether large-scale land formalization programs can improve widows’ land access. Using data from a randomized controlled trial in rural Benin, the analysis finds that widows in villages with land formalization are more likely to stay in their homes four years after the program, with the strongest effects among those without a male heir. The paper identifies two key mechanisms: enhanced community recognition of women’s land rights and greater decision-making power over land resources. These findings highlight the potential of land formalization to strengthen women’s tenure security and promote their long-term economic stability in similar settings.