Implications of Community-based Legal Aid Regulation on Women’s Land Rights

Improving women’s ability to securely access land is recognized as an effective means to increase gender equality and advance other key social and economic development goals (FAO 2011; Peterman 2011). Despite progressive laws in many African countries, gender disparities commonly persist in women’s access and ownership of land (Doss et al. 2013). Although legal empowerment of women can help to strengthen their claims to land, developing country governments commonly lack the capacity to offer legal services. Civil society is increasingly stepping in to fill the wide gap in legal service provision, with the aim of empowering marginalized groups and individuals to exercise their legal rights. Although legal aid has wide application, this brief focuses on the consequences of regulating services provided at the community level to support women’s land rights.