Factors contributing to gender inequality in land access and land tenure security in Sub-Saharan Africa: A literature review

Land access and land tenure security are essential aspects of sustainable development. Land rights are increasingly becoming inaccessible, especially for women, translating into higher poverty, hunger, and exclusion levels. This paper presents a literature review of different aspects of gender inequality related to land access and land tenure security in Sub-Saharan Africa. It focuses on the factors contributing to those aspects, the impact of those factors on sustainable development, and how these factors prevent or support the full participation of women in the decision-making processes and determine different access to opportunities. A qualitative systematic literature review approach was adopted to understand the state-of-the-art on gender inequalities in land access and land tenure. Peer-reviewed scientific papers have been retrieved through several online databases using different combinations of search terms and standardized techniques. The search has been enlarged to contemplate published literature from
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and inter-governmental organizations (IGOs). The main findings point to, amongst others, discrimination within the legal framework, weak enforcement of the law and institutions, and customary and social norms that culminate in deeprooted acceptance of discriminatory practices against women. These lead to profound gender inequalities in land access and land tenure security, compromising the eradication of poverty and hunger and increasing social imbalances. Further research is recommended to evaluate the impact of these constraints on sustainable development and the possible mitigation measures or solutions.