MARWOPNET Engages Communities in Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

MARWOPNET, with support from Irish Aid and UN Women, has spearheaded a series of community engagements on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) within the context of customary land rights law in Kailahun, Pujehun, Moyamba, and Bonthe districts of Sierra Leone.

The initiative involves close collaboration with local communities to gain insights into their needs, challenges, and aspirations regarding gender equality and women’s empowerment, particularly in relation to land rights. Through awareness campaigns, dialogue sessions, capacity-building workshops, and collaborative decision-making processes, MARWOPNET aims to ensure that women have equal access to and control over land resources.

These districts, where customary land tenure systems prevail, present unique challenges in achieving gender equality in land ownership, inheritance, and usage rights. Community engagement plays a vital role in fostering understanding, trust, and cooperation among community members, traditional leaders, local authorities, and civil society organizations.

By promoting inclusive community engagement, stakeholders can develop culturally sensitive strategies and policies that uphold women’s rights to land. These efforts not only contribute to sustainable development but also advance social justice in the regions of Kailahun, Pujehun, Moyamba, and Bonthe.