Impact Of Land Regularization On Empowerment Of Women In Developing Countries: A Case Of Urban Informal Settlements In Tanzania

Most women in the developing world lack the ability to access own and control land. In Tanzania, most land in the informal settlements is owned by men. Such land ownership has implications on land regularization processes. This study aimed to identify and anlysed the impacts of land regularization projects on women empowerment in selected informal urban settlements in Tanzania. The study was conducted at Magomeni ward in Mtwara-Mikindani Municipality and Hannanasif and Mburahati Barafu wards in Kinondoni Municipality, Dar es Salaam. The research design employed in this study was causal- comparative. The sample size comprised 297 respondents. Data was collected using household survey; focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews with key informants. Quantitative data was analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics and qualitative data were analysed through content and structural functional approach. The results showed that land regularization projects create opportunities for women’s inclusion and empowerment through joint ownership. For this to be actualized, more awareness raising on land regularization for women inclusion is needed in order to change men's attitudes towards women ownership. The study acknowledged the strengths of CSOs/NGOs in their coordination of land regularization projects. Equally, the study revealed lack of gender-segregated data. The study concluded that, capacity building and awareness raising have a great role in promoting women inclusion and changing men’s attitudes towards women land ownership in land regularization process. The results of study synthesized the development of ABC model and proposed the development of manual to guide use of ABC model for effecting land regularization and LAS process. The recommend the use of CSOs in awareness raising