The Landesa Center for Women’s Land Rights works globally to elevate and catalyze the voices and leadership of grassroots women and women-led organizations who are driving the movement on land rights at local and national levels to realize both gender and climate justice. Under its Transformation Partnerships grant with Together Women Rise, in 2024 the Center carried out a range of activities to help reach its goal of achieving long-term, systemic gender equality impact. 

For example, in Tanzania, a series of trainings on women’s land rights was facilitated by the Landesa Stand for Her Land team.  The trainings equipped participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to adopt transformative agroecological practices, understand women’s land rights, and leverage these tools for women’s economic empowerment. 

In Chogongwe village, Rehema, a local farmer, was struck by the realization that most traditional practices in her village were deeply detrimental to women, particularly on property ownership and decision-making. Empowered by the knowledge she had acquired, Rehema took it upon herself to become a champion for women’s rights within her community. She began organizing and facilitating training sessions for various groups, including women’s groups, and churches, as well as during traditional ceremonies. 

During one training session, Rehema encountered Victoria, a woman whose life had been deeply affected by oppressive norms and traditional practices. Victoria had been denied the right to make decisions regarding the use of land and the income generated from agricultural production. Worse still, she had suffered physical abuse from her husband whenever she attempted to assert her rights or question his decisions. 

Determined to help Victoria, Rehema accompanied her to the Village Executive Officer (VEO), where Victoria’s plight was formally addressed. The VEO took swift action, holding Victoria’s husband accountable for his actions. The intervention not only provided Victoria with immediate relief but also sent a powerful message to the community about the consequences of violating women’s rights. 

Today, Victoria’s life is transformed significantly. She now actively participates in decision-making processes regarding her family’s land and income. The physical abuse has ceased, and she has become a vocal supporter of the Stand for Her Land initiative, encouraging other women in her village to stand up for their rights. 

Rehema’s work has sparked a broader movement within Chogongwe village, where more women are now coming forward to claim their rights and challenge the traditional practices that have long held them back. Her story is proof of the transformative power of education and advocacy, illustrating how one empowered woman can ignite change which ripples through an entire community. The Stand for Her Land initiative, through the dedication of champions like Rehema, continues to create lasting impacts, ensuring that women in rural Tanzania can fully realize their rights and potential. 

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