Women’s rights to land in Ethiopia are facing significant challenges due to entrenched traditional systems that hinder the recognition and protection of these rights. Despite the existence of international, national, and regional legal frameworks that advocate for equal access to land for both men and women, cultural customs in various regions have complicated the enforcement of these laws.
Protecting women’s land rights is crucial for economic development, sustainable land management, poverty alleviation, food security, and resilience to climate change. A recent research paper titled “Sustainable Land Management Review of Women’s Land Tenure Security in Ethiopia’s Coffee Producing Regions” underscores this connection, revealing that while women possess rights to use and manage land, these rights are often insecure due to social, cultural, and legal barriers.
The study highlights significant disparities in land tenure security for women, who face obstacles such as limited decision-making power, lack of income sharing, high illiteracy rates, and restrictive inheritance practices. Customary norms, unregistered marriages, and a lack of legal literacy further complicate women’s tenure guarantees.
The “Women, Coffee and Climate” project has been launched by the International South-South Cooperation Exchange to address these issues by focusing on women’s empowerment and climate change within the coffee sector. This initiative is co-funded by the European Union and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
Conducted in the Yayu Biosphere Coffee Reserve Forests in Illulabor province, Oromia region, the study found that women contribute significantly to the coffee value chain, making up 72% of the workforce involved in management, harvesting, processing, and marketing. However, despite their high participation rates, women often do not reap the benefits of their contributions due to low involvement in coffee marketing.
The research identified several institutional challenges that limit women’s effective participation in the coffee market. These include restricted access to essential inputs, extension services, savings and credit facilities, market data, clean water, and alternative energy sources. The lack of these resources hampers women’s ability to engage fully in the coffee value chain.
The “Women, Coffee and Climate” project seeks to enhance gender equality and sustainability in Ethiopia’s coffee sector through eco-efficiency and social innovation. By fostering collaboration among stakeholders from Ethiopia, Colombia, and Honduras through initiatives like the EthioLatin Coffee Community of Practice—funded by the EU—the project aims to create a more inclusive environment for women in agriculture.
Coffee is Ethiopia’s most important cash crop and largest export commodity, contributing approximately 30-35% of total export earnings and providing livelihoods for around 15 million people. With over 50% of coffee consumed domestically, Ethiopia also leads Africa in coffee consumption.
