Supporting women in Sierra Leone own land for the first time

Sierra Leone’s legal system combines national laws passed by the country’s parliament with local ‘customary’ law, made up of a mixture of local practices and traditions.  

Customary law plays a key role in how land is owned and managed in Sierra Leone. Under customary law, land is ‘vested’ by communities in local Chiefdom Councils headed up by ‘paramount chiefs’ who are seen as ‘custodians of the land’. Decisions around land can only be made with the approval of these councils or their chiefs.  

While in theory women in Sierra Leone are entitled to own land, the situation on the ground has proven to be very different. Women often face discrimination based on their gender, preventing them from owning land they are legally entitled to, which has a negative impact on their earning opportunities – a double whammy in a country where many people live in poverty and deprivation. 

The 2022 Customary Land Act seeks to counteract this. Amongst its provisions, the Act guarantees women and men equality regarding land inheritance and land ownership. However, many women across Sierra Leone are still unaware of the benefits of the new laws enshrined in the Act. 

In this blog, we hear from women who attended awareness raising sessions on how these new laws can make a material difference to their lives. These sessions supported members of more than 100 local community groups across the Kono and Tonkolili districts of Sierra Leone by Christian Aid’s local partners Green Scenery and the Network Movement for Justice & Development (NMJD) thanks to funding from the UN Peacebuilding Fund (UNPBF).  

Mary Bangura lives in Mayepor, a village in Tonkolili district. As a person living with a disability, Mary has faced further discrimination, as traditionally, people with disabilities have been excluded from community decision-making. 

“Being a woman and a person with a disability was a double barrel. This made it even harder for me to access and use land,” said Mary. 

Mary comes from a family of ten children. As the eldest and only female child, she worked alongside her father on their farm. After her father passed away, her brothers took full control of the family farm, leaving her and her children with nothing.   

“Whenever I tried to access the land, my brothers would chase me away and tell me to go back to my husband,” Mary recalled.

Mary attended trainings and awareness sessions on the Customary Land Act held by Christian Aid’s local partner Green Scenery thanks to funding from the UNPBF. They helped Mary to understand the proper processes to document land ownership as well as the legal protections and rights women and persons with disabilities are entitled to regarding land ownership and use. Our partner also helped to set up a group to be the voices of disabled people locally and could work to ensure that their views were considered in decision making around land use.  

Empowered by what she learned, Mary reported her family land dispute to the paramount chief. This kickstarted a mediation process that led to the family farm being fairly divided among Mary and the rest of her siblings. Owning her own plot of land and the additional income that it brings her has allowed Mary to live more independently. 

“I thank God because I now have my own portion of the farm where I work to support my family. I give credit to the UNPBF project, Christian Aid, and Green Scenery for making this happen,” Mary said.  

In Magburaka, Tonkolili district in Sierra Leone, Esther Turay once believed land matters were the sole responsibility of men. 

“Our family land in Magburaka was controlled by my brothers. Nothing was left for me simply because I am a woman,” said Esther.  

But life as she knew it changed for Esther when she attended awareness sessions organised by Christian Aid’s local partner Green Scenery. As well as learning about women’s rights and entitlements to land under the Customary Land Act, Esther and the other women attending these sessions were encouraged by Green Scenery to from groups of their own to challenge instances of discrimination against women over land use and ownership.  

Inspired by this, together with other women from her community, Esther set up the ‘Sorbeh Women’s Group’, where she now serves as the Treasurer.  

“Before this project, I had little to no interest in land-related matters because I saw them as issues for men. But the trainings opened my eyes. I became empowered to speak up,” Esther said. 

Equipped with her newfound knowledge and confidence, Esther took her case to the paramount chief and they were able to reach an amicable resolution following discussions with her brothers.  

“My brothers now involve me in any land transaction, and I also receive my own portion of proceeds from the land. For this, I remain grateful to the UNPBF project, Christian Aid, and Green Scenery.”