The ACreSAL project, supported by the World Bank, alongside stakeholders from various sectors, has emphasized the significant role of women in environmental preservation. Despite grappling with drought and desertification, women have been vocal in advocating for robust policies and legislation that safeguard their land rights.
These stakeholders emphasized this during a day conference on ‘World Desertification and Drought’ National Dialogue held in Abuja on Tuesday.
The conference was organized by the Federal Ministry of Environment, Department of Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought Management. The World Bank, through its Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACreSAL) project, the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), and The Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), championed the conference.
The conference revolved around the slogan and theme: “Her Land, Her Right” – Advancing Gender Equality and Land Restoration Goals.
In his keynote speech, Alhaji Yusuf Ibrahim Idris, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, highlighted the objective of the theme, which aimed to draw attention to the critical role of gender equality and inclusiveness in addressing land management issues.
He emphasized that this was crucial for achieving land degradation neutrality, sustainable livelihoods, and the welfare of vulnerable groups, particularly women.
The Permanent Secretary further lamented that land degradation currently stands as one of the world’s most pressing environmental problems. Without remedial action, it is expected to worsen, especially in Nigeria, due to the increasing population.
Idris added that land degradation affects everyone through food insecurity, higher food prices, climate change, environmental hazards, and the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. He stressed that land restoration is proposed as an important measure to reverse degradation and address the problems it causes. Gender-responsive actions are also central to effective, efficient, and sustainable land restoration projects and programs. Equitable and secure land rights for women and vulnerable groups are equally critical for successful land restoration.
He stated, “We cannot ignore the fact that women have unequal and limited access to the control of land, despite holding a vital stake in the health of the land. Women face significant barriers worldwide in securing land rights, limiting their ability to thrive and prosper. Moreover, when land becomes degraded and water is scarce, women are often the most severely affected. Investing in women’s equal access to land and associated assets is a direct investment in their future and the future of humanity.
“It is time for women and girls to take the lead in global land restoration and drought resilience efforts. As a country party to the UNCCD, Nigeria is expected to consider and implement decisions made by the Conference of the Parties. One such decision pertains to responsible land governance and gender-sensitive tenure rights, which enhance the livelihoods and well-being of women and vulnerable groups, and promote inclusive participation of stakeholders in sustainable land management,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of revisiting and reviewing land laws, governance, and customary rights at the global level. Doing so is crucial for addressing gender inequality in securing land rights, empowering women and other vulnerable groups to access land, promoting inclusivity, and enabling active participation in sustainable land management measures and land restoration programs.
“We must find ways to facilitate women’s access to, use of, and control over land and other productive resources. This is essential to ensure their right to equality and to an adequate standard of living. These resources are instrumental in helping women meet their daily needs and those of their families, as well as navigate life’s most challenging circumstances.
“Women’s access to land and other productive resources is closely linked to discussions on global food security, sustainable economic development, and the urgent fight against the HIV epidemic and gender-based violence prevention and response,” Idris explained.
The permanent secretary further highlighted that gender inequality concerning land and productive resources contributes to women’s poverty and exclusion worldwide.
He noted that the obstacles hindering women from effectively enjoying these rights are often complex and context-specific.
“Nonetheless, we can observe many overarching similarities. Barriers that impede women’s access to, control over, and use of land and other productive resources often stem from inadequate legal standards and ineffective implementation at national and local levels. Discriminatory cultural attitudes and practices within institutions and communities also play a role in creating these barriers,” he explained.
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Idris called for the championing of effective laws, policies, and programs concerning women’s access to productive resources and land.
He emphasized the need to acknowledge that women are not a monolithic group and to embrace their inherent diversity. It is essential to recognize that women may face intersectional and multiple forms of discrimination, particularly in relation to land issues, such as marital status, economic status, widowhood, abandonment, racial/ethnic identity, health status, disability, age, sexual orientation, and displacement.
“We must not only identify these challenges but also find accurate and timely ways to address them. Women are agents of change and drivers of climate change adaptation and sustainable development. Gender-responsive land and forest sector laws, policies, strategies, and interventions that protect and enhance women’s rights and access to restored land are crucial for facilitating women’s effective participation in land restoration,” Idris concluded.
In her welcome address, Ms. Mabel Emmanuel O., Director of Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought Management, highlighted the crucial yet neglected role of women.
She emphasized that the global and Nigerian success in combating land degradation, desertification, and drought would not have been possible without women’s efforts.
Furthermore, she stressed that women are often the most affected by drought, land degradation, and desertification, emphasizing that land is the most critical economic resource for rural communities.
“Lack of ownership and control over land by women worldwide exposes them to poverty, hunger, gender-based violence, and displacement. Women are frequently excluded from land registration and ownership systems, leaving them vulnerable to eviction and land grabbing,” she added.
In his remarks, Mr. Abdulhamid Umar, National Project Coordinator of ACreSAL, highlighted the significant role of women in land restoration activities, farming, and land investment.
He stated that the project actively involves women in its implementation and supports them through financial systems such as the CRF and other interventions aimed at empowerment. He emphasized that the ACreSAL project recognizes the capacity and potential of women and girls.
Dr. Tobi Oluwatola, Executive Director of CJID, mentioned that CJID brings together media practitioners, researchers, and policymakers to advocate for women-friendly policies.
He stressed the importance of the workshop, which focuses on two critical policies: increasing households’ access to agricultural land for improved productivity and ensuring their access to financial services for sustainable production and economic advancement.
Ms. Drita Dade, World Bank representative, also emphasized the critical recognition of women’s role in land management, restoration, and sustainable food production.
She expressed satisfaction in partnering with the Nigerian government to address the challenges of land degradation and desertification through a large-scale program covering 20 states in Nigeria.
“The ACreSAL project, which has been implemented for almost a year now, aims to bring about change in the restoration of degraded lands through a different approach. It adopts a multi-sectoral approach that addresses dryland management and builds resilience in communities, particularly for women and youth who are significantly affected by land degradation and desertification worsened by the impacts of climate change. Our policies and approaches will tackle these issues,” she said.
Salisu Dahiru, the Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), highlighted Nigeria’s vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.
He emphasized the importance of focusing on the specific role that women must play in addressing risks, loss, and damage. Women often bear the brunt of losing their homes, farmland, and sources of livelihood.
Therefore, any efforts to implement the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Nigeria must prioritize gender and empower women to drive the process.
