A guide on best practices in developing and adopting gender-sensitive village bylaws in Tanzania

Despite the Tanzanian government having put in place progressive provisions on gender equality in land access and ownership, and in representation in governance bodies, women’s voices are often poorly included in community land allocation and decision-making processes at the local level. As the law grants village governments the power to adopt local bylaws in order to ensure effectiveness in implementing its role, the Tanzania Women Lawyers Association (TAWLA) and other Tanzanian civil society organisations have seized this opportunity to promote more effective participation of women in land governance at the local level.

This guide provides step-by-step guidance on how best to facilitate communities in developing and adopting gender-sensitive village bylaws in Tanzania. In doing so, it provides civil society organisations, land governance and natural resource protection advocates, paralegals, and community-based organisations with a process that engages both women and men at all stages, while utilising mechanisms that allow women specifically to speak up and share their opinions.