Burundi: 404 Households Gain Secure Land Rights Through Gender-Responsive Certificates
Date:
Musongati (Burunga Province) and Gisuru (Buhumuza Province), 1st August 2026 – A total of 204 households in Musongati Commune (Burunga Province) and 200 households in Gisuru Commune (Buhumuza Province) received gender-responsive land certificates, strengthening women’s land rights and promoting more secure and equitable access to land.
The ceremonies were organized by UN Women, in partnership with Faith in Action and the Interfaith Council of Burundi (CICB), with financial support from the Kingdom of Belgium.
Official handover of gender-sensitive land certificates in the commune of Gisuru. Photo: UN Women/Alain Gashaka.
For many women and men in rural Burundi, land is the main source of livelihood and a vital asset for their families. Yet, despite women’s significant contribution to agriculture and household well-being, land rights have not always been formally recognized in both spouses’ names. This gap can leave women with limited security over the land they cultivate and may contribute to disputes, particularly in cases of separation, widowhood or inheritance.
By recording the land rights of both spouses, these certificates strengthen tenure security, help prevent land disputes and promote more equitable decision-making within households. Beyond being legal documents, they provide families, particularly women, with greater confidence that their rights to the land they depend on are recognized and protected. "Equal access to land is a cornerstone of women's economic empowerment. When women enjoy secure land rights, families become more resilient, agricultural productivity increases, and communities are better equipped to achieve sustainable development", affirms the representative of Faith in Action in Burundi.
For many women, however, securing a certificate is only one part of the journey. The initiative also supports communities in challenging harmful social norms that continue to limit women's access to land ownership and control. Through awareness-raising activities, local authorities, land administration officials, religious leaders, and community members have been engaged in promoting equal land rights and joint household decision-making.
One of the couples who registered their land and received their gender-sensitive certificate from the UN Women Delegate in Musongati. Photo: UN Women/Alain Gashaka.
The partnership with Faith in Action and the Interfaith Council of Burundi (CICB) has been instrumental in fostering dialogue within communities. By leveraging the influence of faith leaders, the project has encouraged positive social change and strengthened community support for women's equal rights to land.
"Religious leaders are powerful agents of change. By promoting equality and justice within their communities, they help transform attitudes and ensure that women and men enjoy the same rights and opportunities" indicates the Delegate of the UN Women Representative in Burundi.
For beneficiaries, the certificates represent much more than legal documents. They offer recognition and greater security, while giving families confidence to invest in agriculture and other income-generating activities and to protect land rights for future generations.
“Today, I feel more secure. This certificate recognizes both my husband and me as equal rights holders to our family land. It gives us confidence to invest in our future and provides greater security for our children,” testifies one of the beneficiaries of the initiative.
For many families in Burundi, land is more than a source of livelihood. It is a foundation for security, economic stability and the future of their children. Yet, when women’s rights to land are not formally recognized, they can face greater vulnerability and have less influence over decisions concerning one of their most important family assets.
“Today, I feel more protected,” testifies one of the project's beneficiaries. Photo: UN Women/Alain Gashaka.
To help address this gap, UN Women, in partnership with Faith in Action and the Interfaith Council of Burundi (CICB), with financial support from the Kingdom of Belgium, is supporting the issuance of gender-responsive land certificates that formally recognize both spouses as rights holders.
By strengthening women's land rights, the project contributes not only to women's economic empowerment but also to social cohesion, conflict prevention, food security, and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities).